1
00:00:40,250 --> 00:00:42,520
David Attenborough:
DWARFED BY THE VAST EXPANSE
2
00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:44,220
OF THE OPEN OCEAN,
3
00:00:44,420 --> 00:00:46,950
THE BIGGEST ANIMAL THAT HAS EVER
LIVED ON OUR PLANET.
4
00:00:54,270 --> 00:00:59,110
A BLUE WHALE, 30 METERS LONG
AND WEIGHING OVER 200 TONS.
5
00:00:59,310 --> 00:01:04,110
IT'S FAR BIGGER
THAN EVEN THE BIGGEST DINOSAUR.
6
00:01:04,310 --> 00:01:06,810
ITS TONGUE WEIGHS
AS MUCH AS AN ELEPHANT.
7
00:01:07,010 --> 00:01:09,990
ITS HEART IS THE SIZE OF A CAR,
8
00:01:10,190 --> 00:01:12,820
AND SOME OF ITS BLOOD VESSELS
ARE SO WIDE
9
00:01:13,020 --> 00:01:14,980
THAT YOU COULD SWIM DOWN THEM.
10
00:01:16,290 --> 00:01:21,990
ITS TAIL ALONE IS THE WIDTH
OF A SMALL AIRCRAFT'S WINGS.
11
00:01:39,310 --> 00:01:42,150
ITS STREAMLINING,
CLOSE TO PERFECTION,
12
00:01:42,350 --> 00:01:45,150
ENABLES IT TO CRUISE
AT 20 KNOTS.
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00:01:45,350 --> 00:01:48,020
IT'S ONE OF THE FASTEST ANIMALS
IN THE SEA.
14
00:01:52,020 --> 00:01:54,160
THE OCEAN'S LARGEST INHABITANT
15
00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:58,170
FEEDS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY
ON ONE OF THE SMALLEST --
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00:01:58,370 --> 00:02:01,640
KRILL, A CRUSTACEAN
JUST A FEW CENTIMETERS LONG.
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GATHERED IN A SHOAL,
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00:02:07,550 --> 00:02:09,180
KRILL STAIN THE SEA RED,
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00:02:09,380 --> 00:02:14,300
AND A SINGLE BLUE WHALE IN A DAY
CAN CONSUME 40 MILLION OF THEM.
20
00:02:22,350 --> 00:02:24,890
DESPITE THE ENORMOUS SIZE
OF BLUE WHALES,
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00:02:25,090 --> 00:02:27,190
WE KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THEM.
22
00:02:27,390 --> 00:02:30,200
THEIR MIGRATION ROUTES
ARE STILL A MYSTERY,
23
00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,190
AND WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA
WHERE THEY GO TO BREED.
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THEY ARE A DRAMATIC REMINDER
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00:02:39,410 --> 00:02:42,600
OF HOW MUCH WE STILL HAVE
TO LEARN ABOUT THE OCEAN
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00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,290
AND THE CREATURES
THAT LIVE THERE.
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OUR PLANET IS A BLUE PLANET.
28
00:02:50,420 --> 00:02:56,220
OVER 70 PERCENT OF IT
IS COVERED BY THE SEA.
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00:02:56,420 --> 00:03:00,050
THE PACIFIC OCEAN ALONE
COVERS HALF THE GLOBE.
30
00:03:00,250 --> 00:03:03,230
YOU CAN FLY ACROSS IT NON-STOP
FOR 12 HOURS
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00:03:03,430 --> 00:03:06,930
AND STILL SEE NOTHING MORE
THAN A SPECK OF LAND.
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00:03:07,130 --> 00:03:09,240
THIS SERIES WILL REVEAL
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THE COMPLETE NATURAL HISTORY
OF OUR OCEAN PLANET
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FROM ITS FAMILIAR SHORES
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00:03:14,350 --> 00:03:17,630
TO THE MYSTERIES
OF ITS DEEPEST SEAS.
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BY VOLUME,
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00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:31,610
THE OCEAN MAKES UP
97 PERCENT
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00:03:31,810 --> 00:03:33,260
OF THE EARTH'S
INHABITABLE SPACE,
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00:03:33,460 --> 00:03:36,260
AND THE SHEER QUANTITY
OF MARINE LIFE IT CONTAINS
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FAR EXCEEDS THAT
WHICH INHABITS THE LAND.
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00:04:01,580 --> 00:04:04,640
BUT LIFE IN THE OCEAN IS NOT
EVENLY SPREAD.
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00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:06,120
IT'S REGULATED
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00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:09,300
BY THE PATH OF CURRENTS
CARRYING NUTRIENTS,
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00:04:09,500 --> 00:04:12,300
AND THE VARYING POWER
OF THE SUN.
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IN THIS FIRST PROGRAM,
WE WILL SEE
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HOW THESE TWO FORCES INTERACT
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TO CONTROL THE DISTRIBUTION
OF LIFE
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FROM THE CORAL SEAS
TO THE POLAR WASTES.
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00:05:17,530 --> 00:05:20,060
THE SHEER PHYSICAL POWER
OF THE OCEAN
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DOMINATES OUR PLANET.
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00:05:38,550 --> 00:05:42,080
IT PROFOUNDLY INFLUENCES
THE WEATHER OF ALL THE WORLD.
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00:05:42,280 --> 00:05:44,960
WATER VAPOR RISING FROM IT
FORMS THE CLOUDS
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AND GENERATES THE STORMS
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THAT ULTIMATELY
WILL DRENCH THE LAND.
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00:06:08,580 --> 00:06:11,420
THE GREAT WAVES THAT ROAR IN
TOWARDS THE SHORES
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ARE DRAMATIC DEMONSTRATIONS
OF ITS POWER.
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WAVES ORIGINATE FAR OUT AT SEA.
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00:06:32,380 --> 00:06:35,180
THERE, EVEN GENTLE BREEZES
CAN CAUSE RIPPLES,
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00:06:35,380 --> 00:06:38,920
AND RIPPLES GROW INTO SWELLS.
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OUT IN THE OPEN OCEAN,
UNIMPEDED BY LAND,
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00:06:50,830 --> 00:06:53,500
SUCH SWELLS CAN BECOME GIGANTIC.
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00:07:15,390 --> 00:07:18,920
IT'S ONLY WHEN AN OCEAN SWELL
EVENTUALLY REACHES SHALLOW WATER
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00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:23,220
THAT IT STARTS TO BREAK.
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00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:30,370
AS IT APPROACHES THE COAST,
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00:07:30,570 --> 00:07:32,240
THE WATER AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE SWELL
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00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,240
IS SLOWED BY CONTACT
WITH THE SEABED.
