[narrator] Disneynature is bringing together a top team
to tell the story of one of the most charismatic animals
of the Galápagos Islands.
Sea Lions of the Galápagos follows the journey of a young sea lion
as he explores the islands looking for a territory of his own.
The team will need to work around the clock
to capture the awe-inspiring beauty of this landscape.
And the weird and wonderful animals who call it home.
They will also explore the challenges facing these islands
and learn from those fighting to protect them.
[narrator] 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador,
volcanic activity is forming new land,
and the team are right in the thick of it.
- You got me, Hamish? - Yep.
Whoo!
- [speaks Spanish] - [speaks Spanish]
[camera operator] Ah...
[in English] Seeing it this close, seeing the power of it all, it's um...
It's insane. And it's hot.
Probably the... the hottest thing I reckon I ever felt. Real hot.
[narrator] There are 13 major islands in Galápagos, all formed by fire.
It is so exciting to see an eruption.
And I guess that's because it is the essence of the Galápagos.
It's like the beginning of time. This is exactly how the islands were born.
[narrator] Cinematographer Richard Wollocombe
has been working in the islands for over 30 years.
He'll be leading the expeditions, as well as filming for the Disneynature project.
[Richard] I was one of the first people to explore the Galápagos Islands underwater.
And ever since, I've been dreaming of making a film
about my favorite animal in the world.
The Galápagos sea lion.
[narrator] There's never been a more important time to tell their story.
Over the past 40 years, their numbers have fallen dramatically.
They are now an endangered species.
Richard and the team want to find out why.
Millions of years ago,
the ancestors of these sea lions were swept here from North America.
Alongside a motley crew of castaways.
All pulled in by the powerful ocean currents which converge here.
The currents also brought nutrients to sustain them,
feeding plankton, which fed fish,
which in turn fed marine predators.
Over time, many of these creatures evolved into new species.
And so, the Galápagos became one of the most unique habitats on Earth.
[squawk]
The very latest arrivals are Richard and his family.
Wife Anna and twins Alorna and Thalia.
They'll be based out here for the duration of filming.
But before they leave this airport,
they'll need to pass one very important test.
[narrator] When visitors arrive in Galápagos,
it's crucial that their baggage contains no unwanted stowaways.
That's because the animals that evolved here
are especially vulnerable to new species invading from the outside world.
To limit this risk, expeditions entering the Galápagos
are subject to stringent quarantine rules.
And the crew are no exception.
Every single case must be unloaded and fumigated to remove any insects.
And their clothes must be locked in the freezer for three days.
Seventy-two hours later,
they load it back onto the trucks for the long drive across Santa Cruz Island.
But the crew's journey is just beginning.
The only way to truly see these islands is by boat.
The Danubio Azul will be filming headquarters.
It's a 70-foot liveaboard dive boat,
with everything they'll need to explore the archipelago.
Richard will be away from his family for a whole month.
So it's time to say their goodbyes.
Bye, sweetheart. Mwah.
- Take care, my love. - You too.
- Say hello to sea lions. [chuckles] - Will do, will do.
All right.
[kisses] Take care, guys.
Bye.
Yeah, that's the hard part of the job.
[narrator] The crew wastes no time packing away all the camera equipment...
- saying hello to old friends... - [speaks Spanish]
...and getting settled into their cabins.
I bought a whole... a kilo.
A kilo of crystalized ginger because, apparently, um...
it stops you from being seasick, and I get really seasick.
Chocolate. [chuckles]
[narrator] With such a long journey,
Richard has plenty of time to reflect on his early days in Galápagos.
[Richard] It was 1987 when my family decided to come here on holiday.
And the first thing we did was go snorkeling.
We headed out to this gorgeous sandspit. Beautiful turquoise water.
I could see these dark shapes on the white sand beach.
They looked like rocks but they were moving.
We jumped in...
and before long, we were surrounded by sea lion pups.
All just really curious about what we were doing there.
It was like a mirror.
We would pirouette, they would pirouette.
We would somersault, they would somersault.
