Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Narrator:
IN THIS FROZEN WORLD,
LIFE IS UNFORGIVING.
WINTER PLUNGES THE LAND
INTO ICY DARKNESS
FOR HALF THE YEAR.
AND SUMMER BRINGS LITTLE RELIEF.
FIERCE WINDS RAGE YEAR-ROUND.
ONLY THE MOST RESILIEN SURVIVE HERE
WHERE ONE WRONG MOVE
SPELLS THE DIFFERENCE
BEEEN LIFE
AND DEATH.
THIS IS THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
RUSSIA --
THE LARGEST COUNTRY ON EARTH.
ITS WILDERNESS
IS INDESCRIBABLY VAST
AND EXTRAORDINARILY BEAUTIFUL.
[ WIND HOWLING ]
WITH ALPINE MOUNTAIN VALLEYS
DRAMATIC VOLCANIC PEAKS
STEAMING HOT SPRINGS
AND THOUSANDS OF MILES
OF PRISTINE FOREST.
RUSSIA'S NORTHERNMOST WILDERNESS
IS ONE OF THE LEAST VISITED
AREAS ON THE PLANET.
THE 6 1/2 MILLION SQUARE MILES
OF RUSSIA'S LANDMASS
ARE CROWNED BY MORE THAN
OF ARCTIC TERRITORY.
IN THE ARCTIC WINTER,
LAND AND FROZEN SEA BLEND
INTO A SINGLE EXPANSE OF ICE
COVERING AN AREA NEARLY TWICE
THE SIZE OF THE UNITED STATES.
THIS BLEAK ENVIRONMEN CALLED TUNDRA
IS HOME TO REMARKABLE CREATURES
FINELY TUNED TO SURVIVE
THE BRUTAL CONDITIONS HERE.
ONE ARCTIC RESIDEN HAS BEEN HONING HIS
SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR MILLENNIA.
THE MUSK-OX
SURVIVED THE LAST ICE AGE
ALONGSIDE HUMANS
SOME 20,000 YEARS AGO.
WINTER TEMPERATURES
OF 34 DEGREES BELOW ZERO
ARE EASY TO WITHSTAND
FOR THE MUSK-OX
WITH HIS THICK INSULATING LAYER
OF UNDERWOOL CALLED QIVIUT.
EIGHT TIMES WARMER
THAN SHEEP'S WOOL
AND SOFTER THAN CASHMERE
IT'S ONE OF THE RAREST FIBERS
IN THE WORLD.
BUT WHILE THE MUSK-OX
IS WELL-DEFENDED
AGAINST EVEN THE BRUTAL WINTER,
OTHERS LIVE
A MORE FRAGILE EXISTENCE.
EVEN SPRING,
THE TIME OF RENEWAL,
CAN BE BRUTALLY DIFFICULT HERE.
ON THE ICE FLOES,
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HARP SEALS
GATHER TO GIVE BIRTH.
THE ARCTIC'S NEWBORNS
ENTER A HOSTILE, FROZEN WORLD.
IF THEY CAN MAKE I THROUGH THEIR FIRST YEAR,
THEY'RE LIKELY TO SURVIVE
TO ADULTHOOD.
[ CRYING ]
A PUP'S LIFE
IS TOUGH FROM THE START.
THEY ONLY HAVE 12 DAYS
WITH THEIR MOTHERS
BEFORE THEY'RE LEF TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES.
THOUGH THEY WEIGH
ONLY ABOUT 25 POUNDS AT BIRTH,
THE HIGH-FAT CONTEN IN THEIR MOTHER'S MILK
HELPS THEM PUT ON
A REMARKABLE FIVE POUNDS A DAY.
THIS EASY LIFE ENDS
WHEN THE MOTHERS
ABRUPTLY ABANDON THEIR PUPS,
LEAVING THEM
TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES.
FOR ALMOST SIX WEEKS,
THEY'LL LIE HELPLESS IN GROUPS
WITHOUT EATING.
DURING THIS TIME,
THEY LOSE HALF THEIR BODY WEIGH AND SHED THEIR WHITE COATS.
NOW THAT THE MOTHERS
HAVE STOPPED NURSING,
THEY'RE FAIR GAME
FOR MALES READY TO MATE.
