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(THUNDER CRACKS)

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TOM HARDY:
Predators across the planet,

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unmatched in strength...
(ROARING)

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...speed,

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strategy,

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stealth, and teamwork.

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But staying on top is never easy.
(LION GROWLS)

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(LION CUB GROWLS) As the world
around them changes,

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00:00:38,803 --> 00:00:41,643
they must adapt
faster than ever before

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to maintain their rule.
(LION GROWLS)

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(SNARLS)

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(ANIMALS GROWLING AND GRUNTING)

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In sub-Arctic Canada,
the largest bears on earth...

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(GRUNTS)
...dominate.

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(ROARING)

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From the smallest cub
to the biggest males,

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they face one common enemy. Hunger.

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Every year,
the polar bears of Hudson Bay

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travel hundreds of kilometres
across the frozen sea to hunt seals.

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(CALLS SOFTLY)
But time is against them.

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As summer approaches,
the sea ice melts away...

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...forcing them back to land,

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where they must master a new world
until winter returns,

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or face an uncertain future.

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The end of autumn on the western
shore of Canada's Hudson Bay.

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Home to a bustling community
of 1,000 polar bears.

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Made up of mums and cubs,

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boisterous teenagers,
and solitary adults.

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With its rugged shoreline,

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and vast waters,

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Hudson Bay is
an extreme place to live.

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(WIND HOWLING)

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Temperatures here on land
are beginning to drop.

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And the entire bay starts to freeze.

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Nanuk, a young hungry bear,

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is being forced to live on land...

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...where food is scarce.

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But five months of famine
has weakened him.

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He is losing roughly
a kilo of body mass a day.

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While he's desperate
to move out onto the ice,

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it's not yet solid enough
to hold his weight.

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As the bay begins to freeze over,

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the atmosphere is tense
as more bears begin to gather.

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Pukak, a rival bear,
begins to size up Nanuk.

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(BIRD TRILLING)

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(WIND HOWLING)

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They are both famished.

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(GROWLING)
Nanuk must stand his ground.

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At almost 400 kilograms,
both bears are heavyweights.

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Nanuk steps into the ring
and strikes a mighty blow.

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(ROARING)

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(BOTH ROARING)

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It may look brutal...

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(ROARS)

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...but the aim
is not to inflict injury.

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Nanuk's goal is to pin
his opponent to the ground.

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Determined, he gains the upper hand,

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throwing all his weight
upon his rival.

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(ROARING)

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Pukak is overpowered.

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(WHIMPERING)

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Nanuk has won.

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Play-fights like this cement Nanuk's
place amongst the other males

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and gain him
essential fighting skills.

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(GROWLS)

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Having asserted his dominance,

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he now needs to conserve energy

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while he waits
for the bay to freeze.

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Hudson Bay is undergoing

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one of the most dramatic
seasonal changes on Earth.

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With the sea freezing solid,

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forming ice three times the size
of the United Kingdom.

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But it's not only bears that
call this frozen desert home.

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They share it with the seals
that raise their young here.

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The prey of choice
for this predator.

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Nanuk is not alone
hunting on the sea ice.

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Polar bears of every generation
are on the move.

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From seasoned veterans...

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...to first-timers.

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And after weeks on the ice,
this young male bear

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is still getting to grips
with locating seals.

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This could take some time.

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His prey number in their thousands,

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and they can only be reached through
cracks and holes in the sea ice.

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Lying in ambush

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can be a long and fruitless wait.

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(GRUNTS)

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It's better to keep on moving,

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using his acute sense of smell
to track down his next meal.

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(GRUNTING)

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His compulsion to hunt
drives him to search

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for any signs of seals
above and below the ice.

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But swimming is hard work,

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sapping his already
depleted energy levels.

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Finally,
a seal within his sights.

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But this bulky bear makes
for a less than ideal sprinter.

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Hunting relies
on the element of surprise.

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(BIRDS SQUAWKING)

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But bad timing.

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A flock of birds
draws the seal's gaze to him.

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(WATER SPLASHES)

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While he spends most of his life
in the pursuit of this prey,

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most hunts are unsuccessful.

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(ICE CRACKING)

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His quest continues.

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Until he finally picks up
on the scent he's been craving.

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Despite being almost invisible
from the surface,

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he has located a seal den
under the ice.

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(THUDDING)

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He pounds at the den roof,
desperate for what's below.

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(ICE CRACKS)

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Success.

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At last, he can feast.

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It's a promising start for
the first bears out on the ice.

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If they are to pile on enough weight
to survive when the bay is ice-free,

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they need to work fast
and catch many more seals.

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But in recent years,

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a warming climate
has altered their world,

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reducing the length of time
they can hunt on the ice.

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Five hundred kilometres west,

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back on land, it's now March.

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Whilst most of the Hudson Bay bears
have been hunting on the sea ice,

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a small group of pregnant females
have remained inland.

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(WIND HOWLING)

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This single mum has carefully
dug out a den

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for herself and her two cubs.

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Her encounter with a male last year
resulted in the birth of her twins.

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(SCREECHING SOFTLY)

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Tala is the smaller cub

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and bears the brunt of big brother
Sika's playful scuffle.

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(WHIMPERS SOFTLY)

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He takes a bite,
letting Tala know who's boss.

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(WIND HOWLING)

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Both baby bears are totally reliant
on their mother for milk and warmth.

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Her cubs must feed
on her fat-rich milk

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every three to four hours
if they are to survive.

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She has not eaten since she entered
the den eight months ago.

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And there is no food for her here.

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Soon, she will have to take
the cubs and leave.