It was just the most amazing choreography that was going on.
And I couldn't believe that this wild animal could be so curious and playful.
I'll never forget the experience as long as I live.
[narrator] The team have 30 nautical miles to go
before reaching their first location off Floreana Island.
Their mission is to film the start of the sea lion story.
But it's not the smoothest of sea conditions.
- [grunts, groans] - [narrator] And some of the crew
are struggling with the commute.
[sighs] I found the cure for seasickness.
[camera operator] What is it?
So there's quite a few aspects.
I have bands on my wrists for travel sickness.
I took a travel sickness tablet,
I took a ginger tablet, um...
I laid down flat, and I've been looking at the horizon for four hours.
[camera operator] How's that... How's that working for you?
I've only been sick a few times. [laughs]
[grunts]
[narrator] 97% of the islands are designated as a national park
and require special permissions to visit.
Each Galápagos island has a character of its own.
To the west, are the youngest islands.
Fernandina, the most volcanically active, formed less than one million years ago.
As the islands age and settle, soil and dense vegetation begin to form.
Like the lush Scalesia forests of Santa Cruz.
[squawking]
One of the oldest islands, Española, lies in the east.
Four million years of erosion have left their mark.
And eventually Española will sink beneath the waves.
Despite having worked here for three decades,
there are still islands that Richard has never been to.
It's an unknown quantity to me. Completely.
I just... I've never been to this side. Only once I saw it from a boat.
[narrator] They're anchoring at Baronesa Island
in their search for a sea lion pup with star quality.
Simon is saying this place has never been visited by a tourist before.
And very, very few people... even scientists come here.
So the sea lions are not used to people.
[sea lion croaking]
[Ewan] It's the first time I've ever been to the Galápagos,
but it's a place that I've wanted to visit my entire life.
I'm excited, I'm kind of nervous.
It's the first day of the shoot,
and it's immediately, um, evident how much life there is.
[narrator] The team's first step is to scout the island.
And drone pilot, Shelton, is on the case.
[drone buzzing]
Using the special access the team have secured to film the islands from the air.
I'm seeing some beautiful beaches off to the north.
I'm gonna fly in and take a closer look.
[Tash, on radio] Okay, that sounds amazing. I think I know where you mean.
I'm gonna go up with the guys and head over there now.
[sea lion barking]
[narrator] Meanwhile, Richard and JC are edging closer to the action.
Richard has secured his camera to a floating pontoon called a split rig,
which allows him to film right at the water's surface...
[barking]
...where curious sea lions love to hang out.
[♪ lively music playing]
[narrator] The animals of Galápagos are famously fearless.
The reason for this lies in the hostile nature of this landscape.
Above the waves, the sun is scorching
and there's very little rainfall...
which meant that humans chose not to settle here until around 200 years ago.
[♪ ominous music playing]
And the animals that had evolved on the islands never learned to fear people.
Back on Baronesa, the crew have hit the jackpot.
This island just, like, continues to amaze. Um...
We kinda come around the corner
and there's just this, like, whole other beautiful beach and sea lions everywhere.
Just, like, another amazing little corner of this... this island.
We've finally found our hero.
[♪ lively music playing]
[sea lion grunts]
[grunting]
[Ewan] We've found this beautiful, healthy, little ball of fluff.
Probably only a week old.
It's got a great mother. It's feeding really well.
It's got a lot of energy.
It's got, like, good exploratory spirit. It's up to no good.
All the things that we're looking for out of the main character.
Any moment you're looking at him, he's doing something different.
He's constantly getting distracted by a crab or a mangrove leaf.
And just wandering around everywhere.
So, he's just a really cute character to follow.
[♪ whimsical music playing]
[groans]
[Ewan] We've spent some really quality time with these animals.
And you watch them every day,
you get a sense for their personalities and their little nuances and behaviors.
Leaving the island is gonna be bittersweet for sure.
[narrator] The crew is off to a promising start
thanks to Richard's wealth of experience filming in the islands.
[Richard] When I first moved to the Galápagos,
the underwater world here was a completely new frontier.
