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{\an8}[narrator] Disneynature is
bringing together a top team
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to tell the story of one of the most
charismatic animals
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of the Galápagos Islands.
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Sea Lions of the Galápagos
follows the journey of a young sea lion
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as he explores the islands
looking for a territory of his own.
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The team will need to work
around the clock
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to capture the awe-inspiring beauty
of this landscape.
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And the weird and wonderful animals
who call it home.
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They will also explore
the challenges facing these islands
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and learn from
those fighting to protect them.
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[narrator]
600 miles off the coast of Ecuador,
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volcanic activity is forming new land,
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and the team are right in the thick of it.
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- You got me, Hamish?
- Yep.
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Whoo!
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- [speaks Spanish]
- [speaks Spanish]
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[camera operator] Ah...
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[in English] Seeing it this close,
seeing the power of it all, it's um...
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It's insane. And it's hot.
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Probably the... the hottest thing
I reckon I ever felt. Real hot.
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[narrator] There are 13 major islands
in Galápagos, all formed by fire.
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{\an8}It is so exciting to see an eruption.
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And I guess that's because
it is the essence of the Galápagos.
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It's like the beginning of time.
This is exactly how the islands were born.
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[narrator]
Cinematographer Richard Wollocombe
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has been working in the islands
for over 30 years.
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He'll be leading the expeditions, as well
as filming for the Disneynature project.
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[Richard] I was one of the first people to
explore the Galápagos Islands underwater.
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And ever since,
I've been dreaming of making a film
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about my favorite animal in the world.
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The Galápagos sea lion.
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[narrator] There's never been
a more important time to tell their story.
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Over the past 40 years,
their numbers have fallen dramatically.
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They are now an endangered species.
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Richard and the team want to find out why.
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Millions of years ago,
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the ancestors of these sea lions
were swept here from North America.
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Alongside a motley crew of castaways.
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All pulled in by the powerful
ocean currents which converge here.
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The currents also brought
nutrients to sustain them,
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feeding plankton, which fed fish,
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which in turn fed marine predators.
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Over time, many of these creatures
evolved into new species.
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And so, the Galápagos became
one of the most unique habitats on Earth.
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[squawk]
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The very latest arrivals
are Richard and his family.
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Wife Anna and twins Alorna and Thalia.
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They'll be based out here
for the duration of filming.
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But before they leave this airport,
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they'll need to pass
one very important test.
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[narrator]
When visitors arrive in Galápagos,
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it's crucial that their baggage
contains no unwanted stowaways.
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That's because
the animals that evolved here
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are especially vulnerable to new species
invading from the outside world.
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To limit this risk,
expeditions entering the Galápagos
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are subject to
stringent quarantine rules.
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And the crew are no exception.
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Every single case must be unloaded
and fumigated to remove any insects.
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And their clothes must be locked
in the freezer for three days.
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Seventy-two hours later,
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they load it back onto the trucks for
the long drive across Santa Cruz Island.
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But the crew's journey is just beginning.
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The only way to truly see these islands
is by boat.
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The Danubio Azul
will be filming headquarters.
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It's a 70-foot liveaboard dive boat,
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with everything they'll need
to explore the archipelago.
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Richard will be away from his family
for a whole month.
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So it's time to say their goodbyes.
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Bye, sweetheart. Mwah.
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- Take care, my love.
- You too.
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- Say hello to sea lions. [chuckles]
- Will do, will do.
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All right.
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[kisses] Take care, guys.
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Bye.
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Yeah, that's the hard part of the job.
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[narrator] The crew wastes no time
packing away all the camera equipment...
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- saying hello to old friends...
- [speaks Spanish]
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...and getting settled into their cabins.
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{\an8}I bought a whole... a kilo.
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{\an8}A kilo of crystalized ginger
because, apparently, um...
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it stops you from being seasick,
and I get really seasick.
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Chocolate. [chuckles]
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[narrator] With such a long journey,
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Richard has plenty of time
to reflect on his early days in Galápagos.
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[Richard] It was 1987 when my family
decided to come here on holiday.
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And the first thing we did
was go snorkeling.
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We headed out to this gorgeous sandspit.
Beautiful turquoise water.
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I could see these dark shapes
on the white sand beach.
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They looked like rocks
but they were moving.
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We jumped in...
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and before long,
we were surrounded by sea lion pups.
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All just really curious about
what we were doing there.
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It was like a mirror.
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We would pirouette, they would pirouette.
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We would somersault,
they would somersault.
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It was just the most amazing choreography
that was going on.
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And I couldn't believe that this wild
animal could be so curious and playful.
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I'll never forget the experience
as long as I live.
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[narrator]
The team have 30 nautical miles to go
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before reaching their first location
off Floreana Island.
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Their mission is to film
the start of the sea lion story.
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But it's not
the smoothest of sea conditions.
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- [grunts, groans]
- [narrator] And some of the crew
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are struggling with the commute.
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[sighs] I found the cure for seasickness.
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[camera operator] What is it?
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So there's quite a few aspects.
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I have bands on my wrists
for travel sickness.
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I took a travel sickness tablet,
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I took a ginger tablet, um...
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I laid down flat, and I've been
looking at the horizon for four hours.
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[camera operator]
How's that... How's that working for you?
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I've only been sick a few times. [laughs]
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[grunts]
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[narrator] 97% of the islands
are designated as a national park
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and require special permissions to visit.
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Each Galápagos island
has a character of its own.
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To the west, are the youngest islands.
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Fernandina, the most volcanically active,
formed less than one million years ago.
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As the islands age and settle,
soil and dense vegetation begin to form.
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Like the lush Scalesia forests
of Santa Cruz.
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[squawking]
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One of the oldest islands, Española,
lies in the east.
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Four million years of erosion
have left their mark.
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And eventually Española will sink
beneath the waves.
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Despite having worked here
for three decades,
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there are still islands
that Richard has never been to.
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It's an unknown quantity to me.
Completely.
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I just... I've never been to this side.
Only once I saw it from a boat.
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[narrator]
They're anchoring at Baronesa Island
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in their search for
a sea lion pup with star quality.
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Simon is saying this place has
never been visited by a tourist before.
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And very, very few people...
even scientists come here.
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So the sea lions are not used to people.
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[sea lion croaking]
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[Ewan] It's the first time
I've ever been to the Galápagos,
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{\an8}but it's a place
that I've wanted to visit my entire life.
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I'm excited, I'm kind of nervous.
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It's the first day of the shoot,
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and it's immediately, um, evident
how much life there is.
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[narrator] The team's first step
is to scout the island.
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And drone pilot, Shelton, is on the case.
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[drone buzzing]
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Using the special access the team have
secured to film the islands from the air.
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{\an8}I'm seeing some beautiful beaches
off to the north.
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I'm gonna fly in and take a closer look.
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[Tash, on radio] Okay, that sounds
amazing. I think I know where you mean.
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I'm gonna go up with the guys
and head over there now.
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[sea lion barking]
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[narrator] Meanwhile, Richard and JC
are edging closer to the action.
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Richard has secured his camera
to a floating pontoon called a split rig,
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which allows him to film
right at the water's surface...
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[barking]
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...where curious sea lions
love to hang out.
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[♪ lively music playing]
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[narrator] The animals of Galápagos
are famously fearless.
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The reason for this lies
in the hostile nature of this landscape.
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Above the waves, the sun is scorching
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and there's very little rainfall...
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which meant that humans chose not to
settle here until around 200 years ago.
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[♪ ominous music playing]
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And the animals that had evolved on
the islands never learned to fear people.
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Back on Baronesa,
the crew have hit the jackpot.
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This island just, like,
continues to amaze. Um...
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We kinda come around the corner
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and there's just this, like, whole other
beautiful beach and sea lions everywhere.