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But judging when to go
is a huge decision.

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If she leads them
on this journey too soon,

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they may not be strong enough
to survive.

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If she leaves it too late,
they will starve.

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And with a storm building,

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the bears will be going nowhere today.

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(WIND HOWLING)

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(BIRD CALLING)

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TOM HARDY: As the skies clear,

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the Northern Lights dance above the
polar bear family as they sleep.

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(WHISTLING)

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(WHOOSHING)

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Thankfully, the next day
is perfectly calm.

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Mum seizes the opportunity
to start their journey.

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While big brother Sika runs ahead,

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Tala's small frame
is holding him back.

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(GRUNTS)

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(WHIMPERS)

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Mum offers him
some gentle encouragement.

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After a few days
of non-stop walking,

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Tala is exhausted.

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Driven by hunger, they all push on.

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But they still have
a gruelling 80 kilometres

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before the start of the shoreline.

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From there, almost a million
square kilometres of ice

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lies ahead of them.

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If they can make
this arduous journey,

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they will have the chance
to feed on seals.

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(CUB CALLS SOFTLY)

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After five days,
Tala is pushed to his limits.

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He and his brother
are constantly demanding food,

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and it's slowing their progress.

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All tired little Tala
wants to do is feed and rest.

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But after only a few minutes,
he is moved on.

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Sika bounds ahead
whilst Tala tries to keep up.

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Incredibly, after eight days,

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they reach the coast,

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As the whole landscape
is covered by a blanket of snow,

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it is difficult to see
where the frozen land finishes

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and the sea ice begins.

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(WIND HOWLING)

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Around the Hudson Bay,

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other polar bear mums
and new cubs are emerging,

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some with even
more mouths to feed.

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All are bound for the sea ice.

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(SNIFFING)

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(WIND HOWLING)

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This mother expertly navigates

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00:15:58,403 --> 00:16:02,123
the ever-shifting landscape of ice
as it breaks up,

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moves, and refreezes.

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00:16:08,603 --> 00:16:11,363
But negotiating it
with two small cubs

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is a different challenge.

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Despite her best efforts,
they are easily distracted.

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And these shallow meltwaters
are the perfect playground.

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(GROWLING)

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Even at this early age,

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these cubs are developing
their fighting skills.

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While the cubs play,

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00:16:55,843 --> 00:16:59,723
their resourceful mum searches
for a snack to tide them over.

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00:17:03,603 --> 00:17:07,083
Beneath the surface, she finds them
mineral-rich sea kelp.

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00:17:12,643 --> 00:17:15,763
It's enough to distract them
from their game.

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(SQUAWKING)

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00:17:22,203 --> 00:17:24,923
After her dip, a roll in the snow

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00:17:24,923 --> 00:17:28,723
is an opportunity to teach
the cubs how to dry off.

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00:17:31,763 --> 00:17:35,043
(CUB SQUEALS) But she can't
afford for them to hang around.

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00:17:37,723 --> 00:17:39,723
As the weeks pass,

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00:17:39,723 --> 00:17:43,803
she experiences the thaw
sooner than expected.

207
00:17:43,803 --> 00:17:46,963
It's an early spring melt.

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00:17:49,403 --> 00:17:52,683
This is potentially devastating
for her cubs.

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00:17:55,323 --> 00:17:58,323
The less time she has
to catch seals,

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00:17:58,323 --> 00:18:02,123
the less likely her cubs
will survive their first year.

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00:18:04,723 --> 00:18:07,203
If climate change continues
at its current rate...

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00:18:07,203 --> 00:18:09,283
(ICE CRACKING)

213
00:18:09,283 --> 00:18:13,323
...the situation will only
get worse for this family.

214
00:18:20,803 --> 00:18:24,923
Traversing this icy landscape
has turned dangerous.

215
00:18:24,923 --> 00:18:27,723
(GRUNTING)

216
00:18:29,763 --> 00:18:33,283
They can no longer trust
the ground beneath their feet.

217
00:18:33,283 --> 00:18:36,363
(ICE CRACKING)

218
00:18:49,443 --> 00:18:53,843
Wading through icy water
is now a necessity.

219
00:18:55,683 --> 00:18:59,083
It's a life-or-death challenge
for the tiny cubs.

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00:19:00,923 --> 00:19:03,083
(CUB WHIMPERS)

221
00:19:07,923 --> 00:19:10,323
(CUB WHIMPERS)

222
00:19:19,923 --> 00:19:24,363
But what they are about to face
is on an entirely different level.

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00:19:26,003 --> 00:19:28,123
(SQUAWKING)

224
00:19:28,123 --> 00:19:30,323
Within weeks,

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00:19:30,323 --> 00:19:33,563
the sea ice between the bears
and the land breaks up,

226
00:19:33,563 --> 00:19:38,123
creating millions
of shrinking islands.

227
00:19:38,123 --> 00:19:42,963
The family are now almost
300 kilometres from land,

228
00:19:42,963 --> 00:19:46,683
in the centre of the bay,
on the remaining ice.

229
00:19:46,683 --> 00:19:51,283
They must time this perfectly.

230
00:19:51,283 --> 00:19:54,043
If they depart too soon,

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00:19:54,043 --> 00:19:57,843
they will not have eaten enough
seal blubber to last the year.

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00:19:57,843 --> 00:19:59,883
If they leave it too late,

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00:19:59,883 --> 00:20:03,563
the cubs will not survive
the long swim back to shore.

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00:20:08,643 --> 00:20:11,923
It's just as well
that Mum has found her stride...

235
00:20:14,683 --> 00:20:18,163
...providing the cubs
with food on the move.