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00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:37,940
THE TOP OF THE SWELL,
STILL TRAVELING FAST,
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00:07:38,140 --> 00:07:39,940
STARTS TO ROLL OVER,
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AND SO THE WAVE BREAKS.
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THE OCEAN NEVER RESTS.
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00:08:14,740 --> 00:08:17,280
HUGE CURRENTS,
SUCH AS THE GULF STREAM,
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00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:21,290
KEEP ITS WATERS CONSTANTLY
ON THE MOVE ALL ROUND THE GLOBE.
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00:08:21,490 --> 00:08:23,680
IT'S THESE CURRENTS,
MORE THAN ANY OTHER FACTOR,
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00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:25,990
THAT CONTROL THE DISTRIBUTION
OF NUTRIENTS
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AND LIFE IN THE SEAS.
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A TINY ISLAND LOST
IN THE MIDST OF THE PACIFIC.
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IT'S THE TIP OF A HUGE MOUNTAIN
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THAT RISES PRECIPITOUSLY
FROM THE SEA FLOOR
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00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:40,730
THOUSANDS OF METERS BELOW.
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00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:49,220
THE NEAREST LAND
IS 300 MILES AWAY.
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00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:55,320
ISOLATED SEAMOUNTS
LIKE THIS ONE
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CREATE OASES
WHERE LIFE CAN FLOURISH
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00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:02,540
IN THE COMPARATIVELY EMPTY
EXPANSES OF THE OPEN OCEAN.
84
00:09:11,460 --> 00:09:14,990
BUT ALL THE CREATURES THAT SWIM
BESIDE IT WOULD NOT BE HERE
85
00:09:15,190 --> 00:09:18,040
WERE IT NOT
FOR ONE KEY FACTOR --
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00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,990
THE DEEP OCEAN CURRENTS.
87
00:09:25,210 --> 00:09:29,360
FAR BELOW THE SURFACE, THEY
COLLIDE WITH THE ISLAND'S FLANKS
88
00:09:29,550 --> 00:09:31,400
AND ARE DEFLECTED UPWARDS,
89
00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:32,840
BRINGING WITH THEM
FROM THE DEPTHS
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00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,610
A RICH SOUP OF NUTRIENTS.
91
00:09:37,530 --> 00:09:41,620
SUCH UPWELLINGS ATTRACT
GREAT CONCENTRATIONS OF LIFE.
92
00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:52,680
MOST OF THE FISH HERE
ARE PERMANENT RESIDENTS
93
00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:54,290
FEEDING ON THE PLANKTON --
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00:09:54,490 --> 00:09:56,470
THE TINY
FLOATING PLANTS AND ANIMALS
95
00:09:56,670 --> 00:09:57,820
THAT ARE NOURISHED
BY THE RICHNESS
96
00:09:58,020 --> 00:09:59,730
BROUGHT UP FROM THE DEPTHS --
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00:09:59,930 --> 00:10:03,080
AND THEY IN TURN ATTRACT
VISITORS FROM THE OPEN OCEAN.
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TUNA.
99
00:10:31,580 --> 00:10:34,670
THE PLANKTON FEEDERS
ARE EASY TARGETS.
100
00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:49,690
ALL THIS ACTION ATTRACTS
EVEN LARGER PREDATORS.
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SHARKS.
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HUNDREDS OF SHARKS.
103
00:11:01,690 --> 00:11:05,670
THESE SILKY SHARKS ARE NORMALLY
OCEAN-GOING SPECIES,
104
00:11:05,870 --> 00:11:08,450
BUT THE SEAMOUNTS
IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC,
105
00:11:08,650 --> 00:11:11,460
LIKE COCOS, MAPELO,
AND THE GALAPAGOS,
106
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ATTRACT SILKIES IN HUGE GROUPS
107
00:11:14,310 --> 00:11:16,320
UP TO 500 STRONG.
108
00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:22,990
SILKIES SEEM TO SPECIALIZE
IN TAKING INJURED FISH
109
00:11:23,190 --> 00:11:25,470
AND CONSTANTLY CIRCLE SEAMOUNTS
110
00:11:25,670 --> 00:11:29,030
ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE CHANCE
TO DO SO.
111
00:11:32,990 --> 00:11:35,520
BUT SILKIES ARE NOT
THE ONLY VISITORS.
112
00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:43,530
HAMMERHEADS GATHER IN SOME OF
THE LARGEST SHARK SHOALS
113
00:11:43,730 --> 00:11:45,490
TO BE FOUND
ANYWHERE IN THE OCEAN.
114
00:11:45,690 --> 00:11:50,710
SOMETIMES, THOUSANDS WILL CIRCLE
OVER A SINGLE SEAMOUNT.
115
00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,680
BUT THESE SHARKS ARE NOT HERE
FOR FOOD.
116
00:11:56,880 --> 00:12:00,020
THEY HAVE COME
FOR ANOTHER REASON.
117
00:12:03,110 --> 00:12:07,460
SOME OF THE LOCALS
PROVIDE A CLEANING SERVICE.
118
00:12:08,850 --> 00:12:12,080
FOLLOWING THE LAST EL NIÑO YEAR,
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WHEN A RISE
IN WATER TEMPERATURES
120
00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,000
CAUSED MANY SHARKS TO SUFFER
FROM FUNGAL INFECTIONS,
121
00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:19,700
THE NUMBER OF HAMMERHEADS
VISITING THE SEAMOUNTS
122
00:12:19,900 --> 00:12:22,950
REACHED RECORD LEVELS.
123
00:12:32,750 --> 00:12:35,590
Attenborough: NUTRIENTS ALSO
WELL UP TO THE SURFACE
124
00:12:35,780 --> 00:12:39,590
ALONG THE COASTS
OF THE CONTINENTS.
125
00:12:39,790 --> 00:12:43,850
THIS IS NATAL ON SOUTH AFRICA'S
EASTERN SEABOARD.
126
00:12:44,050 --> 00:12:45,990
IT'S JUNE,
AND JUST OFF-SHORE,
127
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STRANGE BLACK PATCHES
HAVE APPEARED.
128
00:12:52,770 --> 00:12:56,600
THEY LOOK LIKE IMMENSE
OIL SLICKS UP TO A MILE LONG.
129
00:12:58,860 --> 00:13:00,310
BUT THIS IS A LIVING SLICK --
130
00:13:00,500 --> 00:13:02,520
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS
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00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:04,610
OF SARDINES
ON A MARINE MIGRATION
132
00:13:04,810 --> 00:13:06,620
THAT, IN TERMS OF SHEER BIOMASS,
133
00:13:06,820 --> 00:13:11,090
RIVALS THAT OF THE WILDEBEEST
ON THE GRASSLANDS OF AFRICA.