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Just, like, another amazing
little corner of this... this island.
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We've finally found our hero.
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[♪ lively music playing]
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[sea lion grunts]
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[grunting]
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[Ewan] We've found this beautiful,
healthy, little ball of fluff.
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Probably only a week old.
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It's got a great mother.
It's feeding really well.
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It's got a lot of energy.
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It's got, like, good exploratory spirit.
It's up to no good.
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All the things that we're looking for
out of the main character.
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{\an8}Any moment you're looking at him,
he's doing something different.
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He's constantly getting distracted
by a crab or a mangrove leaf.
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And just wandering around everywhere.
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So, he's just a really cute
character to follow.
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[♪ whimsical music playing]
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[groans]
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[Ewan] We've spent some
really quality time with these animals.
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And you watch them every day,
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you get a sense for their personalities
and their little nuances and behaviors.
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Leaving the island
is gonna be bittersweet for sure.
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[narrator]
The crew is off to a promising start
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thanks to Richard's wealth of experience
filming in the islands.
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[Richard]
When I first moved to the Galápagos,
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the underwater world here
was a completely new frontier.
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As soon as I finished my degree,
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I went to scuba diving school
and became an instructor.
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I was fortunate to get a guiding job
on the first dive boat in Galápagos.
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I loved spending time guiding visitors
who shared my enthusiasm for the islands.
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Then one day, I was invited to
guide a trip by some talented filmmakers
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making a wonderful program
here in Galápagos.
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They were really generous
with their knowledge
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and even gave me an underwater camera.
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It totally inspired me
to become a filmmaker.
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The riches of this marine paradise
have fascinated me ever since.
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[♪ inspirational music playing]
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[narrator]
Alongside this abundant wildlife,
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lives a vibrant community of people.
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Over the last 50 years,
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the number of permanent residents
on the islands has grown.
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Rubbing shoulders with sea lions
is a normal part of life here.
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[♪ lively folk music playing]
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[speaks indistinctly]
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[narrator] Many of the people of Galápagos
rely on the fruits of the sea
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for food and trade.
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And the local fish market
is always bustling.
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[people chattering]
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[narrator] But has this new community
found harmony with nature?
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[♪ soft piano music playing]
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{\an8}My name is Manuel Yepez,
but everybody call me Manolo.
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Ocean is my passion.
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I love the feeling to be out in the ocean.
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My family's been fishing in Galápagos
for three generations.
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It's just the connection that you have.
You, the ocean, the light, the animals...
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[narrator] Manolo is a subsistence
fisherman operating at a small scale.
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So, he's not in competition
with the sea lions.
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But during his lifetime, fishing demand
around the islands has grown...
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[thunder rumbling]
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...as large industrial boats from far and
wide have been drawn to these rich waters.
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There is a marine reserve here
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which bans such boats from entering
within 40 nautical miles of the coast.
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But its boundaries
haven't always been respected.
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In 2017, one boat made headlines
all over the world
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when it was found inside the reserve
with over 7,000 dead sharks on board.
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Many of the unique species
found here in the Galápagos
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fetch huge sums on the black market.
233
00:21:10,644 --> 00:21:16,317
{\an8}Outraged, the people of Galápagos
rose up to defend their waters.
234
00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:21,906
[Manuel] Was a big, big campaign.
But in the end, the government accepted.
235
00:21:22,573 --> 00:21:25,576
[narrator]
The reserve was extended dramatically
236
00:21:26,535 --> 00:21:29,538
to protect a vital
shark migration corridor
237
00:21:29,622 --> 00:21:32,583
between Galápagos and the Cocos Islands.
238
00:21:36,795 --> 00:21:39,089
And their work didn't stop there.
239
00:21:42,510 --> 00:21:45,763
The Galápagos National Park
and Ecuadorian Navy
240
00:21:45,846 --> 00:21:50,059
are now doubling down
on their efforts to protect the reserve.
241
00:21:51,644 --> 00:21:53,771
{\an8}[in Spanish] Go ahead.
242
00:21:53,854 --> 00:21:56,857
[narrator, in English]
Patrol capacity is being increased.
243
00:21:58,275 --> 00:21:59,818
[speaks Spanish]
244
00:22:02,112 --> 00:22:03,739
[speaks indistinctly]
245
00:22:05,699 --> 00:22:08,702
[siren wailing]
246
00:22:11,413 --> 00:22:13,874
[narrator] They must now watch over
a protected area
247
00:22:13,958 --> 00:22:17,962
that covers 76,000 square miles.
248
00:22:19,255 --> 00:22:21,882
[♪ dramatic music playing]
249
00:22:25,386 --> 00:22:29,431
[narrator] The people of Galápagos
want to ensure their ocean is protected,
250
00:22:29,515 --> 00:22:34,520
and they know the best way
to achieve that is by working together.
251
00:22:35,104 --> 00:22:38,399
[Manuel] As we live in the marine
reserve, we live in a... a special place.
252
00:22:40,150 --> 00:22:41,986
It's important for me
253
00:22:42,736 --> 00:22:47,866
this beautiful place is protected
in the future and the next generation.
254
00:23:00,129 --> 00:23:05,301
[narrator] Off Floreana Island,
the crew are preparing to dive after dark.
255
00:23:08,887 --> 00:23:12,433
Thanks to the increased marine protection
around the Galápagos,
256
00:23:13,309 --> 00:23:18,188
they now have a fighting chance
at filming some apex predators.
257
00:23:19,815 --> 00:23:22,026
Having spent the day out in the deep,
258
00:23:22,109 --> 00:23:27,281
many marine creatures will soon be
coming inshore to search for food.
259
00:23:27,364 --> 00:23:29,950
And Richard is ready for them.
260
00:23:30,034 --> 00:23:31,410
I've got three defenses.
261
00:23:31,493 --> 00:23:33,329
I've got this amazing suit
from Australia,
262
00:23:33,412 --> 00:23:35,372
which is an anti-shark-biting suit.
263
00:23:36,373 --> 00:23:39,209
I've got my camera to bump them
in the head if they come at me.
264
00:23:39,293 --> 00:23:42,755
And I've got JC
with his fantastic stick in a bag.
265
00:23:42,838 --> 00:23:44,798
So, nothing can go wrong.
266
00:23:44,882 --> 00:23:46,175
- [laughs]
- Whoo-hoo!
267
00:23:46,258 --> 00:23:49,178
[narrator]
Now they're suited up, it's time to dive.
268
00:23:49,261 --> 00:23:55,059
Okay. One, two, three, go!
269
00:24:03,859 --> 00:24:07,196
[narrator] It's the usual suspects
who appear first.
270
00:24:08,530 --> 00:24:11,283
Sea lions are never far from the action.
271
00:24:11,367 --> 00:24:14,745
And a special reflective membrane
at the back of their eyes
272
00:24:14,828 --> 00:24:18,415
means they can see in the dark
much better than humans.
273
00:24:19,416 --> 00:24:23,420
They also have some of the longest
whiskers of all mammals,
274
00:24:23,504 --> 00:24:25,422
which allow them to hunt at night.
275
00:24:29,593 --> 00:24:33,764
And they're not the only ones
looking for a midnight snack.
276
00:24:35,474 --> 00:24:38,811
[♪ ominous music playing]
277
00:24:43,691 --> 00:24:46,110
These are blacktips.
278
00:24:46,193 --> 00:24:49,905
They're big sharks.
Some easily six feet long.
279
00:24:52,658 --> 00:24:56,537
And the Galápagos is
an important nursery ground for them.
280
00:25:02,042 --> 00:25:05,421
The sharks don't see Richard or JC
as prey,
281
00:25:05,504 --> 00:25:08,382
but they still need to watch their backs.