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00:20:18,163 --> 00:20:21,603
From nutritious kelp
to nourishing seals.

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00:20:24,323 --> 00:20:26,563
(ROARS)

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00:20:26,563 --> 00:20:29,443
As they pile on the kilos,

239
00:20:29,443 --> 00:20:31,523
with each day that passes,

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00:20:31,523 --> 00:20:34,603
the swim back to shore
grows longer.

241
00:20:37,443 --> 00:20:39,563
But despite her best efforts,

242
00:20:39,563 --> 00:20:42,523
Mum has run out of time.

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00:20:46,163 --> 00:20:48,803
As the seals return
to an ice-free ocean,

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00:20:48,803 --> 00:20:51,203
the Hudson Bay bears have no choice

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00:20:51,203 --> 00:20:54,323
but to commence
their own journey back to land.

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00:20:58,523 --> 00:21:02,363
One lone polar bear
is ahead of the family.

247
00:21:06,203 --> 00:21:09,083
He's had a successful season

248
00:21:09,083 --> 00:21:11,843
and is the heaviest
he will be this year.

249
00:21:11,843 --> 00:21:15,283
The ice beneath his feet thins

250
00:21:15,283 --> 00:21:18,963
and is already beginning
to give way beneath his weight.

251
00:21:20,403 --> 00:21:22,683
(SQUAWKING)

252
00:21:24,883 --> 00:21:27,043
Arriving at the frozen edge,

253
00:21:27,043 --> 00:21:30,603
he is confronted
with nothing but open water.

254
00:21:34,763 --> 00:21:37,403
But he has no idea
of the exact distance

255
00:21:37,403 --> 00:21:39,963
between him and the land.

256
00:21:48,083 --> 00:21:50,083
Over the next month,

257
00:21:50,083 --> 00:21:53,483
all the polar bears of Hudson Bay
begin their journey.

258
00:21:53,483 --> 00:21:56,443
Some over the remaining ice,

259
00:21:56,443 --> 00:22:00,643
others endure an exhausting swim.

260
00:22:02,843 --> 00:22:05,403
They will either reach the land

261
00:22:05,403 --> 00:22:08,323
or die trying.

262
00:22:20,363 --> 00:22:22,363
TOM HARDY: It's July,

263
00:22:22,363 --> 00:22:24,803
and five months
before the ice returns.

264
00:22:26,643 --> 00:22:30,763
Many of the Hudson Bay polar bears
have made it safely back to shore.

265
00:22:32,803 --> 00:22:35,683
These are the lucky ones.

266
00:22:35,683 --> 00:22:39,203
Some did not survive the swim.

267
00:22:39,203 --> 00:22:44,083
For those that did,
the landscape is transforming.

268
00:22:47,683 --> 00:22:50,763
As the last of the ice melts,

269
00:22:50,763 --> 00:22:53,523
temperatures are rising.

270
00:22:59,763 --> 00:23:03,843
Everything awakes
from its winter slumber.

271
00:23:07,363 --> 00:23:09,883
Summer has arrived.

272
00:23:12,923 --> 00:23:15,123
(BIRDS CHIRPING)

273
00:23:15,123 --> 00:23:17,883
Many creatures emerge
from hibernation

274
00:23:17,883 --> 00:23:21,443
or migrate thousands
of kilometres to feed here.

275
00:23:21,443 --> 00:23:24,323
(SQUAWKING)

276
00:23:24,323 --> 00:23:27,203
Now is a time of plenty for some,

277
00:23:27,203 --> 00:23:29,963
with food in abundance
up and down the coast.

278
00:23:35,683 --> 00:23:39,003
But while these animals
have everything they need,

279
00:23:39,003 --> 00:23:43,483
this family face a time of hardship.

280
00:23:49,723 --> 00:23:52,083
With the seals
far out of reach in the ocean,

281
00:23:52,083 --> 00:23:55,443
the bears' fat reserves
are their lifeline.

282
00:24:00,323 --> 00:24:03,523
The mother continues
to hunt for her family...

283
00:24:03,523 --> 00:24:05,363
(BEAR ROARS)

284
00:24:05,363 --> 00:24:09,363
...but most animals here on land
are too quick for her to catch.

285
00:24:09,363 --> 00:24:12,363
And so are just
not worth the energy.

286
00:24:15,843 --> 00:24:18,003
(BIRDS SQUAWKING)

287
00:24:18,003 --> 00:24:20,043
(MOTHER BEAR HUFFING)

288
00:24:22,883 --> 00:24:25,843
It is time for this apex predator

289
00:24:25,843 --> 00:24:29,323
to transform from hunter
to gatherer.

290
00:24:36,923 --> 00:24:39,123
Lush grasses offer a welcome snack.

291
00:24:44,963 --> 00:24:48,323
But a plant-based diet
can only do so much.

292
00:24:48,323 --> 00:24:50,443
Weight loss is inevitable.

293
00:24:58,563 --> 00:25:01,083
(BEES BUZZING)

294
00:25:01,083 --> 00:25:04,843
It's August now, and four months
before the big freeze.

295
00:25:16,923 --> 00:25:19,003
This young male, Arktos,

296
00:25:19,003 --> 00:25:21,923
is one month into his new diet.

297
00:25:25,763 --> 00:25:28,443
He is losing weight, and fast.

298
00:25:29,483 --> 00:25:32,123
(DISTANT HIGH-PITCHED CALLING)

299
00:25:34,123 --> 00:25:36,683
As he scours the landscape for food,

300
00:25:36,683 --> 00:25:40,003
a unique call entices him
up the shore.