As soon as I finished my degree,
I went to scuba diving school and became an instructor.
I was fortunate to get a guiding job on the first dive boat in Galápagos.
I loved spending time guiding visitors who shared my enthusiasm for the islands.
Then one day, I was invited to guide a trip by some talented filmmakers
making a wonderful program here in Galápagos.
They were really generous with their knowledge
and even gave me an underwater camera.
It totally inspired me to become a filmmaker.
The riches of this marine paradise have fascinated me ever since.
[♪ inspirational music playing]
[narrator] Alongside this abundant wildlife,
lives a vibrant community of people.
Over the last 50 years,
the number of permanent residents on the islands has grown.
Rubbing shoulders with sea lions is a normal part of life here.
[♪ lively folk music playing]
[speaks indistinctly]
[narrator] Many of the people of Galápagos rely on the fruits of the sea
for food and trade.
And the local fish market is always bustling.
[people chattering]
[narrator] But has this new community found harmony with nature?
[♪ soft piano music playing]
My name is Manuel Yepez, but everybody call me Manolo.
Ocean is my passion.
I love the feeling to be out in the ocean.
My family's been fishing in Galápagos for three generations.
It's just the connection that you have. You, the ocean, the light, the animals...
[narrator] Manolo is a subsistence fisherman operating at a small scale.
So, he's not in competition with the sea lions.
But during his lifetime, fishing demand around the islands has grown...
[thunder rumbling]
...as large industrial boats from far and wide have been drawn to these rich waters.
There is a marine reserve here
which bans such boats from entering within 40 nautical miles of the coast.
But its boundaries haven't always been respected.
In 2017, one boat made headlines all over the world
when it was found inside the reserve with over 7,000 dead sharks on board.
Many of the unique species found here in the Galápagos
fetch huge sums on the black market.
Outraged, the people of Galápagos rose up to defend their waters.
[Manuel] Was a big, big campaign. But in the end, the government accepted.
[narrator] The reserve was extended dramatically
to protect a vital shark migration corridor
between Galápagos and the Cocos Islands.
And their work didn't stop there.
The Galápagos National Park and Ecuadorian Navy
are now doubling down on their efforts to protect the reserve.
[in Spanish] Go ahead.
[narrator, in English] Patrol capacity is being increased.
[speaks Spanish]
[speaks indistinctly]
[siren wailing]
[narrator] They must now watch over a protected area
that covers 76,000 square miles.
[♪ dramatic music playing]
[narrator] The people of Galápagos want to ensure their ocean is protected,
and they know the best way to achieve that is by working together.
[Manuel] As we live in the marine reserve, we live in a... a special place.
It's important for me
this beautiful place is protected in the future and the next generation.
[narrator] Off Floreana Island, the crew are preparing to dive after dark.
Thanks to the increased marine protection around the Galápagos,
they now have a fighting chance at filming some apex predators.
Having spent the day out in the deep,
many marine creatures will soon be coming inshore to search for food.
And Richard is ready for them.
I've got three defenses.
I've got this amazing suit from Australia,
which is an anti-shark-biting suit.
I've got my camera to bump them in the head if they come at me.
And I've got JC with his fantastic stick in a bag.
So, nothing can go wrong.
- [laughs] - Whoo-hoo!
[narrator] Now they're suited up, it's time to dive.
Okay. One, two, three, go!
[narrator] It's the usual suspects who appear first.
Sea lions are never far from the action.
And a special reflective membrane at the back of their eyes
means they can see in the dark much better than humans.
They also have some of the longest whiskers of all mammals,
which allow them to hunt at night.
And they're not the only ones looking for a midnight snack.
[♪ ominous music playing]
These are blacktips.
They're big sharks. Some easily six feet long.
And the Galápagos is an important nursery ground for them.
The sharks don't see Richard or JC as prey,
but they still need to watch their backs.
All of these sharks provide a vital role in the food chain.
Integral to keeping its fine balance.
Oh, buddy. Great job.
[cheers] We made it. We're alive.
We've got all our arms and legs! Love it!