134
00:13:14,790 --> 00:13:16,840
THESE FISH LIVE
FOR MOST OF THE TIME
135
00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:19,410
IN THE COLD WATERS
SOUTH OF THE CAPE,
136
00:13:19,610 --> 00:13:22,330
BUT EACH YEAR
THE COASTAL CURRENTS REVERSE.
137
00:13:22,530 --> 00:13:23,720
THE WARM AGULHAS CURRENT
138
00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:26,330
THAT USUALLY FLOWS DOWN
FROM THE NORTH
139
00:13:26,530 --> 00:13:29,330
HAS BEEN DISPLACED BY COLD WATER
COMING UP FROM THE SOUTH,
140
00:13:29,530 --> 00:13:31,900
AND THAT HAS BROUGHT UP
RICH NUTRIENTS.
141
00:13:32,100 --> 00:13:36,040
THEY IN TURN HAVE CREATED
A BLOOM OF PLANKTON,
142
00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:39,340
AND THE SARDINES
ARE NOW FEASTING ON IT.
143
00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:49,920
AS THE SARDINES TRAVEL NORTH,
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00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:53,480
A WHOLE CARAVAN OF PREDATORS
FOLLOW THEM.
145
00:13:56,090 --> 00:13:59,320
THOUSANDS OF CAPE GANNETS
TRACK THE SARDINES.
146
00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,240
THEY NESTED OFF THE CAPE
AND TIMED THEIR BREEDING
147
00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:04,850
SO THAT THEIR NEWLY FLEDGED
CHICKS CAN JOIN THEM
148
00:14:05,050 --> 00:14:07,800
IN PURSUING THE SHOALS.
149
00:14:14,410 --> 00:14:18,900
BELOW WATER, HUNDREDS OF SHARKS
HAVE ALSO JOINED THE CARAVAN.
150
00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,950
THESE ARE BRONZE WHALER SHARKS,
151
00:14:24,150 --> 00:14:26,610
A COLD-WATER SPECIES
THAT NORMALLY LIVES
152
00:14:26,810 --> 00:14:29,120
MUCH FURTHER SOUTH.
153
00:14:33,130 --> 00:14:36,050
THESE THREE-METER SHARKS
154
00:14:36,250 --> 00:14:39,270
CUT SUCH GREAT SWATHES
THROUGH THE SARDINE SHOALS
155
00:14:39,470 --> 00:14:42,060
THAT THEIR TRACKS ARE CLEARLY
VISIBLE FROM THE AIR.
156
00:14:42,260 --> 00:14:44,980
HARRIED BY PACKS OF PREDATORS
157
00:14:45,170 --> 00:14:47,280
AND SWEPT IN
BY THE ACTION OF THE WAVES,
158
00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:50,840
THE SARDINE SHOALS ARE PENNED
CLOSE TO THE SHORE.
159
00:15:07,860 --> 00:15:11,090
COMMON DOLPHIN ARE COMING IN
FROM THE OPEN OCEAN
160
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TO JOIN THE FEAST.
161
00:15:27,180 --> 00:15:29,280
THERE ARE OVER A THOUSAND
OF THEM
162
00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:31,320
IN THIS ONE SCHOOL.
163
00:15:38,850 --> 00:15:41,070
WHEN THEY CATCH UP
WITH THE SARDINES,
164
00:15:41,270 --> 00:15:43,460
THE ACTION REALLY BEGINS.
165
00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:52,030
WORKING TOGETHER, THEY DRIVE
THE SHOAL TOWARDS THE SURFACE.
166
00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:03,650
IT'S EASIER FOR THE DOLPHINS
TO SNATCH FISH UP HERE.
167
00:16:17,230 --> 00:16:21,060
NOW THE SARDINES HAVE NO ESCAPE.
168
00:16:31,250 --> 00:16:33,650
THANKS TO THE DOLPHINS,
169
00:16:33,850 --> 00:16:37,730
THE SARDINES HAVE COME WITHIN
THE DIVING RANGE OF THE GANNETS.
170
00:16:49,260 --> 00:16:52,410
HUNDREDS OF WHITE ARROWS
SHOOT INTO THE SEA,
171
00:16:52,610 --> 00:16:55,360
LEAVING LONG TRAILS OF BUBBLES
BEHIND EACH DIVE.
172
00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:10,940
NEXT TO JOIN THE FRENZY
ARE THE SHARKS.
173
00:17:22,340 --> 00:17:26,220
SHARKS GET VERY EXCITED
WHEN DOLPHINS ARE AROUND.
174
00:17:26,420 --> 00:17:29,180
THAT MAY BE BECAUSE THEY
CAN FEED PARTICULARLY WELL
175
00:17:29,380 --> 00:17:31,140
ONCE THE DOLPHINS
HAVE DRIVEN THE SARDINES
176
00:17:31,340 --> 00:17:34,050
INTO MORE COMPACT GROUPS
NEAR THE SURFACE.
177
00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,410
AS THE FRENZY CONTINUES,
178
00:17:39,610 --> 00:17:44,150
WALLS OF BUBBLES DRIFT UPWARDS.
179
00:17:44,350 --> 00:17:46,810
THEY ARE BEING RELEASED
BY THE DOLPHINS,
180
00:17:47,010 --> 00:17:49,280
WORKING TOGETHER IN TEAMS.
181
00:17:51,330 --> 00:17:53,120
THEY USE THE BUBBLES
182
00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:56,290
TO CORRAL THE SARDINES
INTO EVER TIGHTER GROUPS.
183
00:17:59,330 --> 00:18:02,170
THE SARDINES SELDOM CROSS
THE WALL OF BUBBLES
184
00:18:02,370 --> 00:18:05,250
AND CROWD CLOSER TOGETHER.
185
00:18:08,130 --> 00:18:09,660
BUBBLE NETTING IN THIS WAY
186
00:18:09,860 --> 00:18:14,260
ENABLES THE DOLPHINS TO GRAB
EVERY LAST TRAPPED SARDINE.
187
00:18:25,360 --> 00:18:28,200
JUST WHEN THE FEASTING
SEEMS TO BE ALMOST OVER,
188
00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,100
A BRYDE'S WHALE.
189
00:18:34,370 --> 00:18:37,210
THE SURVIVORS HEAD ON
NORTHWARDS,
190
00:18:37,410 --> 00:18:40,550
AND THE CARAVAN OF PREDATORS
FOLLOWS THEM.
191
00:18:46,470 --> 00:18:48,310
Attenborough: EVERY EVENING,
192
00:18:48,500 --> 00:18:50,310
THE DISAPPEARANCE
OF THE SUN BELOW THE HORIZON
193
00:18:50,510 --> 00:18:53,310
TRIGGERS THE LARGEST
MIGRATION OF LIFE
194
00:18:53,510 --> 00:18:56,220
THAT TAKES PLACE ON OUR PLANET.