301
00:25:44,243 --> 00:25:47,723
He hones in on its source
as it might provide a lifeline.

302
00:25:47,723 --> 00:25:49,763
(HIGH-PITCHED CALLING)

303
00:25:50,883 --> 00:25:53,403
Unbeknown to him, under the waves,

304
00:25:53,403 --> 00:25:59,043
thousands of beluga whales
have travelled here to give birth.

305
00:25:59,043 --> 00:26:01,363
(WHALES CALLING)

306
00:26:06,843 --> 00:26:09,603
This is a fleeting visit
of just weeks.

307
00:26:14,043 --> 00:26:16,443
Arktos has to figure out
how to catch one.

308
00:26:22,163 --> 00:26:26,083
Groups of whales pass him by,
far away from the shore.

309
00:26:26,083 --> 00:26:30,643
His only option is to plunge
into their world.

310
00:26:34,803 --> 00:26:37,763
But the tide is strong,

311
00:26:37,763 --> 00:26:41,323
and his prey swims out of reach.

312
00:26:52,843 --> 00:26:55,923
Time to rethink his tactics.

313
00:27:02,083 --> 00:27:05,443
He needs a vantage point if he wants
to surprise them from above.

314
00:27:08,483 --> 00:27:11,603
But this prime spot
from which to hunt is prized.

315
00:27:11,603 --> 00:27:16,523
And an older,
more experienced male, Ursa,

316
00:27:16,523 --> 00:27:19,683
wants the rock for himself.

317
00:27:27,883 --> 00:27:29,963
(ROARING)

318
00:27:29,963 --> 00:27:33,043
Contesting this is no play-fight.

319
00:27:35,083 --> 00:27:37,403
(ROARING)

320
00:27:44,083 --> 00:27:47,443
Out of his depth, he is defeated.

321
00:27:47,443 --> 00:27:50,643
And Arktos has no choice
but to head back to shore.

322
00:27:53,763 --> 00:27:57,363
But perhaps he can turn
this setback to his advantage,

323
00:27:57,363 --> 00:28:01,043
and Ursa can show him
how it's done.

324
00:28:04,083 --> 00:28:07,883
Silent and patient, Ursa waits.

325
00:28:10,803 --> 00:28:13,083
Timing is everything.

326
00:28:15,723 --> 00:28:19,123
Each passing whale
presents just one chance.

327
00:28:23,603 --> 00:28:25,883
Belugas drift close to his rock,

328
00:28:25,883 --> 00:28:28,443
unaware of the danger he presents.

329
00:28:33,123 --> 00:28:35,523
Ursa prepares to pounce.

330
00:28:35,523 --> 00:28:38,523
He must be deadly accurate.

331
00:28:38,523 --> 00:28:40,843
♪ DRAMATIC MUSIC

332
00:28:55,683 --> 00:28:57,683
(BIRDS SQUAWK)

333
00:28:58,603 --> 00:29:02,323
One swift move lands a stunning blow
to the whale's skull.

334
00:29:08,403 --> 00:29:10,923
Sinking his jaws into its body,

335
00:29:10,923 --> 00:29:15,163
he uses his paddle-like feet
to swim back to shore.

336
00:29:17,083 --> 00:29:21,123
Now he must fight the current
to land his prize.

337
00:29:34,563 --> 00:29:37,923
Exhausted, he can finally feed.

338
00:29:39,003 --> 00:29:43,723
(GROWLS) Young Arktos
is quick to muscle in.

339
00:29:45,363 --> 00:29:46,763
(HUFFS)

340
00:29:46,763 --> 00:29:49,683
As he challenges
the experienced hunter,

341
00:29:49,683 --> 00:29:53,043
it's evident sharing doesn't
come easy to these bears.

342
00:29:53,043 --> 00:29:55,083
(ROARING)

343
00:30:02,163 --> 00:30:06,843
But a little bravado wins Arktos
a morsel to tide him over.

344
00:30:13,043 --> 00:30:15,803
The beluga whales' visit is brief,

345
00:30:15,803 --> 00:30:18,443
and only a few have mastered
the predatory skills

346
00:30:18,443 --> 00:30:21,043
required to hunt here.

347
00:30:21,043 --> 00:30:23,083
And those that have...

348
00:30:24,323 --> 00:30:26,563
...make the most of it.

349
00:30:30,403 --> 00:30:33,683
An entire whale is too much
for one bear.

350
00:30:33,683 --> 00:30:39,803
Once satisfied, Ursa's spoils
become a free-for-all.

351
00:30:47,923 --> 00:30:51,683
The bounty builds as other
experienced bears take to the water.

352
00:31:00,363 --> 00:31:05,323
Hunters target the slower,
more vulnerable, beluga calves.

353
00:31:05,323 --> 00:31:09,243
For bears fortunate enough
to be in the area,

354
00:31:09,243 --> 00:31:11,643
there is plenty to go around...

355
00:31:11,643 --> 00:31:13,883
...for now.

356
00:31:17,403 --> 00:31:19,643
A hungry mother and her cubs
have travelled here

357
00:31:19,643 --> 00:31:22,683
in the hope of scavenging
from abandoned carcasses.

358
00:31:25,923 --> 00:31:28,443
As the crowd thins out,
she seizes her moment.

359
00:31:29,523 --> 00:31:34,563
And the family gets to taste meat
again for the first time in weeks.

360
00:31:43,083 --> 00:31:45,643
This meal has replaced
precious calories

361
00:31:45,643 --> 00:31:48,123
and bought them time.