282
00:25:36,493 --> 00:25:40,789
All of these sharks
provide a vital role in the food chain.
283
00:25:42,750 --> 00:25:46,295
Integral to keeping its fine balance.
284
00:25:49,465 --> 00:25:51,341
Oh, buddy. Great job.
285
00:25:52,551 --> 00:25:54,803
[cheers] We made it. We're alive.
286
00:25:54,887 --> 00:25:57,306
We've got all our arms and legs! Love it!
287
00:25:57,931 --> 00:26:01,101
[narrator] The Galápagos Marine Reserve
is currently home
288
00:26:01,185 --> 00:26:04,855
to the highest concentration of sharks
on the planet.
289
00:26:06,398 --> 00:26:09,151
Over 30 species can be found here,
290
00:26:10,527 --> 00:26:13,322
including schools of hammerheads...
291
00:26:15,324 --> 00:26:17,201
whitetip reef sharks...
292
00:26:22,122 --> 00:26:23,457
and tiger sharks.
293
00:26:31,256 --> 00:26:35,135
In fact,
this underwater world is so diverse
294
00:26:35,219 --> 00:26:39,056
it provides the perfect habitat
for all kinds of animals.
295
00:26:43,477 --> 00:26:47,481
The sea lions know it
like the back of their flipper
296
00:26:48,565 --> 00:26:52,694
and have learned to capitalize
on all the opportunities it provides.
297
00:26:58,992 --> 00:27:03,288
{\an8}The crew are on their way
to a remote corner of the Archipelago,
298
00:27:03,997 --> 00:27:07,042
{\an8}as they've heard about
an extraordinary behavior.
299
00:27:08,043 --> 00:27:12,381
Sea lions teaming up
to catch yellowfin tuna.
300
00:27:13,715 --> 00:27:16,426
[crew members] Good morning.
301
00:27:16,510 --> 00:27:17,886
Yeah.
302
00:27:17,970 --> 00:27:19,263
[speaks Spanish]
303
00:27:19,930 --> 00:27:23,392
Lava flows have created a maze of inlets,
304
00:27:25,185 --> 00:27:30,315
which one smart sea lion is using
to trap these super-sized prey.
305
00:27:34,695 --> 00:27:39,408
The Galápagos Marine Reserve is
a key breeding ground for yellowfin tuna.
306
00:27:41,285 --> 00:27:47,666
These huge fish can grow over
four feet in length and weigh 130 pounds.
307
00:27:48,542 --> 00:27:52,254
They are far too fast to capture
in the open ocean.
308
00:27:55,632 --> 00:28:00,596
But can the crew film sea lions
hunting them on this coast?
309
00:28:03,849 --> 00:28:06,560
The team start off
by scouting the shoreline
310
00:28:06,643 --> 00:28:10,314
and soon find the remains
of an enormous fish.
311
00:28:10,397 --> 00:28:13,233
It's a great evidence
that the behavior's happening.
312
00:28:13,317 --> 00:28:16,528
So, supremely positive sign.
That's great news.
313
00:28:17,321 --> 00:28:19,072
[narrator]
They need to prepare themselves,
314
00:28:19,156 --> 00:28:22,868
as this is going to be
a tough behavior to capture on camera.
315
00:28:28,707 --> 00:28:31,752
Javier and Jeff get right to it.
316
00:28:33,670 --> 00:28:37,049
They'll need to set remote cameras
all over the cove,
317
00:28:37,549 --> 00:28:40,052
ensuring every angle is covered.
318
00:28:48,894 --> 00:28:53,190
And they don't have long to wait
before their first slice of action.
319
00:28:53,273 --> 00:28:54,441
Yeah, they're quite impressive.
320
00:28:55,025 --> 00:28:57,402
They're right down here. Right there.
321
00:28:57,486 --> 00:29:01,365
[crew members speaking Spanish]
322
00:29:02,282 --> 00:29:05,077
[narrator] Sure enough,
an old bull has appeared,
323
00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:07,245
along with a hunting party.
324
00:29:12,876 --> 00:29:17,255
The sea lions will need each other's help
in order for their plan to work.
325
00:29:26,682 --> 00:29:30,060
Luck isn't on their side this time.
326
00:29:30,894 --> 00:29:33,021
But it was a great test run for the crew.
327
00:29:33,981 --> 00:29:37,734
And Jeff and Javier
can't wait to review the remote cameras.
328
00:29:38,568 --> 00:29:41,029
- [Javier] And then they come again.
- [Jeff] Wow. There's a lot of tuna.
329
00:29:41,113 --> 00:29:42,864
- [Javier groans]
- [Jeff groans] Nice.
330
00:29:42,948 --> 00:29:44,533
Oh, sick. Okay.
331
00:29:45,242 --> 00:29:46,410
And then they come.
332
00:29:46,493 --> 00:29:48,745
[Jeff] Oh! Right to camera. That's great.
333
00:29:50,247 --> 00:29:52,916
[stammers] What do those weigh?
Like, 150 pounds?
334
00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:54,793
- [Javier] Yeah. Probably.
- [Jeff] 125 pounds? Like...
335
00:29:54,876 --> 00:29:57,963
[Jeff] And they're just muscle.
Like, if that were to hit us...
336
00:29:58,046 --> 00:30:00,007
- [Javier] It would hurt.
- [Jeff] ...that would hurt a lot.
337
00:30:00,090 --> 00:30:02,634
- [Jeff exclaims, laughs]
- [Javier laughs, exclaims]
338
00:30:02,718 --> 00:30:05,012
Tomorrow they're probably
gonna hunt really early in the morning,
339
00:30:05,095 --> 00:30:07,055
so we should be ready. [chuckles]
340
00:30:08,056 --> 00:30:10,142
So, yeah. Early rise.
341
00:30:10,225 --> 00:30:13,103
You know what they say.
Early... Early bird catches the worm.
342
00:30:13,186 --> 00:30:14,604
Early sea lion catches the fish.
343
00:30:14,688 --> 00:30:16,273
[laughs]
344
00:30:24,531 --> 00:30:25,532
[narrator] Next morning,
345
00:30:25,615 --> 00:30:30,620
the team have eyes in the sky
as drone pilot Shelton takes over.
346
00:30:36,334 --> 00:30:38,378
[Shelton] I got a visual on the sea lion.
347
00:30:39,963 --> 00:30:42,549
Okay, I can see we've got three sea lions.
348
00:30:42,632 --> 00:30:44,885
We've got two big tuna.
Two big tuna coming in.
349
00:30:47,554 --> 00:30:50,307
[narrator] It's time
for Jeff and Javier to get geared up,
350
00:30:50,390 --> 00:30:52,309
as they'll be in the firing line.
351
00:30:55,395 --> 00:30:58,648
Carefully, they move into position.
352
00:31:03,153 --> 00:31:05,113
[Shelton] Coming in fast. Coming in fast.
353
00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:35,811
[bird squealing]
354
00:31:49,658 --> 00:31:53,578
- And it looks like he got him.
- [sea lion barking]
355
00:31:56,414 --> 00:32:00,085
It's very unusual for males
to be so closely bonded.
356
00:32:02,379 --> 00:32:05,674
I've never seen it in my 30 years here.
357
00:32:06,466 --> 00:32:11,054
Males cooperating so much
and sharing the food after the hunt.
358
00:32:12,222 --> 00:32:13,723
It's-It's extraordinary.
359
00:32:16,476 --> 00:32:21,857
[narrator] The crew are blown away
by the sea lions' talent for teamwork.
360
00:32:25,819 --> 00:32:27,946
But after a month in the cove,
361
00:32:28,029 --> 00:32:31,366
they've also made
one heartbreaking observation.
362
00:32:35,453 --> 00:32:39,624
{\an8}Literally in the middle of nowhere.
What do you find? Plastic.