195
00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:06,320
ONE THOUSAND MILLION TONS
OF SEA CREATURES
196
00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:08,240
ASCEND FROM THE DEEP OCEAN
197
00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,320
TO SEARCH FOR FOOD
NEAR THE SURFACE.
198
00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:21,340
THEY GRAZE ON THE PHYTOPLANKTON
UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS.
199
00:19:21,540 --> 00:19:24,340
EVEN SO, THEY ARE FAR FROM SAFE.
200
00:19:24,540 --> 00:19:27,300
OTHER MARINE HUNTERS
FOLLOW THEM,
201
00:19:27,500 --> 00:19:30,430
SOME TRAVELING UP
FROM HUNDREDS OF METERS BELOW.
202
00:20:28,570 --> 00:20:32,190
AT DAWN,
THE WHOLE PROCESSION RETURNS
203
00:20:32,390 --> 00:20:34,530
TO THE SAFETY
OF THE DARK DEPTHS.
204
00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:39,850
THE PACIFIC COAST OF COSTA RICA
205
00:20:40,050 --> 00:20:43,330
ON A VERY SPECIAL NIGHT.
206
00:20:43,530 --> 00:20:46,460
IT'S JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT,
AND THE TIDE IS COMING IN.
207
00:20:50,330 --> 00:20:52,950
THE MOON IS IN ITS LAST QUARTER,
208
00:20:53,150 --> 00:20:57,250
EXACTLY HALFWAY
BETWEEN FULL AND NEW.
209
00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,180
FOR WEEKS,
THE BEACH HAS BEEN EMPTY,
210
00:21:01,380 --> 00:21:03,480
BUT THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.
211
00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:07,700
AT HIGH TIDE, TURTLES
START TO EMERGE FROM THE SURF.
212
00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:15,930
AT FIRST, THEY COME
IN ONES AND TWOS,
213
00:21:16,130 --> 00:21:17,930
BUT WITHIN AN HOUR,
214
00:21:18,130 --> 00:21:21,620
THEY ARE APPEARING
ALL ALONG THE BEACH.
215
00:21:26,580 --> 00:21:29,940
THEY ARE ALL FEMALE
RIDLEY'S TURTLES,
216
00:21:30,140 --> 00:21:31,470
AND OVER THE NEXT
SIX DAYS OR SO,
217
00:21:31,670 --> 00:21:34,950
400,000 WILL VISIT
THIS ONE BEACH
218
00:21:35,150 --> 00:21:38,680
TO LAY THEIR EGGS IN THE SAND.
219
00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:49,530
AT THE PEAK TIME, 5,000
ARE COMING AND GOING EVERY HOUR.
220
00:21:49,730 --> 00:21:52,140
THE TOP OF THE BEACH
GETS SO CROWDED
221
00:21:52,340 --> 00:21:54,930
THAT THEY HAVE TO CLAMBER
OVER ONE ANOTHER
222
00:21:55,130 --> 00:21:56,100
TO FIND A BARE PATCH
223
00:21:56,300 --> 00:21:58,570
WHERE THEY CAN DIG A NEST HOLE.
224
00:22:02,450 --> 00:22:06,630
A QUARTER OF THE WORLD'S
POPULATION OF RIDLEY'S TURTLES
225
00:22:06,830 --> 00:22:10,900
COME TO THIS ONE BEACH
ON A FEW KEY NIGHTS EACH YEAR.
226
00:22:11,100 --> 00:22:12,900
THE REST OF THE TIME,
227
00:22:13,100 --> 00:22:14,290
THEY ARE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED
THROUGH THE OCEAN,
228
00:22:14,490 --> 00:22:16,690
SEARCHING FOR FOOD,
229
00:22:16,890 --> 00:22:18,910
MOST, HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY
FROM HERE.
230
00:22:19,110 --> 00:22:21,910
THIS MASS NESTING IS CALLED
AN ARRIBADA.
231
00:22:22,110 --> 00:22:24,480
HOW IT'S COORDINATED
IS A MYSTERY,
232
00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:27,790
BUT WE DO KNOW THAT ARRIBADAS
START
233
00:22:27,980 --> 00:22:30,130
WHEN THE MOON IS EITHER IN
ITS FIRST OR ITS LAST QUARTER.
234
00:22:39,310 --> 00:22:43,240
FORTY MILLION EGGS ARE LAID
IN JUST A FEW DAYS.
235
00:22:43,430 --> 00:22:46,930
BY SYNCHRONIZING THEIR NESTING
IN THIS WAY, THE FEMALES ENSURE
236
00:22:47,130 --> 00:22:50,460
THAT SIX WEEKS LATER,
THEIR HATCHLINGS WILL EMERGE
237
00:22:50,660 --> 00:22:53,510
IN SUCH ENORMOUS NUMBERS
THAT PREDATORS ON THE BEACH
238
00:22:53,710 --> 00:22:54,860
ARE OVERWHELMED,
239
00:22:55,060 --> 00:22:57,550
AND A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION
OF THE BABY TURTLES
240
00:22:57,750 --> 00:22:59,940
WILL GET PAST THEM
AND MAKE IT TO THE WATER.
241
00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:05,480
BUT WHY DO THE FEMALES
USE A CUE FROM THE MOON
242
00:23:05,670 --> 00:23:08,170
TO HELP IN SYNCHRONIZE
THEIR NESTING?
243
00:23:08,370 --> 00:23:10,480
PART OF THE ANSWER TO THAT
244
00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:13,390
BECOMES CLEAR AT DAWN
ON THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
245
00:23:34,360 --> 00:23:36,380
THE DAY SHIFT OF PREDATORS
246
00:23:36,580 --> 00:23:38,980
ARE ARRIVING
FOR THEIR FIRST MEALS.
247
00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:47,040
VULTURES HAVE LEARNT
THAT THE RETURNING TIDE
248
00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:50,250
CAN WASH FRESHLY LAID EGGS
OUT OF THE SAND.
249
00:23:51,690 --> 00:23:55,530
THE RISK OF EGGS' BEING EXPOSED
BY THE SURF
250
00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:59,090
MAY BE PART OF THE REASON WHY
TURTLE ARRIBADAS TEND TO OCCUR
251
00:23:59,290 --> 00:24:02,440
AROUND THE LAST OR FIRST QUARTER
OF THE MOON.