362
00:31:49,523 --> 00:31:52,603
But autumn is rapidly approaching,

363
00:31:52,603 --> 00:31:57,363
and the beluga whales leave and
head back out to the open ocean.

364
00:32:02,483 --> 00:32:06,123
The bears have made the most
of this short-lived treat.

365
00:32:06,123 --> 00:32:09,283
Time to return to a lean diet.

366
00:32:09,283 --> 00:32:11,323
(BIRDS SQUAWKING)

367
00:32:13,723 --> 00:32:15,723
Those unable to dine on the whales

368
00:32:15,723 --> 00:32:19,643
have had a very different experience.

369
00:32:19,643 --> 00:32:21,843
(SNIFFING)

370
00:32:21,843 --> 00:32:26,283
They are now relying on the
very last of their fat reserves.

371
00:32:26,283 --> 00:32:31,803
All they can do is continue
to conserve their energy

372
00:32:31,803 --> 00:32:33,843
until winter returns.

373
00:32:51,123 --> 00:32:54,643
TOM HARDY: It's November
and the freeze is nearing.

374
00:32:58,643 --> 00:33:01,883
Hunger is becoming intolerable
amongst the bears...

375
00:33:04,323 --> 00:33:07,483
...as they begin to make their
journey back along the coast.

376
00:33:12,563 --> 00:33:15,323
Polar bear families, teenagers,

377
00:33:15,323 --> 00:33:19,283
and lone adults, are coming together
to begin the cycle once again.

378
00:33:21,483 --> 00:33:26,163
Mum Aurora and her ten-month-old
cubs, Kaska and Kodi,

379
00:33:26,163 --> 00:33:28,363
have survived the toughest months.

380
00:33:30,723 --> 00:33:33,363
But autumn is dragging on.

381
00:33:33,363 --> 00:33:36,763
She needs to find a safe place
to wait for the freeze.

382
00:33:44,243 --> 00:33:46,323
Around the shoreline,

383
00:33:46,323 --> 00:33:48,963
the Hudson Bay bears
bide their time,

384
00:33:48,963 --> 00:33:53,763
spending the last few weeks foraging
on whatever they can find.

385
00:33:57,563 --> 00:33:59,923
Others are more successful.

386
00:34:02,363 --> 00:34:04,963
(RODENT SHRIEKS)

387
00:34:06,403 --> 00:34:07,803
(WIND BLOWING)

388
00:34:07,803 --> 00:34:09,163
(SNIFFS)

389
00:34:09,163 --> 00:34:12,363
And an enticing scent on the wind

390
00:34:12,363 --> 00:34:15,923
leads desperate Aurora
away from the beach.

391
00:34:22,403 --> 00:34:26,243
But venturing this far
along the coast is hazardous.

392
00:34:27,963 --> 00:34:31,763
She is now in human territory.

393
00:34:38,403 --> 00:34:42,083
The remote frontier town
of Churchill.

394
00:34:44,203 --> 00:34:47,283
Population just under 900.

395
00:34:49,363 --> 00:34:53,443
And this place lies
right in the path of the bears.

396
00:34:55,723 --> 00:34:57,683
(HUFFS)

397
00:35:04,363 --> 00:35:08,923
She follows the scent
to the town's landfill.

398
00:35:19,643 --> 00:35:22,403
The rubbish here
is far from ideal for bears,

399
00:35:22,403 --> 00:35:25,763
but she seizes
any opportunity she can.

400
00:35:27,443 --> 00:35:29,883
Fiercely hungry,

401
00:35:29,883 --> 00:35:33,643
she's significantly thinner
than five months ago.

402
00:35:33,643 --> 00:35:36,803
With so few options,

403
00:35:36,803 --> 00:35:39,763
Aurora is not the only one
to come in search of food.

404
00:35:41,883 --> 00:35:44,803
Other bears begin to gather
on the edge of town.

405
00:35:48,083 --> 00:35:50,403
Forced to live off the land
for months,

406
00:35:50,403 --> 00:35:52,563
now they are ravenous and restless.

407
00:35:52,563 --> 00:35:54,723
(GRUNTS)

408
00:35:54,723 --> 00:35:59,123
And competition for food
could spill over into violence.

409
00:36:05,843 --> 00:36:07,843
A large male approaches Aurora.

410
00:36:10,923 --> 00:36:14,683
She can't risk any bear
getting too close.

411
00:36:14,683 --> 00:36:19,003
Hunger could easily cause this
stranger to attack her cubs.

412
00:36:19,003 --> 00:36:21,243
She retreats quickly.

413
00:36:29,843 --> 00:36:33,283
The family needs to find
a quiet spot,

414
00:36:33,283 --> 00:36:35,923
away from town.

415
00:36:39,003 --> 00:36:43,523
Mum leads the cubs to a safe vantage
point above the bay, and waits.

416
00:36:47,083 --> 00:36:48,803
From here, she can look out

417
00:36:48,803 --> 00:36:51,443
across the sea ice
beginning to form.

418
00:36:56,843 --> 00:36:58,843
With energy levels low,

419
00:36:58,843 --> 00:37:03,843
she will stop nursing her cubs
if the ice doesn't come soon.

420
00:37:06,443 --> 00:37:08,763
But she can sense it in the air.

421
00:37:08,763 --> 00:37:11,763
The big freeze is coming.

422
00:37:16,643 --> 00:37:20,563
Temperatures are starting to drop.

423
00:37:20,563 --> 00:37:23,723
More lone bears arrive on the shore.

424
00:37:26,963 --> 00:37:28,643
Against great odds,

425
00:37:28,643 --> 00:37:31,803
Nilak, a young male,
has survived his first year

426
00:37:31,803 --> 00:37:34,723
without the protection
of his mother.