BUT THIS MALE'S OUT OF LUCK.
WITH A DECISIVE NOD OF HER HEAD,
THE FEMALE REBUFFS HIS ADVANCES.
WITHIN A MONTH,
THE PUP'S WHITE PEL TURNS GRAY AND BLACK,
AND HUNGER FORCES THESE NOVICE
SWIMMERS INTO THE WATER.
IT'S GOOD TIMING
BECAUSE THEIR ARCHENEMY
IS ON THE PROWL.
THE POLAR BEAR REIGNS SUPREME
IN THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC.
THIS BEAR IS PERFECTLY ADAPTED
FOR ARCTIC LIFE.
BENEATH ITS THICK COAT OF FUR,
ITS BLACK SKIN
ABSORBS THE SUN'S HEAT,
HELPING IT STAY WARM.
A LAYER OF FA KEEPS THE BEAR SO WARM
IT CAN OVERHEAT, EVEN IN WINTER.
THE POLAR BEAR
IS A CREATURE OF THE ICE,
UTTERLY DEPENDENT ON THE HUGE
SHEETS OF FROZEN SEA OR PACK ICE
FOR ITS SURVIVAL.
THIS LARGEST OF LAND CARNIVORES
NEEDS FRESH MEA AND LOTS OF IT --
UP TO 100 POUNDS
IN A SINGLE SITTING.
AND THESE AMOUNTS
ARE UNATTAINABLE OFF THE ICE.
BUT SPRING'S WARMER TEMPERATURES
MELT THE PACK ICE
AND THE BEARS'
HUNTING PLATFORMS.
[ GROWLING ]
POLAR BEARS RARELY MAKE A KILL
IN OPEN WATER
BUT THEY WILL SWIM
TO REACH ICE FLOES,
SOMETIMES UP TO 60 MILES
AT ONE TIME.
THE ICE IS THE POLAR BEAR'S
LIFELINE
AND A VITAL PAR OF THE ARCTIC FOOD CHAIN.
GLOBAL WARMING HAS INCREASED
THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES
FOR SOLID SEA ICE TO FORM
ALONG RUSSIA'S NORTHERN COAST,
PUTTING THE WILDLIFE HERE
AT RISK.
EVEN SO, SOME LAND-BASED
SANCTUARIES REMAIN.
RUSSIA'S WRANGEL ISLAND
COVERS 3,000 SQUARE MILES.
A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE,
WRANGEL ISLAND NATURE RESERVE
BOASTS THE GREATEST BIODIVERSITY
OF ANYPLACE IN THE ARCTIC.
EACH SPRING,
UP TO 10,000 LESSER SNOW GEESE
ARRIVE ON WRANGEL ISLAND.
IN THIS REMOTE, ICY LAND,
THEY'LL NEST, BREED, AND LAY
THEIR PRECIOUS CLUTCHES OF EGGS.
BUT THEIR ARRIVAL
DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED.
AN ARCTIC FOX IN ITS WINTER COA COMES LOOKING FOR A MEAL.
BUT THESE GEESE ARE STRONG
AND SURPRISINGLY GOOD
AT DEFENDING THEMSELVES.
THIS FOX WILL HAVE TO FIND
A MEAL ELSEWHERE.
[ SNOW GEESE HONKING ]
WRANGEL ISLAND
IS ONE OF THE LAST LANDFALLS
FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS
FLYING NORTH.
THESE RUFFS,
A TYPE OF SANDPIPER,
HAVE FLOWN HERE FROM
NORTHERN EUROPE AND SIBERIA.
BARE PATCHES OF EARTH
BECOME LEKS,
DISPLAY RINGS FOR MALES
TRYING TO ATTRACT MATES.
[ CHITTERING ]
WHILE DOMINATE MALES PERFORM
A COURTSHIP DANCE,
OTHER MALES WITH WHITE RUFFS
ATTRACT FEMALES TO THE RING.
THEY MAY LOOK STYLISH,
BUT THESE MALES
ARE DRESSED TO FIGHT.
SPRING WEATHER CAN TURN
IN AN INSTANT.
FIERCE STORMS SWEEP IN
WITH BLASTS OF ICY AIR,
AND TEMPERATURES PLUMME YET LITTLE
STOPS A LONE WOLF STALKING.