252
00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:07,970
IT'S ON SUCH DAYS AS THIS,
253
00:24:08,170 --> 00:24:10,240
WHEN THE MOON IS NEITHER FULL
NOR NEW,
254
00:24:10,430 --> 00:24:11,980
THAT THE TIDES ARE WEAKEST
255
00:24:12,180 --> 00:24:14,620
AND THE SEA IS LIKELY
TO BE CALMER.
256
00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:32,130
SO AT THESE TIMES IT'S EASIER
FOR THE FEMALE TURTLES
257
00:24:32,330 --> 00:24:33,560
TO MAKE THEIR WAY
THROUGH THE SURF,
258
00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:36,390
AND THERE'S LESS CHANCE OF THEIR
EGGS' BEING WASHED
259
00:24:36,590 --> 00:24:39,080
OUT OF THE SAND
AND BEING TAKEN BY THE VULTURES.
260
00:24:53,100 --> 00:24:54,800
Attenborough: THE SUN'S POSITION
RELATIVE TO THE EARTH
261
00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:56,020
CHANGES THROUGH THE YEAR,
262
00:24:56,220 --> 00:24:59,020
AND IT'S THIS
THAT PRODUCES THE SEASONS.
263
00:24:59,220 --> 00:25:01,030
IN THE NORTH, SPRING COMES
264
00:25:01,220 --> 00:25:05,030
AS THE SUN BEGINS TO RISE
HIGHER IN THE SKY.
265
00:25:05,230 --> 00:25:07,290
OFF THE COAST
OF NORTHWEST AMERICA,
266
00:25:07,490 --> 00:25:09,030
THE SEAS ARE TRANSFORMED
267
00:25:09,230 --> 00:25:11,510
BY THE INCREASING STRENGTH
OF THE SUNSHINE.
268
00:25:16,340 --> 00:25:19,780
HERE IN ALASKA,
THE COASTAL WATERS TURN GREEN
269
00:25:19,980 --> 00:25:22,520
WITH A SUDDEN BLOOM
OF PHYTOPLANKTON.
270
00:25:25,950 --> 00:25:28,790
HERRING THAT HAVE SPENT
THE WINTER FAR OUT TO SEA
271
00:25:28,990 --> 00:25:31,530
TIME THEIR RETURN
TO THE SHALLOW WATERS
272
00:25:31,730 --> 00:25:33,800
TO COINCIDE WITH THIS BLOOM.
273
00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,280
THEY COME IN VAST NUMBERS
AND INITIATE
274
00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:39,790
ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE
FOOD CHAINS IN ALL THE OCEANS.
275
00:25:54,980 --> 00:25:58,170
HUMPBACK WHALES ARE AT THE TOP
OF THAT FOOD CHAIN.
276
00:25:58,370 --> 00:25:59,950
THEY HAVE SPENT THE WINTER
277
00:26:00,150 --> 00:26:02,480
BREEDING IN THE WARMER
TROPICAL WATERS OFF HAWAII,
278
00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:04,920
BUT THERE WAS LITTLE FOOD
FOR THEM THERE.
279
00:26:05,110 --> 00:26:08,440
THIS HERRING BONANZA
PROVIDES THE VAST MAJORITY
280
00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:11,610
OF THEIR FOOD FOR THE YEAR.
281
00:26:32,020 --> 00:26:33,860
STELLAR AND CALIFORNIAN
SEA LIONS
282
00:26:34,060 --> 00:26:36,340
ALSO RETURN FROM THE OPEN OCEAN
283
00:26:36,540 --> 00:26:38,460
EACH YEAR
TO FEAST OFF THE HERRING.
284
00:26:49,340 --> 00:26:52,880
THE HERRING THEMSELVES, HOWEVER,
HAVE NOT COME HERE FOR FOOD.
285
00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:54,750
THEY ARE ABOUT TO BREED.
286
00:26:54,950 --> 00:26:55,880
NOTHING DETERS THEM
287
00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:59,000
AS THEY HEAD
FOR EVEN SHALLOWER WATERS.
288
00:27:01,050 --> 00:27:02,760
NOW THE WATERS ARE SO SHALLOW
289
00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:05,190
THAT GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS
290
00:27:05,390 --> 00:27:07,840
ARE ABLE TO SNATCH LIVE FISH
FROM JUST BELOW THE SURFACE.
291
00:27:19,550 --> 00:27:22,600
IN SPITE OF THESE ATTACKS
AND LOSSES,
292
00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:24,910
THE HERRING SWIM ON
UNTIL THEY REACH THE VEGETATION
293
00:27:25,110 --> 00:27:27,680
THAT THE FEMALES NEED
IF THEY ARE TO LAY.
294
00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,750
EACH FEMALE PRODUCES
AROUND 20,000 EGGS,
295
00:27:36,950 --> 00:27:40,130
AND THEY'RE VERY STICKY.
296
00:27:42,610 --> 00:27:46,100
THE MALES ARRIVE SOON AFTER
THE FEMALES HAVE SPAWNED
297
00:27:46,300 --> 00:27:50,190
AND RELEASE THEIR SPERM
IN VAST, MILKY CLOUDS.
298
00:27:54,360 --> 00:27:58,510
SOON, THE EXCESSES
OF THE HERRINGS' SEXUAL SPREE
299
00:27:58,710 --> 00:28:01,760
CREATES A THICK WHITE SCUM
ON THE SURFACE.
300
00:28:03,890 --> 00:28:06,690
THROUGH THE SEASON,
CURDS OF SPERM CLOG THE SHORES
301
00:28:06,890 --> 00:28:08,390
FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES
302
00:28:08,590 --> 00:28:10,780
FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA
IN THE SOUTH
303
00:28:10,980 --> 00:28:12,900
ALL THE WAY
TO ALASKA IN THE NORTH.
304
00:28:19,430 --> 00:28:23,180
AFTER A FEW DAYS, THIS GIGANTIC
SPAWNING COMES TO AN END,
305
00:28:23,380 --> 00:28:25,530
AND THE HERRING
HEAD BACK OUT TO DEEPER WATERS,
306
00:28:25,730 --> 00:28:28,010
LEAVING BEHIND THEM
FERTILIZED EGGS
307
00:28:28,210 --> 00:28:31,970
PLASTERED ON EVERY ROCK
AND STRAND OF VEGETATION.
308
00:28:43,150 --> 00:28:44,640
THEY TIME THEIR SPAWNING
309
00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:47,560
SO THAT TWO WEEKS LATER,
WHEN THESE EGGS START TO HATCH,
310
00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:49,470
THE ANNUAL PLANKTON BLOOM
311
00:28:49,670 --> 00:28:50,950
WILL HAVE REACHED ITS HEIGHT,
312
00:28:51,150 --> 00:28:53,650
AND THE NEWBORN FISH FRY
WILL HAVE PLENTY TO EAT.