427
00:37:37,523 --> 00:37:41,883
His hunger makes him desperate
for the ice to form.

428
00:37:41,883 --> 00:37:47,403
But it's still too warm
for the chunks to fuse together,

429
00:37:47,403 --> 00:37:52,043
and they drift with the current
and the winds.

430
00:37:55,923 --> 00:38:00,483
Despite the hunger, the most
any bear here can do is wait.

431
00:38:03,323 --> 00:38:05,443
(WIND HOWLING)

432
00:38:09,683 --> 00:38:14,803
Days grow shorter,
and winter grows closer.

433
00:38:14,803 --> 00:38:18,603
The first heavy snow
of the season starts to fall.

434
00:38:18,603 --> 00:38:20,643
But the ice doesn't form fast enough

435
00:38:20,643 --> 00:38:24,883
for Aurora and her cubs to go
back to their hunting grounds.

436
00:38:26,723 --> 00:38:28,883
Some bears hunker down,

437
00:38:28,883 --> 00:38:32,003
while others are growing impatient.

438
00:38:34,763 --> 00:38:39,123
The males make use of their time
to sharpen their fighting skills.

439
00:38:39,123 --> 00:38:41,363
(ROARING)

440
00:38:49,883 --> 00:38:52,123
One of Aurora's cubs, Kaska,

441
00:38:52,123 --> 00:38:55,683
looks on as the tundra
turns into a battleground.

442
00:39:00,803 --> 00:39:03,723
In time, the young cubs
will need to learn how to duel.

443
00:39:05,923 --> 00:39:08,923
For now,
all they can do is observe.

444
00:39:11,363 --> 00:39:14,363
And this fight is soon over.

445
00:39:23,563 --> 00:39:26,483
It's the start of the big freeze.

446
00:39:26,483 --> 00:39:31,083
Temperatures are plummeting
to minus 30 degrees Celsius.

447
00:39:32,723 --> 00:39:35,003
The landscape transforms.

448
00:39:35,003 --> 00:39:38,883
Frozen crystals start to form
in the sea

449
00:39:38,883 --> 00:39:42,003
and a layer of ice
appears on its surface.

450
00:39:46,683 --> 00:39:48,683
(WIND HOWLING)

451
00:39:48,683 --> 00:39:50,803
(BIRDS SQUAWKING)

452
00:39:54,683 --> 00:39:57,923
Waking up to a world
blanketed in snow and ice

453
00:39:57,923 --> 00:40:01,643
is what Aurora and her family
have been waiting for.

454
00:40:08,043 --> 00:40:11,963
At long last, the rolling sea ice
is frozen solid.

455
00:40:17,683 --> 00:40:19,843
Now ten months old,

456
00:40:19,843 --> 00:40:22,643
Kaska and Kodi have acquired
the necessary skills

457
00:40:22,643 --> 00:40:25,843
to cope in times
of feast and famine.

458
00:40:31,323 --> 00:40:35,643
Aurora's next challenge is to take
them back onto the sea ice

459
00:40:35,643 --> 00:40:38,283
and teach them how to hunt.

460
00:40:39,523 --> 00:40:41,923
(ANIMAL CALLING)

461
00:40:46,003 --> 00:40:48,603
Nilak joins the first wave of bears

462
00:40:48,603 --> 00:40:52,123
as they make their move
onto the sea ice.

463
00:40:56,203 --> 00:40:59,683
Finally, they can return
to the sea platform to hunt.

464
00:41:08,083 --> 00:41:12,203
The time also comes
for the family to leave.

465
00:41:12,203 --> 00:41:16,483
In the years ahead, the cubs'
resourcefulness must grow with them.

466
00:41:18,323 --> 00:41:21,803
But for this iconic apex predator,

467
00:41:21,803 --> 00:41:25,763
a warming climate
poses an uncertain future.

468
00:41:27,883 --> 00:41:31,523
Their survival will depend
on the incredible resilience

469
00:41:31,523 --> 00:41:34,363
of these and the other cubs,

470
00:41:34,363 --> 00:41:38,843
all striving to find a way
in their new world.

471
00:41:56,403 --> 00:41:58,763
To capture the story
of polar bears in the wild...

472
00:41:58,763 --> 00:41:59,923
(ROARING)

473
00:41:59,923 --> 00:42:04,403
...the Predators team headed to the
far reaches of Canada's Hudson Bay,

474
00:42:04,403 --> 00:42:06,963
famous for its migrating bears.

475
00:42:06,963 --> 00:42:10,483
Over the course of a year,
they endured the weather...

476
00:42:10,483 --> 00:42:12,723
(WIND HOWLING)

477
00:42:12,723 --> 00:42:16,163
...and the landscape...

478
00:42:16,163 --> 00:42:18,203
...just as the bears did.

479
00:42:18,203 --> 00:42:20,803
(ICE CRACKING)

480
00:42:20,803 --> 00:42:23,563
Capturing the lives of bears
out on the frozen bay

481
00:42:23,563 --> 00:42:26,083
would prove to be the ultimate test.

482
00:42:26,083 --> 00:42:28,643
(ROARS)

483
00:42:28,643 --> 00:42:30,843
The sea ice is a dangerous place,

484
00:42:30,843 --> 00:42:34,483
which constantly shifts
as it breaks up and refreezes.

485
00:42:34,483 --> 00:42:38,523
Camera operators Berenice Mathieu
and Charlie Stoddart

486
00:42:38,523 --> 00:42:42,123
have been helped by a specialist
team of experienced guides.