[ SNOW GEESE HONKING ]
HIS SENSITIVE NOSE POINTS
THE WAY TO AN ARCTIC FEAST
SNOW-GOOSE EGGS.
RISING UP IN PROTEST,
THE FLOCK OF BIRDS
DRIVE OUT THE WOLF.
THE GEESE MAY BE SAFE
FOR THE MOMENT,
BUT IN THE ARCTIC,
DANGER ALWAYS LURKS NEARBY.
Narrator:
SPRING IN RUSSIA'S ARCTIC
BRINGS WARMER TEMPERATURES.
SNOW BEGINS TO MELT,
BUT THE WATER CAN'T PENETRATE
THE SOLID LAYER OF ICE
JUST BELOW THE SURFACE.
A SIMPLE THAW
CREATES RAGING RIVERS
SOME A FEW MILES LONG.
[ SNOW GEESE HONKING ]
AS THE ICY COVER AROUND THE
SNOW-GOOSE COLONY DISAPPEARS,
AN ARCTIC FOX HUNTS FOR EGGS.
SMALL MAMMALS
ARE THE FOX'S MAIN PREY.
BUT THEY'LL EAT ANYTHING FROM
BERRIES TO ROTTING CARCASSES.
THE GEESE ARE CONSTANTLY
ON GUARD,
BUT THEIR EGGS
ARE A TEMPTING TARGET.
BETTER YET, THEY CAN STASH THEM
FOR LATER TIMES.
THE EARTH
IS LIKE A REFRIGERATOR,
KEEPING THE EGGS FRESH
FOR MONTHS
AND THE NESTS ARE LIKE
A WELL-STOCKED STORE.
FOXES WILL STEAL
OVER 1,500 SNOW-GOOSE EGGS
IN A SINGLE NESTING SEASON.
THE GANDER ATTACKS.
BUT THE FOX SLIPS THROUGH,
EGG INTACT.
WITH ANOTHER MEAL WON,
IT MARKS ITS TERRITORY,
SENDING A SIGNAL TO OTHERS
TO STAY CLEAR
OF ITS PRECIOUS STORE OF FOOD.
AT THE END OF JUNE,
THE BRIEF SUMMER ARRIVES
IN THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC,
AND THE LAND BURSTS
INTO FULL COLOR.
MORE THAN 400 TYPES OF PLANTS
FLOURISH ON WRANGEL ISLAND --
TWICE THE NUMBER FOUND
IN OTHER AREAS OF THE TUNDRA.
FOR THREE MONTHS,
THE SUN WILL NOT SET.
THOUGH SNOW BUNTING
AND COMMON EIDER
BASK IN THE BRIGHT SUMMER SUN,
TEMPERATURES SELDOM RISE
ABOVE FREEZING.
A SUDDEN CHANGE IN WEATHER
BRINGS UNEXPECTED HARDSHIP.
SLEET TURNS TO HEAVY SNOW,
BRUSHING THE SUMMER FLOWERS
IN A COAT OF WHITE.
WHENEVER THERE'S A BREAK
IN THE WEATHER,
GREY PLOVERS
EAGERLY PECK OUT A MEAL.
PLOVERS, RUDDY TURNSTONES,
AND DUNLINS --
ALL BIRDS THAT RETURNED
EXPECTING SUMMER TEMPERATURES --
HUDDLE AGAINST THE CRUEL WIND.
SOME PERISH FROM THE UNEXPECTED
TURN OF WEATHER.
YET OTHERS
BARELY SEEM TO NOTICE.
THE MUSK-OXEN'S EXTRAORDINARY
FUR KEEPS THEM INSULATED.
SNOW DOESN'T EVEN MEL OFF THEIR BACKS.
[ GRUNTS ]
THIS SMALL GROUP
LED BY AN OLD BULL
NOTICES A YOUNGER MALE
SWAGGERING TOWARDS THEM.
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE,
THE OLDER BULL STIFFLYESUMSS
A FIGHTING STANCE.
THESE 900-POUND MALES
USE INTIMIDATION
AS THEIR FIRST TACTIC.
BUT THE NEWCOMER
SEEMS UNIMPRESSED.