[narrator] The Galápagos Marine Reserve is currently home
to the highest concentration of sharks on the planet.
Over 30 species can be found here,
including schools of hammerheads...
whitetip reef sharks...
and tiger sharks.
In fact, this underwater world is so diverse
it provides the perfect habitat for all kinds of animals.
The sea lions know it like the back of their flipper
and have learned to capitalize on all the opportunities it provides.
The crew are on their way to a remote corner of the Archipelago,
as they've heard about an extraordinary behavior.
Sea lions teaming up to catch yellowfin tuna.
[crew members] Good morning.
Yeah.
[speaks Spanish]
Lava flows have created a maze of inlets,
which one smart sea lion is using to trap these super-sized prey.
The Galápagos Marine Reserve is a key breeding ground for yellowfin tuna.
These huge fish can grow over four feet in length and weigh 130 pounds.
They are far too fast to capture in the open ocean.
But can the crew film sea lions hunting them on this coast?
The team start off by scouting the shoreline
and soon find the remains of an enormous fish.
It's a great evidence that the behavior's happening.
So, supremely positive sign. That's great news.
[narrator] They need to prepare themselves,
as this is going to be a tough behavior to capture on camera.
Javier and Jeff get right to it.
They'll need to set remote cameras all over the cove,
ensuring every angle is covered.
And they don't have long to wait before their first slice of action.
Yeah, they're quite impressive.
They're right down here. Right there.
[crew members speaking Spanish]
[narrator] Sure enough, an old bull has appeared,
along with a hunting party.
The sea lions will need each other's help in order for their plan to work.
Luck isn't on their side this time.
But it was a great test run for the crew.
And Jeff and Javier can't wait to review the remote cameras.
- [Javier] And then they come again. - [Jeff] Wow. There's a lot of tuna.
- [Javier groans] - [Jeff groans] Nice.
Oh, sick. Okay.
And then they come.
[Jeff] Oh! Right to camera. That's great.
[stammers] What do those weigh? Like, 150 pounds?
- [Javier] Yeah. Probably. - [Jeff] 125 pounds? Like...
[Jeff] And they're just muscle. Like, if that were to hit us...
- [Javier] It would hurt. - [Jeff] ...that would hurt a lot.
- [Jeff exclaims, laughs] - [Javier laughs, exclaims]
Tomorrow they're probably gonna hunt really early in the morning,
so we should be ready. [chuckles]
So, yeah. Early rise.
You know what they say. Early... Early bird catches the worm.
Early sea lion catches the fish.
[laughs]
[narrator] Next morning,
the team have eyes in the sky as drone pilot Shelton takes over.
[Shelton] I got a visual on the sea lion.
Okay, I can see we've got three sea lions.
We've got two big tuna. Two big tuna coming in.
[narrator] It's time for Jeff and Javier to get geared up,
as they'll be in the firing line.
Carefully, they move into position.
[Shelton] Coming in fast. Coming in fast.
[bird squealing]
- And it looks like he got him. - [sea lion barking]
It's very unusual for males to be so closely bonded.
I've never seen it in my 30 years here.
Males cooperating so much and sharing the food after the hunt.
It's-It's extraordinary.
[narrator] The crew are blown away by the sea lions' talent for teamwork.
But after a month in the cove,
they've also made one heartbreaking observation.
Literally in the middle of nowhere. What do you find? Plastic.
Fiberglass from a boat probably.
We go to all of these places on shoots.
In these places that you think are pristine, um,
because that's kinda the way they're shown
in a lot of nature documentaries and things like that.
But it's just so difficult to go to p... to-to find anything
that doesn't have human impact.
[narrator] Scientist Juan Pablo Muñoz Pérez
and national park representative Galo Quezada
are collecting data about the problem.
[Juan Pablo] There is not a single place in this planet that is plastic-free.
The Galápagos is no exception.
So we are 1,000 kilometers from mainland Ecuador,
in the middle of nowhere in the Galápagos.
Only maybe ten people in this planet
have ever stepped in this exact location, and we see this.