487
00:42:44,083 --> 00:42:46,843
This is the first time
the western Hudson Bay bears

488
00:42:46,843 --> 00:42:49,443
have been filmed like this
during the winter months.

489
00:42:49,443 --> 00:42:52,443
And due
to the treacherous conditions,

490
00:42:52,443 --> 00:42:54,843
the team begins to understand why.

491
00:42:54,843 --> 00:42:58,483
With barely a thousand bears
in such a vast area,

492
00:42:58,483 --> 00:43:00,523
the pressure is on.

493
00:43:00,523 --> 00:43:02,563
Using skidoos...

494
00:43:04,483 --> 00:43:08,603
...and specially adapted
amphibious vehicles,

495
00:43:08,603 --> 00:43:11,363
the team ventures onto the sea ice.

496
00:43:14,723 --> 00:43:16,963
It's slow going.

497
00:43:16,963 --> 00:43:21,043
Each day, they are able to cover
75km in their search for bears,

498
00:43:21,043 --> 00:43:24,003
and this icy world
is not to be taken lightly.

499
00:43:24,003 --> 00:43:27,123
Whilst the bears navigate routes

500
00:43:27,123 --> 00:43:30,163
through the broken-up sea ice
with ease,

501
00:43:30,163 --> 00:43:35,003
the team must stick to safer
surfaces called land-fast ice.

502
00:43:35,003 --> 00:43:37,523
It's slow going.

503
00:43:37,523 --> 00:43:40,203
Do you copy? It's Mike.

504
00:43:40,203 --> 00:43:43,283
Mapping out a safe route
is challenging,

505
00:43:43,283 --> 00:43:46,683
as cracks in the ice, called leads,
hinder their progress.

506
00:43:46,683 --> 00:43:49,683
And even with
the most experienced guides,

507
00:43:49,683 --> 00:43:52,003
they can still get caught out.

508
00:43:53,963 --> 00:43:56,123
(THUD)

509
00:43:56,123 --> 00:43:58,163
We are currently right in the lead.

510
00:43:59,163 --> 00:44:02,043
We just went through the ice
a little bit.

511
00:44:06,643 --> 00:44:09,043
Whoa! Wait!

512
00:44:18,163 --> 00:44:19,843
BERENICE: Well done.
CHARLIE: Oh!

513
00:44:21,683 --> 00:44:25,843
The team patrol the region of sea
ice which is attached to the land

514
00:44:25,843 --> 00:44:28,083
and is the most stable.

515
00:44:28,083 --> 00:44:31,203
It's day seven,
and despite their best efforts,

516
00:44:31,203 --> 00:44:34,203
no sign of the bears.

517
00:44:34,203 --> 00:44:37,443
Locating an animal that perfectly
blends into its environment

518
00:44:37,443 --> 00:44:40,003
is proving a challenge.

519
00:44:48,243 --> 00:44:50,883
Mike Reimer, from the guiding team,

520
00:44:50,883 --> 00:44:54,363
picks up signs of activity
in the jumbled blocks of sea ice.

521
00:44:55,603 --> 00:44:58,163
The team continues on the trail.

522
00:45:03,883 --> 00:45:06,283
Just when things are looking up,

523
00:45:06,283 --> 00:45:10,203
the fading light forces
the team back to base.

524
00:45:17,003 --> 00:45:18,683
It's the next day,

525
00:45:18,683 --> 00:45:22,603
and it's the seals that give
the crew the break they need.

526
00:45:34,923 --> 00:45:36,923
A quick sweep with the drone

527
00:45:36,923 --> 00:45:40,083
confirms there are bear tracks
worth following.

528
00:45:47,883 --> 00:45:51,403
It's a game of catch-up, but the
team finally get to share the day

529
00:45:51,403 --> 00:45:55,123
with the mum and two young cubs
they've been tracking.

530
00:46:00,723 --> 00:46:02,803
To really understand
the incredible lengths

531
00:46:02,803 --> 00:46:05,043
these bears go to survive here,

532
00:46:05,043 --> 00:46:07,923
the team needed to return
in a few months' time.

533
00:46:13,323 --> 00:46:15,243
The arrival of spring here

534
00:46:15,243 --> 00:46:18,603
brings one of the biggest
seasonal changes on Earth.

535
00:46:19,683 --> 00:46:23,643
When the team returns,
Hudson Bay is transformed.

536
00:46:26,363 --> 00:46:29,483
Leaping from minus 30 degrees
Celsius in the winter

537
00:46:29,483 --> 00:46:33,003
to over 25 in the summer
has melted the sea ice

538
00:46:33,003 --> 00:46:35,523
and exiled the bears back to land.

539
00:46:35,523 --> 00:46:37,843
But this melt has made possible

540
00:46:37,843 --> 00:46:41,203
the summer migration
of beluga whales,

541
00:46:41,203 --> 00:46:45,563
enticing for both
bears and film crew.

542
00:46:45,563 --> 00:46:49,163
And both need to find new ways of
working in this changed landscape.

543
00:46:49,163 --> 00:46:51,123
(BIRDS SQUAWKING)

544
00:46:51,123 --> 00:46:53,083
For the team, it's an opportunity

545
00:46:53,083 --> 00:46:55,523
to film the only polar bears
in the world

546
00:46:55,523 --> 00:46:58,843
that use the rocks
to hunt beluga whales.

547
00:46:58,843 --> 00:47:01,403
Despite the disappearance
of the ice,

548
00:47:01,403 --> 00:47:05,243
these precarious waters present
a whole new set of problems.

549
00:47:08,323 --> 00:47:12,483
This area has an extremely
dynamic tidal range.