HE APPROACHES THE FEMALES
IN THE GROUP.
THE OLD BULL HAS HAD ENOUGH.
THIS TIME,
THE YOUNGER ONE IS LUCKY.
BUT SOON, THE RULES
OF THE GAME WILL CHANGE,
AND THE YOUNG BULL MAY FACE
A MORE FORMIDABLE OPPONENT.
Narrator: IN RUSSIA'S
NORTHERNMOST TERRITORY,
WRANGEL ISLAND
IS A REMOTE SANCTUARY
FOR ARCTIC WILDLIFE.
SUMMER'S SUNLIT NIGHTS BEGIN
TO MELT THICK LAYERS OF ICE,
REVEALING THE ISLAND'S
PREHISTORIC PAST.
IVORY IS EXPOSED
BY THE BIG THAW --
A MAMMOTH TUSK
OVER 4,000 YEARS OLD.
WHEN RISING OCEANS CUT WRANGEL
OFF FROM THE MAINLAND,
A COLONY OF MAMMOTHS
WAS STRANDED.
HERE, THEY SURVIVED
ABOUT 6,000 YEARS LONGER
THAN THEIR RELATIVES ELSEWHERE.
TODAY, A DIFFERENT CREATURE
HAS STAKED OUT THESE HILLS --
REINDEER.
LIVE IN THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC.
THEIR SEARCH FOR FOOD
BRINGS THEM ACROSS
THE SNOW-GOOSE COLONY.
BUT THESE GEESE ARE PREOCCUPIED.
[ CHIRPING ]
THE FIRST CHICKS WILL LEAVE
THE NEST WITHIN HOURS.
BUT SHE MAY HAVE
UP TO FOUR MORE EGGS TO GO.
WHEN A FOX APPEARS,
THE MOTHER MOVES
TO CONCEAL HER CHICKS.
BUT TODAY,
THE FOX CHASES OTHER PREY.
ONE OF THEIR MAIN SOURCES
OF FOOD
IS THE TINY SIBERIAN
BROWN LEMMING.
ROUGHLY EVERY FOUR YEARS,
THE POPULATION EXPLODES
THEN CRASHES AS THEY RUN OU OF SPACE AND FOOD.
WHEN LEMMING NUMBERS DECLINE,
THE ENTIRE ARCTIC FOOD CHAIN
SUFFERS.
SHARP EYES AND EARS PAY OFF --
A RARE TREA IN THIS BAD LEMMING YEAR.
LIKE THE FOX,
THE VORACIOUS WOLVERINE
IS ALWAYS ON THE PROWL.
GOOD THING HE'S TOO BUSY RAIDING
THE FOX'S STORE OF EGGS
TO BOTHER WITH THE CHICKS.
SOON, THE WHOLE FAMILY
WILL MOVE TO THE FLAT TUNDRA
WHERE LAKES OFFER FOOD
AND GREATER SAFETY.
SOME FAMILIES MIGRATE
OVER 30 MILES --
A LONG AND DANGEROUS JOURNEY
FOR THE TINY CHICKS.
ABOUT HALF
WILL SURVIVE THEIR FIRST YEAR.
AS T RUSSIAN ARCTIC
ENTERS MIDSUMMER,
THE TUNDRA TURNS GREEN,
AND FOOD IS PLENTIFUL.
BUT THE VEGETATION
HAS A SHORT GROWING SEASON --
JUST 50 DAYS BEFORE SNOW FALLS
AGAIN AND THE LAND FREEZES.
PARENTS RUSH TO FILL THE MOUTHS
OF HUNGRY YOUNGSTERS.
IN THE MOUNTAIN REGIONS,
ARCTIC FOXES AREN'T SO LUCKY.
[ YIPS ]
WHERE NORMALLY A HALF DOZEN KITS
WOULD FROLIC,
ONLY TWO UNDERSIZED ONES
AWAIT THE RETURN
OF THEIR MALNOURISHED MOTHER.
THIS SUMMER'S LEMMING CRASH
IS TAKING ITS TOLL.
THE MOTHER'S LEF TO SCAVENGE FOR THREE.
HER KITS MAY NOT MAKE I THROUGH SUMMER.