Over 95% of the plastic that we found in Galápagos shorelines
are likely to be from outside the marine reserve.
The paradox here is that the same currents that are delivering life
are also delivering the problem of plastic.
[narrator] There are two key ways that plastic can affect wildlife.
Animals can become trapped in it, or they can eat it.
Once in the ocean, plastic quickly breaks down into smaller particles.
Consumed by fish, it travels up the food chain.
[Juan Pablo] Our research shows that from the mammal groups in the Galápagos,
the sea lions are the species
at most risk of being affected with plastic pollution.
The Galápagos is paying the price
of a global humanity living a disposable life.
[narrator] Thankfully,
Galápagos National Park is already taking action.
They've been organizing coastal cleanups for over 30 years.
[Galo] It's amazing to see the willing of hundreds of people
to clean the Galápagos shorelines.
Hundreds of people going to these remote places
and walking really long distances in the remote coastline of Galápagos.
[in Spanish] Let's go!
[Galo, in English] They go there, they collect as much trash as possible,
they bring it to port,
they contain it as much as possible, and they keep going, keep going.
It's amazing to see that initiative year after year after year.
[Juan Pablo] Coastal cleanups actually helps to manage the problem.
'Cause if you collect plastics before becoming microplastics,
you're actually doing a huge impact on the environment.
[narrator] So far, the project has enabled
over 5,000 volunteers to clear Galápagos shorelines.
Collecting over 94 tons of trash.
[Juan Pablo] Every piece of plastic that a volunteer collects
is one less piece of plastic that will harm a sea lion.
Our aim is to make the Galápagos the first plastic-free place on Earth.
So let's do it.
[narrator] Back on location,
the crew have spotted an opportunity to help a sea turtle trapped in plastic.
- It's alive. - Where?
It's moving the... She's moving her feet. It's still alive.
[Jeff] You think that's the water?
- No, yeah. It's alive. Yeah. - [Javier] No, it's alive.
You brought a knife?
- [Javier] Yeah, I have a line cutter. - Yeah.
I just saw her poke her face out of the water to breathe.
Uh, but she's still alive.
[Jeff] Yeah.
Let's try to get in as quietly as possible.
Just 'cause she's gonna freak out when we get close. So...
[narrator] Her front flipper is tangled in a sail.
She's obviously been here for a long time.
If they don't rescue her now, she'll die.
[Javier] As I remove the plastic away from her flipper,
immediately she recognizes that she's free.
[narrator] Despite her injured flipper, she has another chance at life.
[Javier] There's no words to explain
the feeling of seeing an animal realizing that it's free
and being able to swim away by its own means.
[narrator] During their time sailing around Galápagos,
the crew have encountered an array of ocean travelers passing through.
Orca.
It's been hypothesized that some islands
could be an important pit stop for these top hunters
as they travel across the Pacific.
Manta rays.
Though these can grow to 20 feet across, they only eat microscopic plankton.
And whale sharks.
Over 600 pregnant females are thought to pass through
the northern islands of Galápagos each year.
Despite their remoteness,
these islands are critically important to the wider world.
Just off Santiago Island
lies a chain of volcanic cones peeking above the ocean surface.
Bainbridge Rocks.
At the back of one of the islands is a small sandy cove.
The crew have heard that sea lions are using this beach
to help them catch different prey.
Their assignment is to capture this on camera.
So, we're just trying to get as many cameras out there,
um, to cover as much ground as we possibly can.
So we've got, at any one time, six underwater cameras,
uh, in the water at the moment.
And, um, two with live feeds up to a tiny little tent up there.
[narrator] A hunt could kick off at any time.
So Holly and Javier get straight to work.
For their plan to be a success,
they need to pick exactly the right spot to set the cameras.
But the sea lions think they know better.
A quick lens wipe, then they're ready to go.
Time for a quick nap while they wait for the action to begin.
Park guard Andy is on lookout duty.
[in Spanish] Attention! Attention!
Sea lions! Sea lions! I can see them.
The sea lions are heading to the beach!