313
00:28:53,850 --> 00:28:56,650
BUT IN THE MEANTIME,
ALL THESE EGGS PROVIDE FOOD
314
00:28:56,850 --> 00:28:58,870
FOR ARMIES OF DIFFERENT ANIMALS
315
00:28:59,070 --> 00:29:01,740
BOTH BELOW AND ABOVE
THE SURFACE.
316
00:29:08,050 --> 00:29:09,880
MILLIONS OF BIRDS ARRIVE
317
00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:12,800
TO COLLECT A SHARE
OF THE HERRINGS' BOUNTY.
318
00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:15,320
SOME OF IT IS EASILY GATHERED,
319
00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:19,410
FOR MILLIONS OF EGGS HAVE BEEN
WASHED UP ONTO THE SHORE.
320
00:29:19,610 --> 00:29:22,500
THIS ENCAPSULATED ENERGY
321
00:29:22,700 --> 00:29:25,550
IS PARTICULARLY VALUABLE
TO MIGRATING BIRDS.
322
00:29:25,750 --> 00:29:28,030
THESE SURFBIRDS ARE ON THEIR WAY
323
00:29:28,230 --> 00:29:30,690
TO THEIR BREEDING GROUNDS
IN THE ARCTIC,
324
00:29:30,890 --> 00:29:32,250
AND THEY HAD TO COME DOWN
TO REFUEL.
325
00:29:32,450 --> 00:29:37,520
STRANDED HERRING EGGS
ARE JUST WHAT THEY NEED.
326
00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:40,040
BONAPARTE GULLS COLLECT THE EGGS
327
00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:42,040
JUST BELOW THE SURFACE
OF THE WATER.
328
00:29:45,210 --> 00:29:46,530
FARTHER OUT IN THE BAY,
329
00:29:46,730 --> 00:29:48,620
HUGE FLOCKS OF DUCKS
HAVE GATHERED.
330
00:29:48,820 --> 00:29:50,790
THEY'RE MOSTLY SURF SCOTERS --
331
00:29:50,990 --> 00:29:52,530
DIVING DUCKS THAT CAN FEED
OFF THE BOTTOM
332
00:29:52,730 --> 00:29:54,960
SEVERAL METERS DOWN.
333
00:29:59,230 --> 00:30:01,590
THERE ARE SUCH HUGE QUANTITIES
OF EGGS
334
00:30:01,790 --> 00:30:03,890
THAT EVEN SUCH A BIG ANIMAL
AS A BEAR
335
00:30:04,090 --> 00:30:06,060
FINDS IT WORTHWHILE
TO COLLECT THEM.
336
00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:12,600
THE SPAWNING OF THE HERRING
IS A CRUCIAL EVENT
337
00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:15,950
IN THE LIVES OF MANY ANIMALS
ALL ALONG THE COAST.
338
00:30:16,150 --> 00:30:18,910
THE WHOLE EVENT COINCIDES
WITH THE PLANKTON BLOOM,
339
00:30:19,110 --> 00:30:22,510
AND WITHIN THREE SHORT WEEKS,
IT'S ALL OVER.
340
00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:33,000
THE MIGRATORY BIRDS LEAVE
TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY NORTH.
341
00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:40,840
THEY WILL NOT COME BACK
342
00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:44,100
UNTIL THE HERRING ALSO RETURN
NEXT YEAR.
343
00:30:51,060 --> 00:30:53,190
Attenborough: GRAY WHALES.
344
00:30:57,070 --> 00:30:59,120
THEY HAVE FOLLOWED THE SUN
NORTH,
345
00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:01,300
AND THEY TOO ARE SEEKING
THE FOOD
346
00:31:01,500 --> 00:31:04,420
THAT IS GENERATED BY THE BLOOM
OF THE PHYTOPLANKTON.
347
00:31:06,470 --> 00:31:09,090
KRILL ARE FEEDING OFF IT,
348
00:31:09,290 --> 00:31:11,870
AND THESE WHALES ARE FEEDING
ON THE KRILL,
349
00:31:12,070 --> 00:31:14,530
SKIMMING IT FROM THE SURFACE
WITH THE FILTER PLATES OF BALEEN
350
00:31:14,730 --> 00:31:18,320
THAT HANG FROM THEIR UPPER JAWS.
351
00:31:18,510 --> 00:31:23,840
GRAY WHALES MAKE
ONE OF THE LONGEST MIGRATIONS
352
00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:25,320
UNDERTAKEN BY ANY
MARINE MAMMAL --
353
00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:27,760
A ROUND TRIP
OF 12,000 MILES OR SO
354
00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:30,850
FROM THEIR BREEDING GROUNDS
OFF MEXICO
355
00:31:31,050 --> 00:31:32,810
ALONG THE ENTIRE COAST
OF NORTH AMERICA
356
00:31:33,010 --> 00:31:35,110
RIGHT UP TO THE ARCTIC OCEAN.
357
00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:39,820
THEY TRAVEL CLOSE TO THE COAST,
358
00:31:40,010 --> 00:31:43,470
WITH THE MALES AND NON-BREEDING
FEMALES LEADING THE WAY.
359
00:31:43,670 --> 00:31:47,000
THE LAST TO START ARE THE COWS
THAT HAVE JUST GIVEN BIRTH.
360
00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:49,480
THEY HAVE TO WAIT
UNTIL THEIR NEWBORN CALVES
361
00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:50,960
ARE SUFFICIENTLY BIG AND STRONG
362
00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:54,740
TO TACKLE
SUCH AN IMMENSE JOURNEY.
363
00:31:54,940 --> 00:31:58,830
THEIR PROGRESS
IS NECESSARILY SLOW.
364
00:31:59,030 --> 00:32:00,840
THE MOTHERS MUST STAY
ALONGSIDE THEIR YOUNG,
365
00:32:01,040 --> 00:32:04,610
AND EVEN A STRONG CALF CAN ONLY
TRAVEL AT A COUPLE OF KNOTS.
366
00:32:06,750 --> 00:32:08,840
THEY STICK EVEN CLOSER
TO THE SHORE,
367
00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:12,060
OFTEN WITHIN JUST 200 METERS.
368
00:32:14,710 --> 00:32:16,850
KILLER WHALES.
369
00:32:17,050 --> 00:32:18,980
THEY HAVE LEARNT
THAT GRAY WHALES
370
00:32:19,180 --> 00:32:20,550
FOLLOW TRADITIONAL ROUTES.
371
00:32:20,750 --> 00:32:22,860
THE KILLERS HAVE NO TROUBLE
372
00:32:23,060 --> 00:32:27,160
IN OVERTAKING A CALF
AND ITS DEVOTED MOTHER.