363
00:32:42,752 --> 00:32:45,005
Fiberglass from a boat probably.
364
00:32:48,383 --> 00:32:50,719
{\an8}We go to all of these places on shoots.
365
00:32:50,802 --> 00:32:54,055
{\an8}In these places
that you think are pristine, um,
366
00:32:54,139 --> 00:32:56,057
because that's kinda the way they're shown
367
00:32:56,141 --> 00:32:58,143
in a lot of nature documentaries
and things like that.
368
00:32:58,226 --> 00:33:01,855
But it's just so difficult to go to p...
to-to find anything
369
00:33:01,938 --> 00:33:03,899
that doesn't have human impact.
370
00:33:13,074 --> 00:33:15,952
{\an8}[narrator]
Scientist Juan Pablo Muñoz Pérez
371
00:33:16,036 --> 00:33:18,997
{\an8}and national park representative
Galo Quezada
372
00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:21,458
{\an8}are collecting data about the problem.
373
00:33:24,294 --> 00:33:28,215
[Juan Pablo] There is not a single place
in this planet that is plastic-free.
374
00:33:29,216 --> 00:33:31,301
The Galápagos is no exception.
375
00:33:51,738 --> 00:33:55,951
So we are 1,000 kilometers
from mainland Ecuador,
376
00:33:56,034 --> 00:33:59,329
in the middle of nowhere in the Galápagos.
377
00:33:59,412 --> 00:34:02,040
Only maybe ten people in this planet
378
00:34:02,123 --> 00:34:06,086
have ever stepped in this exact location,
and we see this.
379
00:34:06,628 --> 00:34:10,799
Over 95% of the plastic
that we found in Galápagos shorelines
380
00:34:10,882 --> 00:34:13,969
are likely to be
from outside the marine reserve.
381
00:34:15,971 --> 00:34:21,268
The paradox here is that the same currents
that are delivering life
382
00:34:21,351 --> 00:34:24,646
are also delivering
the problem of plastic.
383
00:34:25,772 --> 00:34:30,068
[narrator] There are two key ways
that plastic can affect wildlife.
384
00:34:30,777 --> 00:34:34,322
Animals can become trapped in it,
or they can eat it.
385
00:34:35,991 --> 00:34:40,996
Once in the ocean, plastic quickly
breaks down into smaller particles.
386
00:34:42,289 --> 00:34:45,834
Consumed by fish,
it travels up the food chain.
387
00:34:47,043 --> 00:34:52,215
[Juan Pablo] Our research shows that
from the mammal groups in the Galápagos,
388
00:34:52,299 --> 00:34:53,967
the sea lions are the species
389
00:34:54,050 --> 00:34:58,263
at most risk
of being affected with plastic pollution.
390
00:35:01,349 --> 00:35:04,102
The Galápagos is paying the price
391
00:35:04,185 --> 00:35:08,648
of a global humanity
living a disposable life.
392
00:35:17,032 --> 00:35:18,366
[narrator] Thankfully,
393
00:35:18,450 --> 00:35:21,953
Galápagos National Park
is already taking action.
394
00:35:22,787 --> 00:35:26,499
They've been organizing coastal cleanups
for over 30 years.
395
00:35:27,917 --> 00:35:31,129
[Galo] It's amazing to see
the willing of hundreds of people
396
00:35:31,212 --> 00:35:33,131
to clean the Galápagos shorelines.
397
00:35:33,214 --> 00:35:35,759
Hundreds of people
going to these remote places
398
00:35:35,842 --> 00:35:40,555
and walking really long distances
in the remote coastline of Galápagos.
399
00:35:41,890 --> 00:35:45,477
{\an8}[in Spanish] Let's go!
400
00:35:48,855 --> 00:35:51,608
[Galo, in English] They go there,
they collect as much trash as possible,
401
00:35:51,691 --> 00:35:53,443
they bring it to port,
402
00:35:53,526 --> 00:35:56,863
they contain it as much as possible,
and they keep going, keep going.
403
00:35:56,946 --> 00:36:01,284
It's amazing to see that initiative
year after year after year.
404
00:36:03,870 --> 00:36:09,084
[Juan Pablo] Coastal cleanups
actually helps to manage the problem.
405
00:36:09,167 --> 00:36:15,382
'Cause if you collect plastics
before becoming microplastics,
406
00:36:15,465 --> 00:36:18,885
you're actually doing a huge impact
on the environment.
407
00:36:20,387 --> 00:36:22,722
[narrator] So far, the project has enabled
408
00:36:22,806 --> 00:36:27,602
over 5,000 volunteers
to clear Galápagos shorelines.
409
00:36:28,395 --> 00:36:32,482
Collecting over 94 tons of trash.
410
00:36:37,862 --> 00:36:40,490
[Juan Pablo] Every piece of plastic
that a volunteer collects
411
00:36:40,573 --> 00:36:44,994
is one less piece of plastic
that will harm a sea lion.
412
00:36:47,372 --> 00:36:52,127
Our aim is to make the Galápagos
the first plastic-free place on Earth.
413
00:36:52,210 --> 00:36:53,420
So let's do it.
414
00:36:58,341 --> 00:36:59,884
[narrator] Back on location,
415
00:36:59,968 --> 00:37:04,806
the crew have spotted an opportunity
to help a sea turtle trapped in plastic.
416
00:37:06,057 --> 00:37:07,392
- It's alive.
- Where?
417
00:37:07,475 --> 00:37:09,686
It's moving the...
She's moving her feet. It's still alive.
418
00:37:10,186 --> 00:37:11,396
[Jeff] You think that's the water?
419
00:37:11,479 --> 00:37:13,523
- No, yeah. It's alive. Yeah.
- [Javier] No, it's alive.
420
00:37:13,606 --> 00:37:14,899
You brought a knife?
421
00:37:14,983 --> 00:37:16,985
- [Javier] Yeah, I have a line cutter.
- Yeah.
422
00:37:17,068 --> 00:37:20,321
{\an8}I just saw her poke her face
out of the water to breathe.
423
00:37:21,072 --> 00:37:22,532
Uh, but she's still alive.
424
00:37:22,615 --> 00:37:23,616
[Jeff] Yeah.
425
00:37:24,117 --> 00:37:25,910
Let's try to get in
as quietly as possible.
426
00:37:25,994 --> 00:37:28,746
Just 'cause she's gonna freak out
when we get close. So...
427
00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:36,713
[narrator] Her front flipper
is tangled in a sail.
428
00:37:38,756 --> 00:37:41,718
She's obviously been here for a long time.
429
00:37:50,393 --> 00:37:53,605
If they don't rescue her now, she'll die.
430
00:37:54,814 --> 00:37:57,942
[Javier] As I remove the plastic
away from her flipper,
431
00:37:58,026 --> 00:38:00,528
immediately she recognizes
that she's free.
432
00:38:02,030 --> 00:38:06,326
[narrator] Despite her injured flipper,
she has another chance at life.
433
00:38:07,869 --> 00:38:08,995
[Javier] There's no words to explain
434
00:38:09,078 --> 00:38:12,207
the feeling of seeing an animal
realizing that it's free
435
00:38:12,290 --> 00:38:14,834
and being able to swim away
by its own means.
436
00:38:19,088 --> 00:38:22,634
[narrator] During their time
sailing around Galápagos,
437
00:38:22,717 --> 00:38:26,804
the crew have encountered an array
of ocean travelers passing through.
438
00:38:30,308 --> 00:38:31,309
Orca.
439
00:38:36,231 --> 00:38:39,108
It's been hypothesized that some islands
440
00:38:39,192 --> 00:38:43,488
could be an important pit stop
for these top hunters
441
00:38:43,571 --> 00:38:46,032
as they travel across the Pacific.