[narrator, in English] The dive team heads out
to intercept the sea lions as they enter the cove.
They've rounded up a shoal of amberstripe scad. And they mean business.
But the scad have speed to their advantage.
They are too fast to catch in open water.
So the sea lions have learned to use the cove as a trap.
Shooting past the divers, the scad are heading right into the cove.
Now, it's all up to Holly's remote cameras.
Jackpot.
The feeding frenzy is captured on film.
Thanks to some fantastic teamwork from both the sea lions and the crew.
But even when these fishing masters are on top form,
there are no guarantees of a regular meal.
And every few years,
there's a change in the ocean that makes hunting difficult.
Under normal conditions,
cold currents bring nutrient-rich water into the Galápagos,
supporting healthy fish populations.
But during an El Niño event,
an accumulation of warm water at the surface blocks the cold.
Meaning there's less fish for the sea lions to hunt.
And when the ocean gets warm, it rains.
[thunder rumbles]
So the crew are wondering if an El Niño event could be on its way.
[Richard] It does beg the question
whether or not because the conditions at the moment are El Niño-like,
and the productivity may be lower.
That-That... That is kind of playing in the back of my mind a little bit...
- [Holly] I know. - ...what's going on here.
[narrator] To help them understand this phenomenon,
the Danubio has headed up to the most remote island in Galápagos, Darwin.
On board is a team of scientists hoping to reveal new insights into El Niño
and how it could be changing over time.
My name is Julia Cole, and I've been a climate scientist for almost 40 years.
I grew up in the American Midwest,
which is about as far from the ocean as you can get.
But I always dreamed of being able to work in the ocean,
and I've been lucky enough to be able to do that.
[crew member] One, two, three!
[Julia] One of our best tools as climate scientists
is to study coral.
Corals are really amazing.
They are the building blocks of the coral reef ecosystem
that is so important for supporting all kinds of species.
They're keeping a history of their environment trapped in their skeletons.
We're here to take samples that will help us unlock that history.
[narrator] Julia needs to drill straight down into the coral
to extract a core.
[Julia] Corals produce layers as they grow.
Kind of like tree rings but underwater.
As the coral grows,
it preserves a record of its environment in the chemistry of its skeleton.
And the chemistry of that coral
tells us about the temperature in which the coral grew.
[narrator] By studying the layers in the core,
scientists can look back in time.
Julie and her team have been collecting coral samples here for decades
and have built up a picture of how ocean temperatures are changing.
[Julia] The corals are telling us that the strongest,
most damaging El Niño events are becoming more frequent.
And that those changes have been particularly pronounced
in just the last few decades.
These very strong El Niño events
are times when the oceans around Galápagos
are suddenly cut off from their supply of nutrients.
And this undercuts the base of the food chain in Galápagos.
And it means that the fish populations crash.
It means that the birds struggle to find food.
And for a top predator like a sea lion,
it means that the big ocean buffet
that's normally out there for them in the Galápagos
has suddenly been wiped clean.
So this is really devastating for sea lions in Galápagos.
[narrator] But Julie isn't giving up hope.
To me it's empowering and energizing
to-to dig into questions that are still unknown
and try to contribute a little more
to understanding how the world is changing now,
and therefore how it may change in the future.
[narrator] El Niño can cause coral die-off.
Thankfully, a specialist team on Isabela Island
is helping the marine ecosystem bounce back.
These divers are from Reef Revival,
part of the coral recovery plan promoted by Galápagos National Park.
The process is simple.
Coral fragments are collected,
strung onto ropes and ladders,
and left to grow in a shallow, protected bay.
Once they have grown up to five times in size,
the fragments are detached and transplanted to depleted areas.
The nursery now contains
2,500 coral fragments of 12 different species.
6,000 corals have already been restored.
When the powerful currents of the Pacific meet the barrier of these islands...
a high-energy zone is formed.
An irresistible playground for the sea lions.
But to stand any chance of filming them,
the crew will need to be at the top of their game
and ready for anything the ocean throws at them.
This is where we hoped to be able to film the sea lions surfing.