373
00:32:30,030 --> 00:32:33,690
NORMALLY, THEY CONTINUALLY CALL
TO ONE ANOTHER,
374
00:32:33,890 --> 00:32:35,870
BUT NOW THEY HAVE FALLEN SILENT.
375
00:32:36,070 --> 00:32:37,870
THE MOTHER GRAY WHALE
AND HER CALF
376
00:32:38,070 --> 00:32:41,170
HAVE NO IDEA
THAT THEY'VE BEEN TARGETED.
377
00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:03,860
CATCHING UP WITH THE GRAY WHALES
378
00:33:04,050 --> 00:33:05,550
IS THE EASY PART
FOR THE KILLERS.
379
00:33:05,750 --> 00:33:06,900
THEY HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS,
380
00:33:07,100 --> 00:33:08,560
FOR THEY ARE ONLY
ABOUT HALF THE SIZE
381
00:33:08,760 --> 00:33:10,900
OF THE GRAY WHALE MOTHER.
382
00:33:14,380 --> 00:33:17,470
SHE CAN INFLICT REAL DAMAGE
WITH HER TAIL.
383
00:33:25,780 --> 00:33:28,450
BUT THE KILLERS
ARE NOT AFTER HER.
384
00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:30,530
THEY'RE AFTER HER CALF.
385
00:33:30,730 --> 00:33:33,020
AS LONG AS THE MOTHER CAN KEEP
IT ON THE MOVE, IT WILL BE SAFE,
386
00:33:33,210 --> 00:33:36,180
AND SHE DOES HER BEST
TO HURRY IT ALONG.
387
00:33:39,490 --> 00:33:42,020
AT FIRST, THE KILLERS AVOID
GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE MOTHER
388
00:33:42,220 --> 00:33:43,630
BUT JUST KEEP PACE ALONGSIDE.
389
00:33:43,830 --> 00:33:46,720
THEY KNOW THAT THE CALF,
GOING AT THIS SPEED,
390
00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:48,850
WILL EVENTUALLY TIRE.
391
00:33:58,510 --> 00:34:01,350
AFTER THREE HOURS
OF BEING HARRIED IN THIS WAY,
392
00:34:01,550 --> 00:34:04,050
THE CALF BECOMES TOO EXHAUSTED
TO SWIM ANY FURTHER.
393
00:34:04,250 --> 00:34:07,350
THE MOTHER HAS TO STOP.
394
00:34:07,550 --> 00:34:10,180
THIS IS THE MOMENT THE KILLERS
HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.
395
00:34:10,380 --> 00:34:11,880
THEY START TO TRY AND FORCE
THEMSELVES
396
00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:14,310
BETWEEN MOTHER AND CALF.
397
00:34:35,240 --> 00:34:37,120
A CALF SEPARATED FROM ITS MOTHER
398
00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:39,120
WILL NOT BE ABLE
TO DEFEND ITSELF.
399
00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:42,170
TIME AND AGAIN,
THE BLACK FINS OF THE KILLERS
400
00:34:42,370 --> 00:34:44,900
APPEAR BETWEEN THE MOTTLED BACKS
OF THE GRAY WHALES.
401
00:34:56,260 --> 00:34:58,100
AT LAST THE KILLERS SUCCEED,
402
00:34:58,300 --> 00:35:00,670
AND NOW THAT THEY'VE GOT
THE CALF ON ITS OWN,
403
00:35:00,870 --> 00:35:02,710
THEY CHANGE THEIR TACTICS.
404
00:35:02,910 --> 00:35:04,760
THEY LEAP RIGHT ONTO THE CALF
405
00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:07,230
AND TRY TO PUSH IT UNDER.
406
00:35:14,980 --> 00:35:17,680
NOW, THE WHOLE POD IS INVOLVED.
407
00:35:27,990 --> 00:35:30,250
ONE OF THEM TAKES A BITE.
408
00:35:43,010 --> 00:35:45,840
SOON, THE SEA IS REDDENED
WITH THE CALF'S BLOOD,
409
00:35:46,040 --> 00:35:49,190
AND THE KILLERS CLOSE IN
FOR THE FINAL ACT.
410
00:36:10,210 --> 00:36:13,300
THE CALF IS DEAD.
411
00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:18,880
AFTER A SIX-HOUR HUNT,
412
00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:22,390
THE KILLER WHALES
HAVE FINALLY WON THEIR PRIZE.
413
00:36:28,050 --> 00:36:29,930
THE MOTHER, BEREFT,
414
00:36:30,130 --> 00:36:32,880
HAS TO CONTINUE HER MIGRATION
NORTH ON HER OWN.
415
00:36:37,060 --> 00:36:39,900
SHE LEAVES BEHIND
THE CARCASS OF A CALF
416
00:36:40,100 --> 00:36:43,900
THAT SHE CHERISHED FOR 13 MONTHS
IN HER WOMB,
417
00:36:44,100 --> 00:36:47,330
FOR WHICH SHE DELAYED
HER OWN JOURNEY TO FIND FOOD.
418
00:36:51,030 --> 00:36:53,390
Attenborough: OVER A MILE DOWN,
419
00:36:53,590 --> 00:36:55,260
IN THE TOTAL
DARKNESS OF THE DEEP OCEAN,
420
00:36:55,460 --> 00:36:59,480
THE BODY OF ANOTHER GRAY WHALE,
A 30-TON ADULT.
421
00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:04,570
IT SETTLED HERE
ONLY A FEW WEEKS AGO.
422
00:37:04,770 --> 00:37:09,400
ALREADY, IT HAS ATTRACTED
HUNDREDS OF HAGFISH.
423
00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:17,630
THESE SCAVENGERS,
OVER HALF A METER LONG
424
00:37:17,830 --> 00:37:21,590
AND AS THICK AS YOUR ARM,
ARE ONLY FOUND IN THE DEEP SEA.
425
00:37:21,790 --> 00:37:24,590
THEY HAVE BEEN ATTRACTED
BY THE FAINT WHIFF OF DECAY
426
00:37:24,790 --> 00:37:28,850
SUFFUSING THROUGH THE WATER
FOR MILES AROUND.
427
00:37:31,460 --> 00:37:34,300
WITH THEIR HEADS BURIED
IN THE WHALE'S FLESH,
428
00:37:34,500 --> 00:37:36,430
THEY BREATHE THROUGH
GILL OPENINGS
429
00:37:36,630 --> 00:37:38,220
ALONG THE SIDES OF THEIR BODIES.
430
00:37:38,420 --> 00:37:40,310
THEY'RE VERY
PRIMITIVE CREATURES --
431
00:37:40,510 --> 00:37:44,310
NOT EVEN TRUE FISH,
FOR THEY LACK JAWS.