442
00:38:49,410 --> 00:38:50,662
Manta rays.
443
00:38:51,579 --> 00:38:58,461
Though these can grow to 20 feet across,
they only eat microscopic plankton.
444
00:39:02,048 --> 00:39:04,133
And whale sharks.
445
00:39:04,217 --> 00:39:08,346
Over 600 pregnant females
are thought to pass through
446
00:39:08,429 --> 00:39:11,766
the northern islands of Galápagos
each year.
447
00:39:13,560 --> 00:39:15,228
Despite their remoteness,
448
00:39:15,311 --> 00:39:19,732
these islands are critically important
to the wider world.
449
00:39:22,652 --> 00:39:24,696
Just off Santiago Island
450
00:39:24,779 --> 00:39:29,367
lies a chain of volcanic cones
peeking above the ocean surface.
451
00:39:31,661 --> 00:39:33,121
Bainbridge Rocks.
452
00:39:38,918 --> 00:39:43,423
At the back of one of the islands
is a small sandy cove.
453
00:39:44,799 --> 00:39:48,219
The crew have heard
that sea lions are using this beach
454
00:39:48,303 --> 00:39:50,388
to help them catch different prey.
455
00:39:52,473 --> 00:39:55,935
Their assignment
is to capture this on camera.
456
00:40:03,234 --> 00:40:06,070
{\an8}So, we're just trying to get
as many cameras out there,
457
00:40:06,154 --> 00:40:09,407
{\an8}um, to cover
as much ground as we possibly can.
458
00:40:09,490 --> 00:40:13,661
{\an8}So we've got, at any one time,
six underwater cameras,
459
00:40:13,745 --> 00:40:15,705
uh, in the water at the moment.
460
00:40:15,788 --> 00:40:21,419
And, um, two with live feeds
up to a tiny little tent up there.
461
00:40:24,881 --> 00:40:27,258
[narrator]
A hunt could kick off at any time.
462
00:40:27,884 --> 00:40:31,137
So Holly and Javier get straight to work.
463
00:40:32,180 --> 00:40:34,098
For their plan to be a success,
464
00:40:34,182 --> 00:40:37,894
they need to pick
exactly the right spot to set the cameras.
465
00:40:41,773 --> 00:40:44,359
But the sea lions think they know better.
466
00:41:05,171 --> 00:41:07,840
A quick lens wipe,
then they're ready to go.
467
00:41:12,428 --> 00:41:16,265
Time for a quick nap
while they wait for the action to begin.
468
00:41:21,771 --> 00:41:24,649
Park guard Andy is on lookout duty.
469
00:41:27,527 --> 00:41:28,611
{\an8}[in Spanish] Attention! Attention!
470
00:41:28,695 --> 00:41:31,614
{\an8}Sea lions! Sea lions! I can see them.
471
00:41:31,698 --> 00:41:33,366
{\an8}The sea lions are heading to the beach!
472
00:41:35,451 --> 00:41:36,994
[narrator, in English]
The dive team heads out
473
00:41:37,078 --> 00:41:40,081
to intercept the sea lions
as they enter the cove.
474
00:42:00,059 --> 00:42:06,107
They've rounded up a shoal of
amberstripe scad. And they mean business.
475
00:42:07,650 --> 00:42:10,319
But the scad have speed
to their advantage.
476
00:42:11,028 --> 00:42:13,865
They are too fast to catch in open water.
477
00:42:14,907 --> 00:42:19,746
So the sea lions have learned
to use the cove as a trap.
478
00:42:28,838 --> 00:42:33,301
Shooting past the divers,
the scad are heading right into the cove.
479
00:42:40,808 --> 00:42:43,436
Now, it's all up to
Holly's remote cameras.
480
00:42:59,285 --> 00:43:00,286
Jackpot.
481
00:43:05,249 --> 00:43:08,461
The feeding frenzy is captured on film.
482
00:43:09,504 --> 00:43:15,510
Thanks to some fantastic teamwork
from both the sea lions and the crew.
483
00:43:21,766 --> 00:43:24,894
But even when these fishing masters
are on top form,
484
00:43:24,977 --> 00:43:27,939
there are no guarantees of a regular meal.
485
00:43:32,235 --> 00:43:33,653
And every few years,
486
00:43:33,736 --> 00:43:37,365
there's a change in the ocean
that makes hunting difficult.
487
00:43:41,410 --> 00:43:42,870
Under normal conditions,
488
00:43:42,954 --> 00:43:47,583
cold currents bring nutrient-rich water
into the Galápagos,
489
00:43:47,667 --> 00:43:50,002
supporting healthy fish populations.
490
00:43:52,255 --> 00:43:54,423
But during an El Niño event,
491
00:43:54,507 --> 00:43:59,512
an accumulation of warm water
at the surface blocks the cold.
492
00:43:59,595 --> 00:44:02,265
Meaning there's less fish
for the sea lions to hunt.
493
00:44:03,808 --> 00:44:06,769
And when the ocean gets warm, it rains.
494
00:44:06,853 --> 00:44:08,938
[thunder rumbles]
495
00:44:09,021 --> 00:44:13,526
So the crew are wondering
if an El Niño event could be on its way.
496
00:44:14,485 --> 00:44:15,653
[Richard] It does beg the question
497
00:44:15,736 --> 00:44:18,489
whether or not because the conditions
at the moment are El Niño-like,
498
00:44:18,573 --> 00:44:20,324
and the productivity may be lower.
499
00:44:20,408 --> 00:44:23,703
That-That... That is kind of playing
in the back of my mind a little bit...
500
00:44:23,786 --> 00:44:25,121
- [Holly] I know.
- ...what's going on here.
501
00:44:29,458 --> 00:44:32,169
[narrator] To help them
understand this phenomenon,
502
00:44:32,253 --> 00:44:38,092
the Danubio has headed up to the
most remote island in Galápagos, Darwin.
503
00:44:40,094 --> 00:44:45,099
On board is a team of scientists hoping
to reveal new insights into El Niño
504
00:44:45,182 --> 00:44:47,977
and how it could be changing over time.
505
00:44:49,562 --> 00:44:53,566
{\an8}My name is Julia Cole, and I've been
a climate scientist for almost 40 years.
506
00:44:55,985 --> 00:44:57,737
I grew up in the American Midwest,
507
00:44:57,820 --> 00:45:00,406
which is about as far from the ocean
as you can get.
508
00:45:00,489 --> 00:45:02,533
But I always dreamed of
being able to work in the ocean,
509
00:45:02,617 --> 00:45:04,577
and I've been lucky enough
to be able to do that.
510
00:45:08,205 --> 00:45:10,791
[crew member] One, two, three!
511
00:45:12,835 --> 00:45:15,713
[Julia] One of our best tools
as climate scientists
512
00:45:15,796 --> 00:45:17,006
is to study coral.
513
00:45:17,798 --> 00:45:19,425
Corals are really amazing.
514
00:45:19,508 --> 00:45:22,470
They are the building blocks
of the coral reef ecosystem
515
00:45:22,553 --> 00:45:26,557
that is so important
for supporting all kinds of species.
516
00:45:27,516 --> 00:45:32,730
They're keeping a history of their
environment trapped in their skeletons.
517
00:45:32,813 --> 00:45:36,150
We're here to take samples that will
help us unlock that history.
518
00:45:37,485 --> 00:45:40,988
[narrator] Julia needs to drill
straight down into the coral
519
00:45:41,072 --> 00:45:42,406
to extract a core.
520
00:45:44,283 --> 00:45:46,953
[Julia] Corals produce layers
as they grow.
521
00:45:47,036 --> 00:45:48,913
Kind of like tree rings but underwater.
522
00:45:50,665 --> 00:45:52,333
As the coral grows,
523
00:45:52,416 --> 00:45:57,088
it preserves a record of its environment
in the chemistry of its skeleton.
