Every summer in the seas off Alaska humpback whales, sea lions and killer whales depend on an explosion of plant life, the plankton bloom. It transforms these seas into the richest on Earth. But will these animals survive to enjoy the great feast? The summer sun sparks the growth of phytoplankton, microscopic floating plants which can bloom i ...n such vast numbers that they eclipse even the Amazon rainforest in sheer abundance of plant life. Remarkably, it is these minute plants that are the basis of all life here. But both whales and sea lions have obstacles to overcome before they can enjoy the feast. Humpback whales migrate 3,000 miles from Hawaii, and during their 3 month voyage lose a third of their body weight. In a heart-rending scene a mother sea lion loses her pup in a violent summer storm, while another dramatic sequence shows a group of killer whales working together to kill a huge male sea lion. In late summer the plankton bloom is at its height. Vast shoals of herring gather to feed on it, diving birds round the fish up into a bait ball and then a humpback whale roars in to scoop up the entire ball of herring in one huge mouthful. When a dozen whales work together they employ the ultimate method of co-operative fishing - bubble net feeding. One whale blows a ring of bubbles to engulf the fish and then they charge in as one. Filmed from the surface, underwater and, for the first time, from the air, we reveal how these giant hunters can catch a tonne of fish every day.
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Far from land, where few of us ever venture, is the ocean beyond the boundary of any country. Largely ungoverned, wild, and lawless. Venture into the deep, dark and desolate oceans that are home to an abundance of beautiful - and downright strange - creatures.
The story of Tilikum, a captive killer whale that has taken the lives of several people , including a top killer whale trainer, underscores the consequences of keeping these powerful animals in captivity, the problems within the sea-park industry, the man's relationship to nature, and how little has been learned about these highly intelligent ... and sentient mammals. Tilikum was captured in the northern Atlantic Ocean in 1983 and taken to Sealand of the Pacific, a now-shuttered park near Victoria, British Columbia. Former Sealand trainers interviewed in 'Blackfish' say the park’s female killer whales would aggressively gang up on Tilikum, particularly when they were confined in a 20-foot-by- 30-foot pool overnight.
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The seventh episode of the series takes us on an epic journey to discover the extraordinary dynasty of mammals. From their humble origins in the Jurassic forests to their dominance in the modern world, mammals have evolved and survived through cataclysmic events and drastic environmental changes. From the small coati in the jungle to the maje ...stic Megacerops, passing through the elusive snow leopard in the Himalayas and the gigantic marine mammals like whales, the documentary illustrates the adaptability and diversity of these incredible beings. With stunning images and masterful narration, the documentary is a window to the resilience and beauty of life on Earth, celebrating the tenacity and ingenuity of mammals throughout the ages.
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This featured episode of the documentary series takes viewers on a captivating journey around the world, showcasing the astonishing ways in which animals adapt to living alongside humans. In Sauraha, Nepal, a rhino navigates through human-inhabited areas in search of food. In Bali, long-tailed macaques have learned to trade stolen items for f ...ood, demonstrating their intelligence and adaptability. The bustling streets of New York City are home to pavement ants that thrive on human leftovers, while in India, revered cobras coexist with humans in a unique cultural relationship. Melbourne, Australia, features nocturnal frogmouths benefiting from urban lighting for hunting, and Lake Tahoe in North America sees black bears adapting to easy food sources in human settlements. The documentary also delves into the challenges faced by wildlife due to human expansion and climate change. It highlights the plight of African elephants in Kenya conflicting with farmers, the impact of overfishing on humpback whales in Vancouver Island, and the dramatic increase of desert locusts in northeastern Africa due to climate-induced conditions. The episode concludes by emphasizing the importance of reimagining our relationship with nature. It suggests a shift towards plant-based diets to reduce agricultural land use and the potential of vertical farming technologies, offering hope and solutions for a sustainable coexistence with wildlife.
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In late summer the plankton bloom is at its height. Vast shoals of herring gather to feed on it, diving birds round the fish up into a bait ball and then a humpback whale roars in to scoop up the entire ball of herring in one huge mouthful. When a dozen whales work together they employ the ultimate method of co-operative fishing - bubble net feeding. One whale blows a ring of bubbles to engulf the fish and then they charge in as one. Filmed from the surface, underwater and, for the first time, from the air, we reveal how these giant hunters can catch a tonne of fish every day. Show More