LIKE THE FOX MOTHER,
THIS SNOWY OWL
ALSO FEELS THE PINCH.
IN GOOD TIMES,
SHE'D EAT UP TO FIVE LEMMINGS
PER DAY.
BUT NOT THIS YEAR.
[ SCREECHING ]
SHE HAS 2 CHICKS IN HER NES INSTEAD OF THE USUAL 10.
THEY BEG,
BUT SHE HAS NO FOOD FOR THEM.
ONE OF THE CHICKS
IS FAR TOO TINY.
IF IT DOESN'T EAT SOON,
IT WON'T SURVIVE.
Narrator: IT'S SUMMER
IN THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC.
BUT THE 24-HOUR SUN
DOESN'T BRING RELIEF
TO A FAMILY OF SNOWY OWLS.
A MOTHER STRUGGLES
TO FEED HER TWO CHICKS.
[ CHICK SCREECHING ]
THE STRONGER CHICK
WILL BULLY THE SMALLER ONE
AND TAKE MOST OF THE FOOD,
BUT ONLY IF THE MOTHER
CAN FIND ANY AT ALL.
THINGS LOOK BRIGHTER
FOR ANOTHER FAMILY.
THESE 4-WEEK-OLD FOX KITS
ARE FILLING THEIR BELLIES
WITH GOOSE MEAT.
WITH LEMMING NUMBERS LOW,
GEESE ARE AT THE TOP
OF THE FOXES' DIET.
ARCTIC FOXES HAVE THE BIGGES LITTERS OF ANY MAMMAL,
GIVING BIRTH
TO AS MANY AS 19 KITS.
EVEN THOUGH THIS LITTER
IS SMALL,
THE SIBLING RIVALRY AMONG
THESE THREE KITS IS FIERCE.
EVERY SCRAP OF FOOD IS PRECIOUS.
[ SNARLING LIGHTLY ]
WHILE TWO SQUABBLE,
THE THIRD OUTWITS THEM
AND MAKES A CLEAN BREAK.
AT 10 MONTHS,
THEY'LL BE FULLY MATURE,
BUT FEW MANAGE
TO REACH THAT AGE.
THOSE THAT DO SURVIVE
WILL START OU IN A SMALL, NOMADIC GROUP
BEFORE STRIKING OU ON THEIR OWN.
THE YOUNG THIEF
RETURNS TO ITS SIBLINGS,
LOOKING FOR A SOFT SPOT TO NAP
UNTIL THE ADULTS RETURN.
IN THE HILLS,
THE MOTHER OWL STILL SEARCHES
FOR THE SCARCE LEMMINGS.
FROM A HIGH VANTAGE POINT,
SHE CAN USE HER ACUTE EYESIGH TO SPOT THE TINY MAMMAL.
OWLS CAN'T MOVE THEIR EYES
IN THEIR SOCKETS,
BUT THEY CAN TURN THEIR HEADS
THREE-QUARTERS OF THE WAY AROUND
FOR A PANORAMIC VIEW.
[ SCREECHES ]
SUCCESS IS CRITICAL.
HER HUNGRY CHICKS ARE WAITING.
[ SCREECHES ]
THE INSTANT SHE DROPS
THE PRECIOUS LEMMING,
THE LARGER CHICK CLAIMS IT.
BY NOW, THE SMALLER SIBLING
CAN HARDLY MOVE.
THE BIGGER ONE
WON'T GIVE UP THE FOOD.
IT'S REMARKABLE FOOTAGE
OF NATURE TAKING ITS COURSE.
SEEING THE PROBLEM,
THE CONCERNED MOTHER TRIES HER
BEST TO SAVE HER STARVING CHICK.
BUT THE MOTHER'S TOO LATE.
THIS REALLY IS
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.
SHE HAS ONE LAST CHANCE
TO GET IT RIGH BEFORE WINTER SETS IN.
Narrator:
IN THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC,
HARDSHIP EXTENDS BEYOND LAND
AND INTO THE SEA.
THE BREAKUP OF THE ICE FLOES
ALLOWS THE PASSAGE OF MIGRANTS,
SOME AFTER
A 3,000-MILE JOURNEY --
WHITE BELUGA WHALES.