524
00:45:59,006 --> 00:46:01,676
And the chemistry of that coral
525
00:46:01,759 --> 00:46:06,722
tells us about the temperature
in which the coral grew.
526
00:46:08,933 --> 00:46:11,560
[narrator] By studying
the layers in the core,
527
00:46:11,644 --> 00:46:14,063
scientists can look back in time.
528
00:46:17,191 --> 00:46:21,821
Julie and her team have been collecting
coral samples here for decades
529
00:46:21,904 --> 00:46:25,616
and have built up a picture of
how ocean temperatures are changing.
530
00:46:26,492 --> 00:46:28,786
[Julia] The corals are telling us
that the strongest,
531
00:46:28,869 --> 00:46:32,832
most damaging El Niño events
are becoming more frequent.
532
00:46:32,915 --> 00:46:35,376
And that those changes have been
particularly pronounced
533
00:46:35,459 --> 00:46:37,128
in just the last few decades.
534
00:46:39,547 --> 00:46:41,966
These very strong El Niño events
535
00:46:42,049 --> 00:46:45,720
are times when the oceans around Galápagos
536
00:46:45,803 --> 00:46:48,806
are suddenly cut off
from their supply of nutrients.
537
00:46:48,889 --> 00:46:52,143
And this undercuts
the base of the food chain in Galápagos.
538
00:46:53,310 --> 00:46:56,439
And it means that
the fish populations crash.
539
00:46:57,773 --> 00:47:00,443
It means that the birds struggle
to find food.
540
00:47:01,110 --> 00:47:03,404
And for a top predator like a sea lion,
541
00:47:03,487 --> 00:47:06,240
it means that the big ocean buffet
542
00:47:06,323 --> 00:47:08,576
that's normally out there for them
in the Galápagos
543
00:47:08,659 --> 00:47:10,411
has suddenly been wiped clean.
544
00:47:11,412 --> 00:47:14,874
So this is really devastating
for sea lions in Galápagos.
545
00:47:17,710 --> 00:47:20,004
[narrator] But Julie isn't giving up hope.
546
00:47:25,468 --> 00:47:28,512
To me it's empowering and energizing
547
00:47:28,596 --> 00:47:32,183
to-to dig into questions
that are still unknown
548
00:47:32,266 --> 00:47:34,643
and try to contribute a little more
549
00:47:34,727 --> 00:47:37,813
to understanding
how the world is changing now,
550
00:47:37,897 --> 00:47:40,024
and therefore
how it may change in the future.
551
00:47:41,233 --> 00:47:44,153
[narrator]
El Niño can cause coral die-off.
552
00:47:46,739 --> 00:47:50,659
Thankfully,
a specialist team on Isabela Island
553
00:47:50,743 --> 00:47:53,996
is helping the marine ecosystem
bounce back.
554
00:47:55,831 --> 00:47:58,709
These divers are from Reef Revival,
555
00:47:58,793 --> 00:48:03,422
part of the coral recovery plan
promoted by Galápagos National Park.
556
00:48:04,673 --> 00:48:06,258
The process is simple.
557
00:48:07,510 --> 00:48:09,762
Coral fragments are collected,
558
00:48:10,596 --> 00:48:13,307
strung onto ropes and ladders,
559
00:48:13,390 --> 00:48:16,352
and left to grow in a shallow,
protected bay.
560
00:48:19,355 --> 00:48:22,900
Once they have grown
up to five times in size,
561
00:48:22,983 --> 00:48:27,196
the fragments are detached
and transplanted to depleted areas.
562
00:48:29,782 --> 00:48:31,784
The nursery now contains
563
00:48:31,867 --> 00:48:36,664
2,500 coral fragments
of 12 different species.
564
00:48:38,916 --> 00:48:42,795
6,000 corals have already been restored.
565
00:48:51,095 --> 00:48:56,684
When the powerful currents of the Pacific
meet the barrier of these islands...
566
00:49:02,565 --> 00:49:05,818
a high-energy zone is formed.
567
00:49:17,288 --> 00:49:21,000
An irresistible playground
for the sea lions.
568
00:49:25,588 --> 00:49:28,299
But to stand any chance of filming them,
569
00:49:28,841 --> 00:49:32,261
the crew will need to be
at the top of their game
570
00:49:33,137 --> 00:49:36,640
and ready for anything
the ocean throws at them.
571
00:49:41,437 --> 00:49:45,357
{\an8}This is where we hoped
to be able to film the sea lions surfing.
572
00:49:45,941 --> 00:49:50,905
{\an8}We got five- to eight-foot waves
coming in right now, so... so big.
573
00:49:51,614 --> 00:49:54,200
And we have some... [stammers]
There's... Sea lions are there,
574
00:49:54,283 --> 00:49:58,954
but I am confident if we went into that
right now, we will get smashed.
575
00:50:00,122 --> 00:50:02,458
We're gonna watch it
for a little bit longer.
576
00:50:02,541 --> 00:50:04,835
See if we can find a corner
that we can work to sit...
577
00:50:04,919 --> 00:50:09,256
You know, stay out of the main break,
where we can find sea lions surfing.
578
00:50:10,257 --> 00:50:11,550
Right now, I don't like it.
579
00:50:12,635 --> 00:50:16,138
[narrator] Meanwhile,
the shore crew are having no such issues,
580
00:50:17,014 --> 00:50:20,267
and Adrian is soon ready with the drone.
581
00:50:20,351 --> 00:50:22,353
[♪ inspirational music playing]
582
00:50:38,285 --> 00:50:40,454
Surf's up for the sea lions.
583
00:50:47,503 --> 00:50:50,673
So the dive team decide to go for it.
584
00:51:09,733 --> 00:51:11,819
[♪ tense music playing]
585
00:51:31,672 --> 00:51:33,882
[grunts, groans]
586
00:51:37,177 --> 00:51:39,388
[sniffles] Dude, that's heavy.
587
00:51:41,140 --> 00:51:44,727
Three or four bombs
just dropped on our heads.
588
00:51:45,686 --> 00:51:47,730
It goes black! It goes totally black.
589
00:51:48,439 --> 00:51:49,565
Just rolling around.
590
00:51:49,648 --> 00:51:51,442
I... And I, you know, I worry
591
00:51:51,525 --> 00:51:54,069
that we're gonna crack the camera
on the bottom. [sniffles]
592
00:51:54,653 --> 00:51:57,990
[narrator] But the topside team
have found a new vantage point,
593
00:51:58,699 --> 00:52:03,912
and Pooja is able to track sea lions
surfing the length of the break.
594
00:52:05,039 --> 00:52:07,082
[♪ surf rock music playing]
595
00:52:07,166 --> 00:52:09,418
[squeals, giggles]
596
00:52:19,011 --> 00:52:20,012
[crew members cheer]
597
00:52:20,095 --> 00:52:21,430
- Oh, look at that!
- [crew member] Yes!
598
00:52:39,239 --> 00:52:41,116
[narrator] The dive team
gear themselves up
599
00:52:41,200 --> 00:52:43,660
for another attempt to capture the action.
600
00:52:47,623 --> 00:52:51,502
And right away,
their persistence has paid off.
601
00:53:54,481 --> 00:53:57,151
Whoo! We got it! [chuckles]
602
00:53:57,234 --> 00:53:58,444
Give me some! [chuckles]
603
00:53:59,111 --> 00:54:01,238
- Well done.
- Sick! Great stuff.
604
00:54:05,742 --> 00:54:07,870
[narrator] After the success
of the surfing shoot
605
00:54:08,454 --> 00:54:10,456
and a long few months at sea,
606
00:54:10,998 --> 00:54:14,585
Richard has arranged
for a very special treat.