We got five- to eight-foot waves coming in right now, so... so big.
And we have some... [stammers] There's... Sea lions are there,
but I am confident if we went into that right now, we will get smashed.
We're gonna watch it for a little bit longer.
See if we can find a corner that we can work to sit...
You know, stay out of the main break, where we can find sea lions surfing.
Right now, I don't like it.
[narrator] Meanwhile, the shore crew are having no such issues,
and Adrian is soon ready with the drone.
[♪ inspirational music playing]
Surf's up for the sea lions.
So the dive team decide to go for it.
[♪ tense music playing]
[grunts, groans]
[sniffles] Dude, that's heavy.
Three or four bombs just dropped on our heads.
It goes black! It goes totally black.
Just rolling around.
I... And I, you know, I worry
that we're gonna crack the camera on the bottom. [sniffles]
[narrator] But the topside team have found a new vantage point,
and Pooja is able to track sea lions surfing the length of the break.
[♪ surf rock music playing]
[squeals, giggles]
[crew members cheer]
- Oh, look at that! - [crew member] Yes!
[narrator] The dive team gear themselves up
for another attempt to capture the action.
And right away, their persistence has paid off.
Whoo! We got it! [chuckles]
Give me some! [chuckles]
- Well done. - Sick! Great stuff.
[narrator] After the success of the surfing shoot
and a long few months at sea,
Richard has arranged for a very special treat.
His family are coming out to join him to meet the stars of the show.
I-It's quite surreal
to have them coming here because I'm always on location without them.
This is the very first time in my life.
It's... That I've actually had my family with me.
And that means a huge amount to me.
Hey! You've made it!
Whoo-hoo!
Hi, guys.
Fantastic!
- How was your journey? - Save me. It's... It sucked.
[narrator] He's going to take them for a sea lion encounter they'll never forget.
[squeals] Oh, look! Look!
- It bit my flipper. - [Thalia exclaims]
Ready, set, go.
[♪ whimsical music playing]
[in a muffled singsongy voice] That's not food. [giggles]
Look at this!
- [sea lion grunts] - That was really cool.
[pants, sighs]
[laughs]
[shrieks]
- I'm a sea lion! [squeals] - [crew member] Good job.
[narrator] Richard's kids are fortunate
to get these opportunities through their dad.
But if you're a child growing up in one of the towns here,
how can you get the chance to visit the rest of the archipelago?
Luckily, there's a brand-new project underway
to ensure that local kids also get their chance to explore the national park.
[♪ meditative music playing]
[in Spanish] My name is Karla. I am 11 years old.
I was born here in Galápagos on Santa Cruz Island.
My parents work in a local shop.
I live surrounded by an ocean, but I've hardly ever been on a boat.
There are many unique animals that live on the islands
that I have never seen before.
I want to snorkel to get closer to marine life.
Today I'm very excited, because I'm going to go for the first time
to sleep on a boat and visit new islands.
[narrator, in English] Karla is joining seven other children
who are taking part in a charitable program called Galápagos Infinito.
They'll be exploring the islands together for the next three days.
[♪ majestic orchestral music playing]
[narrator] The program is made possible by the generosity of tourist boats,
like the Danubio,
transporting the children to the far-flung corners of the archipelago,
which may not have been accessible to them otherwise.
The aim is that they will fall in love with this wild landscape...
and feel inspired to protect the Galápagos National Park
and its unique wildlife as they grow up.
[laughing]
[narrator] Being out in nature provides an opportunity
to build life skills and confidence.
And today, some of them will be swimming in the open ocean
for their very first time.
[♪ whimsical music playing]
The charity is hoping to provide an experience like this
for every single seventh grader across the Galápagos, every year.
To inspire a whole new generation of Galápagos guardians.
Even after a lifetime of exploring,
the islands always have something new to reveal.
[narrator] The crew are heading to a remote corner of Isabela Island.
Which, so they've been told, harbors a secret cove.
Could this be the setting for the finale of the sea lion film?
Counting two days.
[narrator] Their first step is to... [chuckling] ...find some sea lions.