[ VOCALIZING ]
IN THE SUMMER,
THEY TRAVEL ALONG THE COAST,
SEARCHING FOR CRABS
AND SCHOOLS OF FISH.
THEY LACK A DORSAL FIN,
AN ADAPTATION
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO SWIM
UNDER THE ICE FLOES SAFELY.
A WHALE JUST A FEW HOURS OLD
STICKS CLOSE TO ITS MOTHER,
HITCHING A RIDE
IN HER SLIPSTREAM.
GROUPS CAN NUMBER
IN THE HUNDREDS,
BUT WITH YOUNG,
THEY TRAVEL IN SMALLER PODS.
HUNDREDS OF FEE ABOVE THE WATER,
SEABIRDS ALSO ENJOY
THE OCEAN'S UNTY.
ALONG THE ROCKY COAST,
SEVERAL SPECIES FORM LARGE,
RAUCOUS BREEDING COLONIES.
RED-LEGGED KITTIWAKES
PLUNDER SMALL FRY.
AND THE ROBUS BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMO CAN NUMBER IN THE THOUSANDS.
JUTTING UP BETWEEN THE BIG SKY
AND THE DEEP SEA,
THIS CHAOTIC
AVIAN APARTMENT BLOCK
OFFERS BIRDS PROTECTION
FROM PREDATORS.
[ SQUAWKING ]
BUT SOMETIMES,
IT'S THE NEIGHBORS
YOU HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR.
FORTUNATELY, THE MANAGEMEN PROVIDES SHOWERS.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S SUMMER,
WHAT'S A WATERFALL ONE DAY
CAN TURN INTO ICE THE NEXT.
ARCTIC SEABIRDS
MUST BE RESILIENT.
FIERCE WINDS
BLAST THE FACE OF THE CLIFF
AND ICICLES
BLOCK ACCESS TO NESTS.
THE DRAB, VERTICAL CLIFFS
AREN'T WITHOUT LOCAL COLOR,
INCLUDING HORNED PUFFINS
NAMED FOR THE HORNLIKE RIDGES
ABOVE THEIR EYES.
IN AUGUST, YOUNG GUILLEMOTS
LEAVE THE ROCK FACE
AND HEAD FOR THE WATER
QUITE A CHALLENGE
WHEN ICE CLOSES IN.
UNABLE TO FLY,
THE CHICKS MUST CRAWL
TO OPEN WATER
SO THEIR FATHERS CAN FEED THEM.
ARCTIC FOXES DINE HERE, TOO,
AND MOVE NIMBLY
ACROSS THE FLOES.
THE AIR CARRIES A CLEAR SCEN OF THE BIRDS' MOVEMENTS.
BUT A 9-POUND FOX
NEEDS TO TREAD MORE LIGHTLY
THAN A 2-POUND GUILLEMOT.
[ SQUAWKS ]
THIS MEAL IS TOO RISKY,
SO THE FOX TROTS AWAY
TO FIND ANOTHER.
PERHAPS A SEAL CARCASS.
THE REMARKABLY TOUGH GUILLEMOTS
NAVIGATE THE SCATTERED FLOES
TO REACH OPEN WATERS.
ONLY THEN
WILL THE YOUNG LEARN TO FLY.
AS SUMMER COMES TO A CLOSE,
THE POLAR BEARS AWAIT THE RETURN
OF THE PACK ICE,
THEIR GATEWAY OFF THE ISLAND.
IT'S BEEN FOUR MONTHS,
AND THE PICKINGS ON LAND
ARE LEAN.
LIKE ANY PUDDLE-LOVING CHILD,
THIS YOUNG BEAR
CAN'T RESIST A SHALLOW POOL.
HE TAKES A DRINK,
AND THEN HE NOTICES
HIS OWN REFLECTION.
BUT SOMETHING EVEN BETTER
CATCHES HIS EYE.
[ GRUNTS ]
THIS IS A RARELY SEEN SIGHT --
A FISHING POLAR BEAR.
HE HAS LITTLE IDEA
HOW TO HANDLE HIS PRIZE CATCH.
USUALLY, POLAR BEARS HUN FOR SEALS OUT ON THE PACK ICE.
BUT UNTIL THE ICE REAPPEARS,
ANY SOURCE OF SUSTENANCE
WILL DO.