607
00:54:16,211 --> 00:54:20,841
His family are coming out to join him
to meet the stars of the show.
608
00:54:21,341 --> 00:54:22,718
I-It's quite surreal
609
00:54:24,344 --> 00:54:27,931
to have them coming here because
I'm always on location without them.
610
00:54:28,432 --> 00:54:31,018
This is the very first time in my life.
611
00:54:31,101 --> 00:54:33,437
It's... That I've actually had my family
with me.
612
00:54:33,520 --> 00:54:36,690
And that means a huge amount to me.
613
00:54:37,649 --> 00:54:40,736
Hey! You've made it!
614
00:54:40,819 --> 00:54:42,237
Whoo-hoo!
615
00:54:42,905 --> 00:54:44,281
Hi, guys.
616
00:54:45,115 --> 00:54:46,158
Fantastic!
617
00:54:46,700 --> 00:54:49,786
- How was your journey?
- Save me. It's... It sucked.
618
00:54:52,039 --> 00:54:57,127
[narrator] He's going to take them for
a sea lion encounter they'll never forget.
619
00:55:10,933 --> 00:55:16,104
[squeals] Oh, look! Look!
620
00:55:16,980 --> 00:55:18,857
- It bit my flipper.
- [Thalia exclaims]
621
00:55:18,941 --> 00:55:20,859
Ready, set, go.
622
00:55:20,943 --> 00:55:23,362
[♪ whimsical music playing]
623
00:55:41,880 --> 00:55:45,634
[in a muffled singsongy voice]
That's not food. [giggles]
624
00:55:46,426 --> 00:55:47,427
Look at this!
625
00:55:52,808 --> 00:55:54,476
- [sea lion grunts]
- That was really cool.
626
00:55:54,560 --> 00:55:56,353
[pants, sighs]
627
00:55:56,436 --> 00:55:57,437
[laughs]
628
00:56:03,026 --> 00:56:04,152
[shrieks]
629
00:56:05,153 --> 00:56:07,239
- I'm a sea lion! [squeals]
- [crew member] Good job.
630
00:56:09,283 --> 00:56:10,993
[narrator] Richard's kids are fortunate
631
00:56:11,076 --> 00:56:13,412
to get these opportunities
through their dad.
632
00:56:15,581 --> 00:56:18,625
But if you're a child
growing up in one of the towns here,
633
00:56:19,876 --> 00:56:24,423
how can you get the chance
to visit the rest of the archipelago?
634
00:56:25,966 --> 00:56:29,386
Luckily, there's
a brand-new project underway
635
00:56:29,469 --> 00:56:35,559
to ensure that local kids also get
their chance to explore the national park.
636
00:56:37,311 --> 00:56:39,313
[♪ meditative music playing]
637
00:56:50,407 --> 00:56:53,660
{\an8}[in Spanish] My name is Karla.
I am 11 years old.
638
00:56:54,828 --> 00:56:58,624
{\an8}I was born here in Galápagos
on Santa Cruz Island.
639
00:57:00,250 --> 00:57:03,295
{\an8}My parents work in a local shop.
640
00:57:06,173 --> 00:57:11,386
{\an8}I live surrounded by an ocean,
but I've hardly ever been on a boat.
641
00:57:13,180 --> 00:57:16,141
{\an8}There are many unique animals
that live on the islands
642
00:57:16,224 --> 00:57:17,517
{\an8}that I have never seen before.
643
00:57:19,019 --> 00:57:23,398
{\an8}I want to snorkel
to get closer to marine life.
644
00:57:25,359 --> 00:57:29,696
{\an8}Today I'm very excited,
because I'm going to go for the first time
645
00:57:29,780 --> 00:57:34,951
{\an8}to sleep on a boat and visit new islands.
646
00:57:35,035 --> 00:57:38,080
[narrator, in English]
Karla is joining seven other children
647
00:57:38,580 --> 00:57:43,835
who are taking part in a charitable
program called Galápagos Infinito.
648
00:57:44,753 --> 00:57:48,632
They'll be exploring the islands together
for the next three days.
649
00:57:48,715 --> 00:57:51,551
[♪ majestic orchestral music playing]
650
00:58:02,729 --> 00:58:06,733
[narrator] The program is made possible
by the generosity of tourist boats,
651
00:58:06,817 --> 00:58:07,943
like the Danubio,
652
00:58:09,152 --> 00:58:13,699
transporting the children to
the far-flung corners of the archipelago,
653
00:58:13,782 --> 00:58:17,119
which may not have been accessible
to them otherwise.
654
00:58:19,246 --> 00:58:23,542
The aim is that they will fall
in love with this wild landscape...
655
00:58:25,585 --> 00:58:29,381
and feel inspired to protect
the Galápagos National Park
656
00:58:29,965 --> 00:58:33,552
and its unique wildlife as they grow up.
657
00:58:33,635 --> 00:58:36,096
[laughing]
658
00:58:44,688 --> 00:58:47,023
[narrator] Being out in nature
provides an opportunity
659
00:58:47,107 --> 00:58:49,943
to build life skills and confidence.
660
00:58:53,321 --> 00:58:58,118
And today, some of them will be swimming
in the open ocean
661
00:58:58,201 --> 00:59:00,662
for their very first time.
662
00:59:05,333 --> 00:59:08,670
[♪ whimsical music playing]
663
00:59:43,580 --> 00:59:46,875
The charity is hoping
to provide an experience like this
664
00:59:46,958 --> 00:59:51,880
for every single seventh grader
across the Galápagos, every year.
665
00:59:57,761 --> 01:00:03,642
To inspire a whole new generation
of Galápagos guardians.
666
01:00:07,771 --> 01:00:10,357
Even after a lifetime of exploring,
667
01:00:11,024 --> 01:00:14,361
{\an8}the islands always have something new
to reveal.
668
01:00:16,696 --> 01:00:20,200
[narrator] The crew are heading to
a remote corner of Isabela Island.
669
01:00:22,285 --> 01:00:26,498
Which, so they've been told,
harbors a secret cove.
670
01:00:31,878 --> 01:00:35,590
Could this be the setting
for the finale of the sea lion film?
671
01:00:43,598 --> 01:00:44,766
Counting two days.
672
01:00:44,850 --> 01:00:48,144
[narrator] Their first step is to...
[chuckling] ...find some sea lions.
673
01:00:48,228 --> 01:00:50,814
Yeah, so if you head into
that lip right there and over there,
674
01:00:50,897 --> 01:00:51,982
the crater's just in there.
675
01:00:52,065 --> 01:00:53,108
- Just inside. Okay.
- Yeah.
676
01:00:53,608 --> 01:00:55,068
[inhales deeply] Heading in.
677
01:00:55,151 --> 01:00:56,361
[Richard] Look at that.
678
01:00:59,573 --> 01:01:00,574
There it is.
679
01:01:00,657 --> 01:01:03,201
- [Javier] Wow.
- [Richard] Unbelievable.
680
01:01:05,120 --> 01:01:06,329
Hope there's sea lions there.
681
01:01:07,163 --> 01:01:10,917
It's hard to tell.
I mean, they look just like the sand so...
682
01:01:11,001 --> 01:01:13,169
You have to get a bit lower or zoom in.
683
01:01:14,421 --> 01:01:15,547
Here! There's one.
684
01:01:15,630 --> 01:01:16,965
There's one. And there's another.
685
01:01:17,048 --> 01:01:18,800
There's a whole bunch of them there.
686
01:01:20,218 --> 01:01:21,553
That is brilliant.
687
01:01:21,636 --> 01:01:24,431
Look at that. That's incredible.
688
01:01:25,348 --> 01:01:27,976
Guess the next question is,
how do we get in there?
689
01:01:28,977 --> 01:01:30,020
Yeah. [sighs]
690
01:01:33,565 --> 01:01:36,818
[narrator] It's thought the sea lions
access the cove underwater
691
01:01:37,402 --> 01:01:39,863
via a tunnel through the cliff face.
692
01:01:40,822 --> 01:01:43,533
[Richard] I'm having slight doubts
about being able to get in there.
693
01:01:44,117 --> 01:01:46,578
But whether or not we can
actually make it ourselves... [groans]
694
01:01:46,661 --> 01:01:48,830
- [Javier] I hear ya.
- [Richard] Gonna be... gonna be hair-raising
695
01:01:48,914 --> 01:01:49,915
to go in there.
696
01:01:49,998 --> 01:01:52,000
[♪ ethereal music playing]
697
01:01:55,879 --> 01:01:59,633
[narrator] Richard and Javier set off
to scout the tunnel underwater.
698
01:02:05,972 --> 01:02:08,808
But there's a hazard
they haven't accounted for.
699
01:02:12,187 --> 01:02:14,022
[♪ tense music playing]
700
01:02:14,105 --> 01:02:17,233
As the waves above
hit the tunnel's narrow entrance,
701
01:02:17,317 --> 01:02:19,235
water is suddenly compressed,
702
01:02:19,319 --> 01:02:22,906
sending shock waves
and generating a savage undertow.
703
01:02:28,411 --> 01:02:31,122
One minute, the current drags them in.
704
01:02:35,293 --> 01:02:37,504
The next, it pushes them out.
705
01:02:43,009 --> 01:02:46,054
There's a risk they could be sucked in
and become trapped.
706
01:02:46,554 --> 01:02:50,183
Or bashed against the rocks
that line the entrance to the tunnel.
707
01:02:54,938 --> 01:02:56,272
They have no control.
708
01:03:03,279 --> 01:03:05,949
The situation is becoming dangerous.
709
01:03:21,965 --> 01:03:26,261
This tunnel
is only accessible to sea lions.
710
01:03:33,018 --> 01:03:37,731
Since Richard can't get under the cliff,
he'll have to go over it.
711
01:03:40,108 --> 01:03:45,697
But the cliff face inside the cove
is 100 feet high.
712
01:03:48,116 --> 01:03:51,327
Luckily, the team have brought along
a secret weapon.
713
01:03:52,579 --> 01:03:55,457
Rope access specialist, Tomas Espinosa,
714
01:03:55,540 --> 01:03:58,293
has been tasked with
finding a route for Richard.
715
01:03:58,376 --> 01:04:00,962
I'm a complete novice
when it comes to climbing,
716
01:04:01,046 --> 01:04:03,423
and I have a slight fear of heights.
717
01:04:03,506 --> 01:04:05,216
Probably that's the reason
why I'm a diver.
718
01:04:05,300 --> 01:04:10,930
And um, so yeah, I'm... I'm nervous actually
going into that cave frankly.
719
01:04:11,014 --> 01:04:14,434
But at the same time, I'm incredibly
excited to see what's down there.
720
01:04:14,934 --> 01:04:17,896
This is the one place
that I've never been able to get to.
721
01:04:21,066 --> 01:04:24,944
[narrator] Strapped into the harness,
there's no backing out now.
722
01:04:25,445 --> 01:04:28,865
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
723
01:04:28,948 --> 01:04:30,784
- Enjoy.
- Thank you, mate.
724
01:04:33,995 --> 01:04:34,996
Yeah, that's a drop.
725
01:04:39,084 --> 01:04:44,506
Yeah. Whole mind and body are just saying,
"Ah! What are you doing?"
726
01:04:45,632 --> 01:04:47,634
[breathing heavily]
727
01:04:53,681 --> 01:04:58,686
[exhaling sharply]
728
01:05:03,066 --> 01:05:04,567
Watch out. Watch out. There you go.
729
01:05:04,651 --> 01:05:06,069
Little by little. There. Yeah.
730
01:05:06,152 --> 01:05:07,278
[grunts]
731
01:05:08,696 --> 01:05:11,449
- [breathing heavily, chuckles]
- [Tomas] Yeah.
732
01:05:11,533 --> 01:05:14,119
- Okay, want me to help you here, please?
- [crew member] Yeah, incoming.
733
01:05:15,787 --> 01:05:18,373
[Richard] Can see what you mean about
the loose rock. There's plenty of it.
734
01:05:18,873 --> 01:05:22,961
- Plenty of it. In fact, look at this lot.
- [Tomas] Don't look down.
735
01:05:23,711 --> 01:05:26,881
Wow. That is really...
736
01:05:27,507 --> 01:05:29,843
- [Tomas] Feet good?
- Really precarious, isn't it?
737
01:05:31,177 --> 01:05:36,099
Oof, don't wanna dislodge that lot.
[grunts, panting]
738
01:06:00,707 --> 01:06:03,168
Whoo! Wow.
739
01:06:03,751 --> 01:06:05,795
I'm not sure
I'd do that again in a hurry though.
740
01:06:06,379 --> 01:06:08,965
That was, uh, yeah.
I think I'll stick to diving.
741
01:06:09,465 --> 01:06:12,010
[♪ gentle music playing]
742
01:06:15,221 --> 01:06:18,641
[narrator] It's a relief for Richard
to be back in his comfort zone.
743
01:06:21,895 --> 01:06:27,025
And this cove is also turning out
to be exactly what he hoped for.
744
01:06:29,569 --> 01:06:32,780
[Richard] I spent years
dreaming of making this film.
745
01:06:32,864 --> 01:06:34,324
[sea lion grumbles]
746
01:06:37,285 --> 01:06:39,996
[barking]
747
01:06:41,915 --> 01:06:44,417
And I couldn't have asked
for a better ending.
748
01:06:53,635 --> 01:06:57,388
The sea lions delivered.
On cue. Perfectly.
749
01:07:00,892 --> 01:07:02,393
[barking]
750
01:07:08,191 --> 01:07:10,944
[♪ uplifting music playing]
751
01:07:12,445 --> 01:07:16,491
[narrator] During their time filming
Sea Lions of the Galápagos,
752
01:07:16,574 --> 01:07:20,370
the Disneynature team have spent more time
with these animals
753
01:07:21,079 --> 01:07:22,914
than most people on Earth.
754
01:07:24,999 --> 01:07:28,670
Revealing new insights
into their remarkable lives...
755
01:07:30,505 --> 01:07:35,343
above and beneath the waves.
756
01:08:11,254 --> 01:08:16,759
They've also witnessed how threats
to the islands are gathering pace.
757
01:08:16,843 --> 01:08:18,469
[♪ hopeful music playing]
758
01:08:18,553 --> 01:08:23,975
But a growing community of champions
from all walks of life
759
01:08:24,058 --> 01:08:27,145
are rising to the challenge,
760
01:08:28,688 --> 01:08:33,484
playing their part
to protect this magical place.
761
01:08:39,532 --> 01:08:45,371
One solution that we can all share
is inspiring the next generation,
762
01:08:46,706 --> 01:08:50,084
connecting our children to nature...
763
01:08:53,296 --> 01:08:56,632
passing on the message of hope.
764
01:09:04,098 --> 01:09:10,396
A blossoming community
united in the pursuit of one goal.
765
01:09:14,734 --> 01:09:18,029
Protecting this wonderful place
766
01:09:19,530 --> 01:09:23,326
and preserving it for generations to come.
767
01:09:39,258 --> 01:09:43,096
[inhales sharply] So we've been trying
to film sea lions all day,
768
01:09:44,514 --> 01:09:48,476
and one decides to climb on our boat.
769
01:09:48,976 --> 01:09:50,978
[♪ lively music playing]
770
01:10:21,384 --> 01:10:23,177
[speaks Spanish]