432
00:37:44,510 --> 00:37:47,230
THEY FEED, NOT BY BITING,
433
00:37:47,430 --> 00:37:50,180
BUT BY RASPING OFF FLESH
WITH TWO ROWS OF HORNY TEETH.
434
00:37:52,400 --> 00:37:54,190
IN JUST A FEW HOURS,
A HAGFISH CAN EAT
435
00:37:54,390 --> 00:37:55,930
SEVERAL TIMES ITS OWN WEIGHT
436
00:37:56,130 --> 00:37:58,620
OF ROTTING FLESH.
437
00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:05,150
NEXT TO ARRIVE,
A SLEEPER SHARK.
438
00:38:11,500 --> 00:38:14,340
IT MOVES SO SLOWLY
TO CONSERVE ENERGY --
439
00:38:14,540 --> 00:38:17,040
AN IMPORTANT STRATEGY
FOR SO LARGE AN ANIMAL
440
00:38:17,240 --> 00:38:20,340
SURVIVING IN SUCH
A POOR HABITAT.
441
00:38:26,520 --> 00:38:29,350
SLEEPER SHARKS LIVE
OVER A MILE DOWN
442
00:38:29,550 --> 00:38:33,490
AND GROW
TO OVER SEVEN METERS LONG.
443
00:38:33,690 --> 00:38:36,490
THEY CAN GO FOR MONTHS
WITHOUT FOOD,
444
00:38:36,690 --> 00:38:39,540
SLOWLY CRUISING
ALONG THE BOTTOM,
445
00:38:39,740 --> 00:38:42,020
WAITING FOR RARE BONANZAS
SUCH AS THIS ONE
446
00:38:42,220 --> 00:38:44,580
TO ARRIVE FROM ABOVE.
447
00:38:51,240 --> 00:38:54,380
A WHOLE RANGE OF DIFFERENT
DEEP-SEA SCAVENGERS
448
00:38:54,580 --> 00:38:57,380
WILL FEAST ON THIS CARCASS
FOR A LONG TIME
449
00:38:57,580 --> 00:39:00,380
BEFORE ALL ITS NUTRIMENT
HAS BEEN CONSUMED.
450
00:39:02,550 --> 00:39:04,040
18 MONTHS LATER,
451
00:39:04,240 --> 00:39:07,600
ALL THAT IS LEFT IS A PERFECT
SKELETON STRIPPED BARE.
452
00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:12,750
THE SUN'S ENERGY,
THAT WAS CAPTURED
453
00:39:12,950 --> 00:39:16,180
AND TURNED INTO LIVING TISSUE
BY THE FLOATING PHYTOPLANKTON,
454
00:39:16,380 --> 00:39:18,400
HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED
FROM ONE LINK TO ANOTHER
455
00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:20,320
IN THE FOOD CHAIN
AND HAS ENDED UP
456
00:39:20,520 --> 00:39:21,930
AS FAR AWAY FROM THE SUN
457
00:39:22,130 --> 00:39:24,280
AS IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE
ON THIS PLANET --
458
00:39:24,480 --> 00:39:27,410
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DEEP SEA.
459
00:39:27,610 --> 00:39:31,450
BUT SOME ENERGY
ALSO RETURNS FROM THE DEEP.
460
00:39:36,760 --> 00:39:38,600
MILLIONS OF OPALESCENT SQUID
461
00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:41,430
ARE ON THEIR WAY
TO THE SHALLOWS.
462
00:39:41,630 --> 00:39:43,950
THEY'VE COME UP HERE TO MATE.
463
00:39:44,150 --> 00:39:48,210
AS THE MALES GRAB THE FEMALES,
THEIR TENTACLES FLUSH RED.
464
00:39:50,600 --> 00:39:52,440
FOR MOST OF THE YEAR,
465
00:39:52,640 --> 00:39:54,960
THESE SQUID LIVE
AT A DEPTH OF AROUND 500 METERS.
466
00:39:55,160 --> 00:39:57,140
THEY ONLY COME TOGETHER
467
00:39:57,340 --> 00:39:59,620
IN THESE GREAT BREEDING SCHOOLS
FOR A FEW WEEKS.
468
00:39:59,820 --> 00:40:02,360
JUST ONE SCHOOL WAS ESTIMATED
TO CONTAIN ANIMALS
469
00:40:02,560 --> 00:40:05,750
THAT WEIGH AROUND 4,000 TONS.
470
00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:19,120
WAVE AFTER WAVE
RISE FROM THE DEPTHS,
471
00:40:19,320 --> 00:40:20,810
AND SOON THE SEABED
IN THE SHALLOWS
472
00:40:21,010 --> 00:40:23,380
IS STREWN WITH DENSE PATCHES
OF EGG CAPSULES
473
00:40:23,580 --> 00:40:25,680
SEVERAL METERS ACROSS.
474
00:40:30,810 --> 00:40:34,480
AS EACH FEMALE ADDS ANOTHER
CAPSULE TO THE PILE,
475
00:40:34,680 --> 00:40:37,600
THE MALES FIGHT
TO FERTILIZE ITS CONTENTS.
476
00:40:53,970 --> 00:40:56,810
THE SQUID MAKE THEIR HUGE
JOURNEY INTO THE SHALLOWS
477
00:40:57,010 --> 00:41:00,240
BECAUSE THEIR EGGS WILL DEVELOP
FASTER IN THE WARMER WATER HERE,
478
00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:01,680
AND WHEN THE YOUNG EMERGE,
479
00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:04,070
THEY WILL FIND MORE FOOD
MORE EASILY
480
00:41:04,270 --> 00:41:07,590
THAN THEY WOULD
IN THE OCEAN DEPTHS.
481
00:41:11,120 --> 00:41:13,820
DAWN THE NEXT MORNING,
482
00:41:14,020 --> 00:41:17,520
AND THE SEABED FOR MILES AROUND
IS COVERED IN EGG CAPSULES.
483
00:41:17,720 --> 00:41:20,130
THE SQUID THEMSELVES
HAVE ALL GONE.
484
00:41:20,330 --> 00:41:21,790
MANY WILL HAVE DIED,
485
00:41:21,990 --> 00:41:24,660
BUT SOME WILL HAVE RETURNED
TO THEIR HOME IN THE DEEP.
486
00:41:24,860 --> 00:41:27,840
THEY WILL NOT RETURN
TO THE LIGHT OF THE SUN
487
00:41:28,040 --> 00:41:32,530
UNTIL THE NEXT TIME THEY ARE
DRIVEN UP BY THE URGE TO SPAWN.