AS AUTUMN APPROACHES,
THE DAYS GROW SHORTER
AND COOLER.
THIS IS THE SEASON
OF THE MUSK-OX.
MALES GATHER TO COMPETE
FOR DOMINANCE.
BUT WHEN BULLS
ARE EVENLY MATCHED,
THE FIGHTING CAN TURN DEADLY.
Narrator: AUTUMN HAS ARRIVED
IN RUSSIA'S ARCTIC,
AND THE LAST FLASH OF COLOR
BRIGHTENS THE LANDSCAPE
WHERE FIERCE BATTLES
ARE UNDERWAY.
IT'S THE MUSK-OXEN RUT.
COMPETE FOR DOMINANCE,
SOMETIMES FIGHTING TO THE DEATH.
[ GRUNTING AND SNORTING ]
AND 8-INCH-THICK BONE BETWEEN
THEIR HORNS CALLED THE BOSS
IS MOUNTED ON A FLEXIBLE BASE,
PROTECTING THEIR BRAINS
FROM THE SHOCK OF IMPACT.
THE HEAD-ON COLLISIONS
CAN BE HEARD A MILE AWAY.
AND THEY'LL REPEAT THIS
UP TO A DOZEN TIMES.
THIS RARELY CAPTURED FOOTAGE
SHOWS THE RITUALIZED STANDOFF,
WHICH IS INTENDED TO INTIMIDATE,
BUT CAN TURN DEADLY
IF NEITHER BULL GIVES GROUND.
RUNNING ONLY 150 FEET,
THEY CAN REACH 25 MILES PER HOUR
BEFORE IMPACT.
A WINNER FINALLY PREVAILS
WHEN ONE TIRES AND RETREATS.
THE VICTORIOUS OLD BULL
KEEPS HIS HAREM
AND THE CHANCE
TO PASS ON HIS GENES.
MEANWHILE, AS THE TUNDRA
SLIDES EVER CLOSER TO WINTER,
THE SNOW GEESE PREPARE TO LEAVE.
TENS OF THOUSANDS
GATHER NEAR THE COAST.
[ SNOW GEESE HONKING ]
THEY ARE READY TO FLY AS FAR AS
CALIFORNIA 3,000 MILES AWAY.
BUT MOST MAMMALS CAN'T LEAVE
THE DESOLATE ARCTIC
AND INSTEAD PREPARE TO ENDURE
THE LONG, FROZEN WINTER.
POLAR BEARS MAY BE AT THE TOP
OF THE FOOD CHAIN,
BUT EVEN THESE MASSIVE PREDATORS
ARE VULNERABLE.
WITHOUT PACK ICE,
THEY'LL EVENTUALLY STARVE.
[ GROWLING ]
MOTHERS AND CUBS
DESPERATELY PATROL
THE GRAVEL BANKS FOR SCRAPS.
THE YOUNGSTERS
STAY UNDER HER PROTECTION
FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.
IF THREATENED, ADULTS CAN CHARGE
AT 25 MILES PER HOUR.
MOTHERS WITH THE YOUNGEST CUBS
STAY ON HIGH ALERT.
OLDER CUBS APPEAR CURIOUS,
BUT NEED TO KEEP THEIR DISTANCE.
BODY LANGUAGE WARNS OTHERS
TO STAY AWAY.
WEIGHING UP TO THREE-QUARTERS
OF A TON,
MALES ARE A SERIOUS THREAT.
THEY TAKE NO PAR IN RAISING CUBS
AND WILL SOMETIMES KILL THEM.
FEMALES WILL DEFEND THEIR CUBS,
BUT WISE MOTHERS SIMPLY AVOID
POTENTIAL DANGERS,
HEADING FOR SAFER TERRITORY.
THANKFULLY, THE OLDER BEAR
IS PREOCCUPIED,
SCOURING THE SHORE FOR FOOD.
IN TIMES OF PLENTY,
POLAR BEARS WILL EA THE BLUBBER OF A WALRUS
AND LEAVE THE REST.
BUT IN HARD TIMES,
THEY'LL TAKE WHAT THEY CAN GET.
THIS YOUNG MALE HAS FOUND
AN OLD WALRUS SKIN.
