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00:57:38
1
The gravel acts as a loofah
Even high up on an ice floe, the penguins aren't safe.
The tastiest morsel are often underwater.
Giant petrel are the vultures of Antarctica
the famous loner are revealing a social, playful side we rarely see.
Belugas, the white whales of the north.
and none of South Georgia's inhabitant
She heads off with her admirer in pursuit.
He shadows his harem of females
On board are slow-motion cameraman John Aitchison,
Like feathered dinosaurs, they lock beak in battle.
They return with a kilogram of fish and squid in their bellies,
Giant petrels are the vulture of Antarctica
They've been feeding at sea all summer and can weigh 40 kilo.
The younger bulls, with their lighter antler,
Over the next half hour, the advantage ebb and flows,
A snowstorm is an omen of things to come.
With the carcass now opened, pintail ducks arrive for a meal.
will make the terrible ordeal ahead worthwhile.
If one can turn the other and gore its flank,
A bull musk ox marks his territory with scent from the glands on his face.
On the driest continent on Earth, a big snowfall is rare.
Newly formed pairs promenade together.
Staying submerge is the next problem.
He's earned the respect of the vanquish bulls
as they graze the last of the summer grasses.
It's only 100 miles long and is batter by the elements.
While he waits, Didier seize his chance.
By now, most animals have migrate south,
the moisture in the air freezes and hoarfrost decorate the leaves.
and South Georgia's beaches will soon be abandon to the cold and ice.
When the ice ridges halt progress, it's time for some back-breaking work.
Over half a ton of bear slam into the other.
and are now fully equip to take the plunge.
It's been six months since the cubs first emerge from the den.
They stop producing the green pigment that harness the sun's energy.
As they buffet South Georgia, they also bring food.
But now a far greater threat is pose by the changing weather.
The job must be finished before the sea freeze over again.
Winds pick up to 70 miles an hour and everyone retreat to their tents.
The tundra blazes with color and the whole landscape is transform.
Their colony is in the lee of icebergs trap in the frozen ocean,
the famous loners are reveal a social, playful side we rarely see.
He falls short and survive the crash landing.
The shorter days and colder nights trigger a dramatic change
When the tide is low, they swim into the shallows
Both chicks are ravenously hungry.
delicately picking out berries from between the thorns.
Curiously, it's personal hygiene.
as the bond between the couple will have to be an exceptionally strong one.
Presumably the treatment keeps them clean and streamlined.
a surprisingly tolerant side to their natures.
But attempts to film the penguins underwater
the sequence quite literally falls into his lap.
With the penguins performing perfectly, it was all falling into place.
The only clue that the ocean lies somewhere to the east
Eventually, over five million square miles of ice
effectively doubling its size.
By tobogganing, they can travel at twice their walking speed
but their stubby wings are still too short for them to fly properly.
Aquatic landings are certainly gentler
But a life spent alone on the sea-ice is no preparation for a crowded beach.
autumn can be a particularly savage and unpredictable time.
Perhaps these bouts are a way of testing rivals
The breeding season is finally over
but being red like that, we should be quite protected, you know?
It's hard to imagine the bitter cold will soon return.
The egg is laid a few days later.
The tastiest morsels are often underwater.
and the team are raring to get back to the ice edge.
it's surprising just how sociable polar bears can be.
Now these fearsome predators display
are halted by an unwelcome visitor.
There. Effortless and as graceful as any fish.
through a shifting landscape of jagged sea-ice.
It's cumbersome, but it allows the team to capture underwater images
uninterrupted by land for 12,000 miles.
This secluded estuary is only a temporary whale spa.
and to do that, they face a daunting task.
The locals are keen to get acquainted
With the seal frightening the penguins away
There. Effortless and as graceful as any fish.
autumn can be a particularly savage and unpredictable time.
A decisive victory for the big male.
are now unlocked and ready to receive visitors.
The exhausted bull guards his prize,
which will shelter them from the bitter Antarctic winds.
But a life spent alone on the sea-ice is no preparation for a crowded beach.
They're surprisingly relaxed,
autumn can be a particularly savage and unpredictable time.
Their first scouting trip doesn't look promising.
it's surprising just how sociable polar bears can be.