550
00:47:12,483 --> 00:47:15,283
We've just arrived, we're setting up
the new camera system,

551
00:47:15,283 --> 00:47:17,683
and we're going out to see
what the bears are doing.

552
00:47:22,683 --> 00:47:25,723
For the crew, it's all about timing.

553
00:47:28,003 --> 00:47:30,123
They have just four hours a day

554
00:47:30,123 --> 00:47:33,323
to access the hunting rocks,
hoping a bear makes a catch

555
00:47:33,323 --> 00:47:36,283
and gets safely back to shore
before the tide goes out.

556
00:47:36,283 --> 00:47:39,963
It's as challenging as it is risky.

557
00:47:39,963 --> 00:47:44,163
But on arrival,
none of the rocks are occupied.

558
00:47:44,163 --> 00:47:47,283
Not by bears, at least.

559
00:47:47,283 --> 00:47:50,043
At the moment, the bears
can come in from any direction,

560
00:47:50,043 --> 00:47:53,003
and there are multiple spots
that they hunt from.

561
00:47:53,003 --> 00:47:55,723
And we are completely surrounded
by beluga whales,

562
00:47:55,723 --> 00:47:58,443
which is ideal
for the bears at the moment.

563
00:47:58,443 --> 00:48:03,523
The clock is ticking as they
watch the tide begin to drop.

564
00:48:03,523 --> 00:48:05,723
But all they can do
is wait for a bear.

565
00:48:07,443 --> 00:48:09,483
And wait...

566
00:48:09,483 --> 00:48:11,843
...and wait.

567
00:48:11,843 --> 00:48:14,363
But you can't fight the tide.

568
00:48:14,363 --> 00:48:17,083
It's time to leave
or risk getting stranded.

569
00:48:23,683 --> 00:48:26,083
Undeterred,
over the next three weeks,

570
00:48:26,083 --> 00:48:29,043
the crew heads out
again and again to film a hunt.

571
00:48:30,843 --> 00:48:33,523
Sometimes the bears
just don't perform.

572
00:48:35,803 --> 00:48:38,203
(THUNDER RUMBLES)

573
00:48:38,203 --> 00:48:40,563
And sometimes the weather
is against them.

574
00:48:40,563 --> 00:48:43,923
This huge crane that we've got here
is a bit of a lightning conductor.

575
00:48:43,923 --> 00:48:46,923
Better to be safe than sorry.

576
00:48:46,923 --> 00:48:50,403
The crew decide to head back
to shore.

577
00:48:50,403 --> 00:48:53,123
(THUNDER CRACKS)

578
00:48:54,923 --> 00:48:58,723
When it finally looks like
everything has come together...

579
00:49:00,203 --> 00:49:02,963
...this bear jumps away
from the camera.

580
00:49:09,683 --> 00:49:12,563
Determined, the crew
push their daily filming window

581
00:49:12,563 --> 00:49:14,363
as far as they can.

582
00:49:24,203 --> 00:49:26,203
(WIND HOWLING)

583
00:49:27,123 --> 00:49:29,083
With just three days to go,

584
00:49:29,083 --> 00:49:32,283
the crew have learnt everything
that can go wrong,

585
00:49:32,283 --> 00:49:34,603
but they're not ready to give up.

586
00:49:36,123 --> 00:49:38,963
As the team approaches the rocks,

587
00:49:38,963 --> 00:49:41,643
they hear the familiar calls
of the beluga whales

588
00:49:41,643 --> 00:49:43,363
in the shallow waters.

589
00:49:43,363 --> 00:49:45,563
(WHALES CALLING)

590
00:49:45,563 --> 00:49:49,403
And see a bear
walking along the shoreline.

591
00:49:51,803 --> 00:49:53,843
BERENICE: You see a bear?

592
00:49:58,843 --> 00:50:02,523
This is the chance
the crew has been waiting for.

593
00:50:02,523 --> 00:50:04,563
One bear is perched on a rock

594
00:50:04,563 --> 00:50:06,923
showing tell-tale signs
that he might jump.

595
00:50:06,923 --> 00:50:09,803
The ears are back

596
00:50:09,803 --> 00:50:13,563
and he's frantically scanning
the water for any signs of whales.

597
00:50:25,723 --> 00:50:28,563
Finally, everything comes together.

598
00:50:30,083 --> 00:50:33,563
For the team to film
and the bears to eat.

599
00:50:36,723 --> 00:50:42,243
For the next three days,
more bears join the hunt.

600
00:50:42,243 --> 00:50:45,243
They are drawn
to this much-needed meal,

601
00:50:45,243 --> 00:50:47,843
and there's plenty to go around.

602
00:50:50,763 --> 00:50:54,523
Both the bears and crew have shown
just how adaptable they need to be

603
00:50:54,523 --> 00:50:57,163
to withstand the conditions here.

604
00:50:59,483 --> 00:51:02,243
The footage that the team
were able to capture has given us

605
00:51:02,243 --> 00:51:05,563
a unique insight
into the lives of polar bears.

606
00:51:07,883 --> 00:51:11,323
And a new understanding of their
incredible resilience and skill

607
00:51:11,323 --> 00:51:13,963
when faced
with a rapidly changing world.

608
00:51:21,843 --> 00:51:24,283
Next time in Botswana...

609
00:51:25,483 --> 00:51:27,963
...a legendary lioness and her pride

610
00:51:27,963 --> 00:51:31,683
face the fight of their lives

611
00:51:31,683 --> 00:51:36,603
as they battle to keep
ten young cubs alive.

612
00:51:40,523 --> 00:51:43,523
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