Yeah, so if you head into that lip right there and over there,
the crater's just in there.
- Just inside. Okay. - Yeah.
[inhales deeply] Heading in.
[Richard] Look at that.
There it is.
- [Javier] Wow. - [Richard] Unbelievable.
Hope there's sea lions there.
It's hard to tell. I mean, they look just like the sand so...
You have to get a bit lower or zoom in.
Here! There's one.
There's one. And there's another.
There's a whole bunch of them there.
That is brilliant.
Look at that. That's incredible.
Guess the next question is, how do we get in there?
Yeah. [sighs]
[narrator] It's thought the sea lions access the cove underwater
via a tunnel through the cliff face.
[Richard] I'm having slight doubts about being able to get in there.
But whether or not we can actually make it ourselves... [groans]
- [Javier] I hear ya. - [Richard] Gonna be... gonna be hair-raising
to go in there.
[♪ ethereal music playing]
[narrator] Richard and Javier set off to scout the tunnel underwater.
But there's a hazard they haven't accounted for.
[♪ tense music playing]
As the waves above hit the tunnel's narrow entrance,
water is suddenly compressed,
sending shock waves and generating a savage undertow.
One minute, the current drags them in.
The next, it pushes them out.
There's a risk they could be sucked in and become trapped.
Or bashed against the rocks that line the entrance to the tunnel.
They have no control.
The situation is becoming dangerous.
This tunnel is only accessible to sea lions.
Since Richard can't get under the cliff, he'll have to go over it.
But the cliff face inside the cove is 100 feet high.
Luckily, the team have brought along a secret weapon.
Rope access specialist, Tomas Espinosa,
has been tasked with finding a route for Richard.
I'm a complete novice when it comes to climbing,
and I have a slight fear of heights.
Probably that's the reason why I'm a diver.
And um, so yeah, I'm... I'm nervous actually going into that cave frankly.
But at the same time, I'm incredibly excited to see what's down there.
This is the one place that I've never been able to get to.
[narrator] Strapped into the harness, there's no backing out now.
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
- Enjoy. - Thank you, mate.
Yeah, that's a drop.
Yeah. Whole mind and body are just saying, "Ah! What are you doing?"
[breathing heavily]
[exhaling sharply]
Watch out. Watch out. There you go.
Little by little. There. Yeah.
[grunts]
- [breathing heavily, chuckles] - [Tomas] Yeah.
- Okay, want me to help you here, please? - [crew member] Yeah, incoming.
[Richard] Can see what you mean about the loose rock. There's plenty of it.
- Plenty of it. In fact, look at this lot. - [Tomas] Don't look down.
Wow. That is really...
- [Tomas] Feet good? - Really precarious, isn't it?
Oof, don't wanna dislodge that lot. [grunts, panting]
Whoo! Wow.
I'm not sure I'd do that again in a hurry though.
That was, uh, yeah. I think I'll stick to diving.
[♪ gentle music playing]
[narrator] It's a relief for Richard to be back in his comfort zone.
And this cove is also turning out to be exactly what he hoped for.
[Richard] I spent years dreaming of making this film.
[sea lion grumbles]
[barking]
And I couldn't have asked for a better ending.
The sea lions delivered. On cue. Perfectly.
[barking]
[♪ uplifting music playing]
[narrator] During their time filming Sea Lions of the Galápagos,
the Disneynature team have spent more time with these animals
than most people on Earth.
Revealing new insights into their remarkable lives...
above and beneath the waves.
They've also witnessed how threats to the islands are gathering pace.
[♪ hopeful music playing]
But a growing community of champions from all walks of life
are rising to the challenge,
playing their part to protect this magical place.
One solution that we can all share is inspiring the next generation,
connecting our children to nature...
passing on the message of hope.
A blossoming community united in the pursuit of one goal.
Protecting this wonderful place
and preserving it for generations to come.
[inhales sharply] So we've been trying to film sea lions all day,
and one decides to climb on our boat.
[♪ lively music playing]
[speaks Spanish]