IT'S TOUGH
BUT HAS SOME NUTRITIONAL VALUE.
WRANGEL ISLAND
ATTRACTS THE WORLD'S LARGES POPULATION OF WALRUSES --
UP TO 100,000
IN SPRING AND SUMMER.
AT SOME POINT, THE WALRUSES
WILL COME ASHORE TO REST.
THEY'LL STAY IN THE SEA
WHILE THE BEARS LINGER
ON THE BEACH
FILLING POUCHES
IN THEIR THROATS WITH AIR
SO THEY CAN SLEEP UPRIGH IN THE WATER.
THE BIG MALE
CONTINUES HIS PATROL,
PASSING BONES
FROM KILLS OF PREVIOUS YEARS.
A LONE WALRUS
HAS PULLED UP ONSHORE.
SEPARATION FROM THE HERD
SUGGESTS IT MAY BE SICK.
WHEN MORNING COMES,
THE WALRUS IS GONE,
AND THE BEAR
HAS CLEARLY FEASTED.
WITH BLOOD ON HIS FACE AND PAWS,
HE'S FULL AND SLOW.
A YOUNGER BEAR
HAS AN AIR OF CAUTION
AS HE APPROACHES
THE OTHER'S KILL.
BUT HE NEEDN'T WORRY.
AN ADULT WALRUS CAN WEIGH
A STAGGERING 3,700 POUNDS.
SO IT CAN FEED MANY.
ITS BLUBBER IS RICH IN ENERGY.
THE YOUNGSTER MUST EAT FAST.
POLAR BEARS
HAVE AN ACUTE SENSE OF SMELL
AND CAN DETECT PREY
MORE THAN A HALF A MILE AWAY.
HE WON'T BE ALONE FOR LONG.
WHEN THE COAST IS CLEAR,
THE GROUP OF WALRUSES
FINALLY COMES ASHORE TO REST.
THEIR UNIQUE TUSKS,
ACTUALLY ENLARGED TEETH,
AVERAGE 20 INCHES LONG
BUT CAN GROW TO TWICE THAT.
EFFICIENT TOOLS,
THEY'RE HANDY FOR FIGHTING,
CUTTING INTO ICE,
AND TEARING INTO PREY.
BUT TUSKS CAN ALSO BE
A LIABILITY
FOR THESE SOCIAL ANIMALS.
THESE GATHERINGS
CARRY OTHER RISKS, TOO.
YOUNG CALVES
SOMETIMES GET CRUSHED
AS DOZENS OF ADULTS PILE ON.
[ GRUNTS ]
STILL, MOST MANAGE TO FIND
A COMFORTABLE RESTING POSITION.
ONCE THEY REGAIN STRENGTH
AND THE TEMPERATURE DROPS,
THEY'LL HEAD TO
THE BERING STRAIT FOR WINTER.
IN OCTOBER,
TEMPERATURES PLUMMET.
DESPITE TEMPERATURES
DIPPING TO MINUS 40 DEGREES,
BEARS CONTINUE
THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES
WRAPPED IN THICK FUR
AND 3 INCHES OF INSULATING FAT.
BROKEN FIELDS OF PACK ICE
REACH THE COAS AND BEGIN TO FREEZE TOGETHER.
ONCE AGAIN,
THE BEARS ARE ON THE MOVE.
THE RETURN OF THE PACK ICE
AND SHIMMERING COLORS IN THE SKY
MARK THE CLOSE OF AUTUMN
IN THE ARCTIC.
THE AURORA BOREALIS,
OR NORTHERN LIGHTS,
DANCE 40 MILES OVERHEAD.
IT'S AS IF THE SUMMER COLORS
OF THIFROZEN WHITE EXPANSE
RESIDE FAR ABOVE
THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC,
READY TO DESCEND WHEN THE SUNLI NIGHTS OF SUMMER REAPPEAR.
IN THE ARCTIC'S WORLD OF
BITING COLD AND HOWLING STORMS,
NATURE LAYS DOWN HARSH RULES
FOR SURVIVAL.
BUT IN THIS STARK LAND
LIES A GENTLE BEAUTY,
A TRUE RUSSIAN WILDERNESS
AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD.