1 00:00:03,300 --> 00:00:06,020 For animals all around the world, 2 00:00:06,020 --> 00:00:12,100 their first year is one of the most difficult and most dangerous. 3 00:00:14,500 --> 00:00:18,700 To survive, they must overcome daily threats and challenges. 4 00:00:20,420 --> 00:00:21,460 From rivals... 5 00:00:22,580 --> 00:00:23,980 ..from the elements... 6 00:00:25,300 --> 00:00:26,740 ..and predators. 7 00:00:26,740 --> 00:00:29,420 This is actually the most dangerous time. 8 00:00:30,820 --> 00:00:34,900 In this series, three wildlife camera operators will follow our 9 00:00:34,900 --> 00:00:37,260 planet's most iconic animals... 10 00:00:39,140 --> 00:00:42,380 ..as they grow and develop day by day. 11 00:00:44,020 --> 00:00:47,260 We start with the first three critical months. 12 00:00:48,540 --> 00:00:52,460 In Kenya, a newborn elephant must develop the skills to keep up 13 00:00:52,460 --> 00:00:54,580 with her fast-moving herd. 14 00:00:58,620 --> 00:01:02,900 In Sri Lanka, a week-old macaque must learn to survive in a world 15 00:01:02,900 --> 00:01:04,380 surrounded by humans. 16 00:01:06,580 --> 00:01:11,300 On the edge of the Arctic, five-week-old fox cubs must learn 17 00:01:11,300 --> 00:01:14,260 to hunt before the most ferocious winter sets in. 18 00:01:15,500 --> 00:01:20,380 And in Uganda, a baby mountain gorilla must overcome the odds 19 00:01:20,380 --> 00:01:24,020 to survive in the last fragment of an ancient forest. 20 00:01:27,740 --> 00:01:31,340 This is the story of what it takes to survive in the wild. 21 00:01:31,340 --> 00:01:34,500 Half of those cubs won't make it. 22 00:01:34,500 --> 00:01:38,380 I just want them to come back out of harm's way and be safe. 23 00:01:38,380 --> 00:01:41,220 This is their first year on Earth. 24 00:01:41,220 --> 00:01:44,540 It's almost like seeing your kid ride a bike for the first time. 25 00:02:13,340 --> 00:02:16,260 It's the end of Northern Kenya's dry season, 26 00:02:16,260 --> 00:02:19,460 and a family of African elephants gather to protect 27 00:02:19,460 --> 00:02:21,300 a vulnerable new arrival. 28 00:02:25,580 --> 00:02:27,820 Scientists call her Safina. 29 00:02:27,820 --> 00:02:29,820 She is just a few hours old. 30 00:02:32,900 --> 00:02:36,420 Almost a metre tall, 100 kilos in weight, 31 00:02:36,420 --> 00:02:39,380 she is the biggest baby born on land. 32 00:02:43,420 --> 00:02:46,100 Her mother, Cyclone, with the single task, 33 00:02:46,100 --> 00:02:47,700 is the herd matriarch. 34 00:02:51,180 --> 00:02:55,020 Safina was in her womb for almost two years. 35 00:02:56,660 --> 00:03:00,140 From the minute she is born, she is in a race for survival. 36 00:03:01,420 --> 00:03:05,180 She must muster the strength to stand and suckle. 37 00:03:05,180 --> 00:03:09,580 And within hours she must start to walk to keep up with the herd 38 00:03:09,580 --> 00:03:11,740 as they search for food and water. 39 00:03:18,780 --> 00:03:22,940 In this family, there is another baby two weeks older. 40 00:03:22,940 --> 00:03:26,300 She has already developed the coordination to keep up 41 00:03:26,300 --> 00:03:28,340 with the herd for hours at a time. 42 00:03:31,820 --> 00:03:35,420 But the herd won't stop for newborn Safina for long. 43 00:03:41,340 --> 00:03:45,060 Her survival relies on keeping up from her first day. 44 00:03:49,140 --> 00:03:52,900 If she falls behind or is separated from her mother, 45 00:03:52,900 --> 00:03:55,580 she could be a target for predators. 46 00:04:03,460 --> 00:04:06,700 Sue Gibson is a wildlife camerawoman. 47 00:04:06,700 --> 00:04:08,820 She will be filming Safina over her first 48 00:04:08,820 --> 00:04:10,380 and most vulnerable year. 49 00:04:12,620 --> 00:04:16,700 This is a really, really critical time for these babies and mums, 50 00:04:16,700 --> 00:04:20,140 because it's when those strong bonds between them are made. 51 00:04:20,140 --> 00:04:23,820 And it's when those lessons are taught to the babies, 52 00:04:23,820 --> 00:04:26,580 these lessons of survival, the lessons of life. 53 00:04:30,980 --> 00:04:35,180 The herd walk up to 15km a day looking for food. 54 00:04:38,220 --> 00:04:43,260 Safina may cover 3,500km in her first year. 55 00:04:46,740 --> 00:04:50,180 In her first days, she has to get used to keeping up. 56 00:04:52,860 --> 00:04:56,100 But it's not as simple as putting one foot in front of another. 57 00:05:08,740 --> 00:05:11,300 Cyclone is usually close enough to help. 58 00:05:15,780 --> 00:05:17,540 Cyclone's baby... 59 00:05:19,460 --> 00:05:22,100 ..couldn't walk across the muddy floor. 60 00:05:23,660 --> 00:05:24,940 Poor little thing! 61 00:05:26,340 --> 00:05:27,900 It's so undignified. 62 00:05:42,460 --> 00:05:46,460 One of the most fundamental survival skills Safina must learn 63 00:05:46,460 --> 00:05:48,180 is how to use her trunk. 64 00:05:49,340 --> 00:05:53,460 She won't be able to drink, feed or communicate without it. 65 00:05:54,580 --> 00:05:59,260 150,000 bundles of muscle fibres allow it to stretch, 66 00:05:59,260 --> 00:06:04,340 contract and twist through 360 degrees with precision. 67 00:06:05,700 --> 00:06:11,740 An adult can lift up to 350 kilos, so her mother can tear a branch 68 00:06:11,740 --> 00:06:15,220 from a tree or pluck a single blade of grass. 69 00:06:22,900 --> 00:06:28,100 She's flicking it around and almost surprised to see it sometimes. 70 00:06:34,820 --> 00:06:39,260 It will take Safina a year to learn how to gather food and water, 71 00:06:39,260 --> 00:06:43,340 but she can already use her trunk to touch and smell, 72 00:06:43,340 --> 00:06:45,500 which is how she forms bonds. 73 00:06:45,500 --> 00:06:49,420 And in such social animals, survival depends on forming 74 00:06:49,420 --> 00:06:50,860 these bonds quickly. 75 00:06:54,340 --> 00:06:57,980 There are three mothers in the herd, and their young. 76 00:06:57,980 --> 00:07:02,180 All the females will help protect the babies, but males do not. 77 00:07:03,660 --> 00:07:07,300 Safina has a 1.5-tonne adolescent brother. 78 00:07:08,620 --> 00:07:11,580 He doesn't know how to behave around vulnerable babies. 79 00:07:16,580 --> 00:07:18,660 And at just four days old, 80 00:07:18,660 --> 00:07:21,620 she hasn't learnt that he could be dangerous. 81 00:07:40,340 --> 00:07:44,460 16 times her weight, a kickback in irritation 82 00:07:44,460 --> 00:07:46,220 could severely injure her. 83 00:07:55,380 --> 00:07:59,940 The females surround Safina with a wall of muscle and tusk. 84 00:07:59,940 --> 00:08:01,940 ELEPHANTS GROWL 85 00:08:06,620 --> 00:08:10,260 It's important that Cyclone keeps her within touching distance 86 00:08:10,260 --> 00:08:12,300 in these first crucial weeks. 87 00:08:37,700 --> 00:08:39,940 Safina is now 12 days old. 88 00:08:41,660 --> 00:08:45,060 Sue is tracking her family with the help of David Daballen, 89 00:08:45,060 --> 00:08:47,860 from conservationists Save the Elephants, 90 00:08:47,860 --> 00:08:49,860 pioneers in GPS tracking. 91 00:08:54,740 --> 00:08:58,020 The herd spent the night on rocky uplands, 92 00:08:58,020 --> 00:09:00,380 but their coordinates show they're descending. 93 00:09:06,140 --> 00:09:07,300 Stop. 94 00:09:07,300 --> 00:09:08,380 Thank you. 95 00:09:08,380 --> 00:09:09,580 Perfect. 96 00:09:11,420 --> 00:09:14,060 Finally, they find the herd. 97 00:09:14,060 --> 00:09:15,620 But there is something wrong. 98 00:09:15,620 --> 00:09:17,380 ELEPHANTS GROWL 99 00:09:17,380 --> 00:09:20,140 Their calls indicate they are agitated. 100 00:09:29,180 --> 00:09:30,700 WHISPERS: I mean, that's very close. 101 00:09:31,860 --> 00:09:33,980 In the commotion, Safina wanders away 102 00:09:33,980 --> 00:09:36,420 from her mother's protection again. 103 00:09:39,380 --> 00:09:42,660 ELEPHANT CALL 104 00:09:47,380 --> 00:09:51,060 Suddenly another herd of elephants emerges from the scrub. 105 00:09:52,660 --> 00:09:55,500 We've got our herd that's come down from the mountains. 106 00:09:57,300 --> 00:10:01,220 And we've got another herd here, and they're calling 107 00:10:01,220 --> 00:10:02,620 to each other. 108 00:10:02,620 --> 00:10:06,260 And this other herd has an elephant called Monsoon in it, 109 00:10:06,260 --> 00:10:08,500 who's Cyclone's...sister? 110 00:10:08,500 --> 00:10:11,540 Yeah, they're sisters. And they're getting... 111 00:10:11,540 --> 00:10:14,980 I think there will be something that will happen. 112 00:10:14,980 --> 00:10:17,620 Something really interesting. This is lovely, it's lovely. 113 00:10:17,620 --> 00:10:19,580 I think, guys, we should be ready. 114 00:10:19,580 --> 00:10:22,700 There will be an amazing thing that will go on there. 115 00:10:30,220 --> 00:10:33,820 ELEPHANTS CALL 116 00:10:39,780 --> 00:10:44,260 Cyclone and her sister Monsoon perform a greeting ceremony, 117 00:10:44,260 --> 00:10:47,300 using their trunks to call and touch, 118 00:10:47,300 --> 00:10:49,780 communicating their affection. 119 00:10:49,780 --> 00:10:50,900 This is gorgeous. 120 00:10:50,900 --> 00:10:55,860 We've got Cyclone calling with her little baby underneath. 121 00:10:55,860 --> 00:10:59,580 Safina is being exposed to this complex and intricate 122 00:10:59,580 --> 00:11:01,220 display of communication. 123 00:11:02,940 --> 00:11:07,380 Scientists believe she will memorise their smells and sounds to recognise 124 00:11:07,380 --> 00:11:10,460 Monsoon and her family as friends in the future. 125 00:11:11,700 --> 00:11:13,700 You know, they really look like they're happy 126 00:11:13,700 --> 00:11:15,140 to see each other. 127 00:11:15,140 --> 00:11:16,540 And it's proper greetings. 128 00:11:16,540 --> 00:11:21,620 It's like the hug with the trunk going over each other's heads. 129 00:11:27,700 --> 00:11:31,980 It's like someone coming home from a long stint away, 130 00:11:31,980 --> 00:11:35,180 and meeting them at the airport or something, and you can't wait 131 00:11:35,180 --> 00:11:37,060 to wrap your arms around them. 132 00:11:37,060 --> 00:11:38,740 This tangible emotion. 133 00:11:46,220 --> 00:11:50,060 Safina is using her trunk to touch and smell. 134 00:11:50,060 --> 00:11:52,460 It's the process by which she makes the bonds 135 00:11:52,460 --> 00:11:54,540 that she'll remember for a lifetime. 136 00:12:01,220 --> 00:12:03,540 But, in the constant search for food, 137 00:12:03,540 --> 00:12:05,900 she will discover that there are some dangers 138 00:12:05,900 --> 00:12:09,100 even the closest family cannot protect her from. 139 00:12:12,620 --> 00:12:17,500 Parental protection is essential to surviving the first year. 140 00:12:17,500 --> 00:12:21,140 But for some babies, the support of a sibling can also 141 00:12:21,140 --> 00:12:23,580 increase their chances of surviving in the wild. 142 00:12:32,220 --> 00:12:36,060 10km from the border between Kenya and Tanzania, 143 00:12:36,060 --> 00:12:39,140 one of Africa's most successful predators 144 00:12:39,140 --> 00:12:40,860 is in the middle of a baby boom. 145 00:12:52,820 --> 00:12:55,940 A dozen cubs have been born in the past three months 146 00:12:55,940 --> 00:12:57,900 to this spotted hyena clan. 147 00:13:01,140 --> 00:13:03,340 They all live with their mothers at the den. 148 00:13:04,580 --> 00:13:07,060 Males don't play any part in parenting. 149 00:13:17,140 --> 00:13:20,420 They are often misrepresented as scavengers, 150 00:13:20,420 --> 00:13:22,460 but this clan hunt for most of their food. 151 00:13:29,780 --> 00:13:31,860 Hyenas are dedicated mothers. 152 00:13:33,060 --> 00:13:36,300 And they nurse their cubs for twice as long as 153 00:13:36,300 --> 00:13:38,340 their arch-rivals - lions. 154 00:13:42,060 --> 00:13:46,020 They live in a female-led hierarchy with a queen in charge. 155 00:13:47,900 --> 00:13:50,660 They are the Amazons of the Savannah. 156 00:13:53,220 --> 00:13:55,260 Scientists have recently discovered 157 00:13:55,260 --> 00:13:57,220 they are highly socially intelligent. 158 00:14:00,260 --> 00:14:02,540 They call this mother Soup. 159 00:14:02,540 --> 00:14:03,980 She is second in command. 160 00:14:06,860 --> 00:14:11,220 She has twin daughters - Bisque and Chowder. 161 00:14:11,220 --> 00:14:13,940 They are 12 weeks old and the highest-ranking cubs. 162 00:14:20,580 --> 00:14:24,140 Only half of hyena cubs survive their first year. 163 00:14:24,140 --> 00:14:27,100 But if the twins work together as a team, 164 00:14:27,100 --> 00:14:31,340 that could dramatically increase their chance of survival. 165 00:14:31,340 --> 00:14:34,180 And that teamwork first develops around now. 166 00:14:43,420 --> 00:14:49,020 Wildlife cameraman is in the Masai Mara to see if these sisters 167 00:14:49,020 --> 00:14:52,460 have what it takes to survive in such a competitive environment. 168 00:15:04,220 --> 00:15:08,820 In their hierarchy, there is going to be rules. 169 00:15:08,820 --> 00:15:13,540 And those rules, you have to get them right from this age. 170 00:15:15,300 --> 00:15:17,460 This is just the start of the process. 171 00:15:19,700 --> 00:15:22,740 12 weeks old is the age when they begin to learn 172 00:15:22,740 --> 00:15:26,220 how to enforce the rank they inherit from their mother. 173 00:15:26,220 --> 00:15:30,060 Working as a team, they soon make their presence known. 174 00:15:34,900 --> 00:15:37,780 It's really great to see that with the other cubs, 175 00:15:37,780 --> 00:15:39,380 throwing their weight around. 176 00:15:42,460 --> 00:15:46,060 But to survive unscathed, they must learn the rank 177 00:15:46,060 --> 00:15:48,500 of all 60 hyenas in the clan. 178 00:15:50,140 --> 00:15:54,820 It's really complex to understand how their social structure works. 179 00:15:57,060 --> 00:16:00,100 The sisters learn by watching their mother's body language. 180 00:16:04,980 --> 00:16:09,260 When she rises and goes into a tall stance with a bristle tail, 181 00:16:09,260 --> 00:16:10,460 it signifies dominance. 182 00:16:13,260 --> 00:16:16,380 The signals for submission include a bobbing head, 183 00:16:16,380 --> 00:16:18,180 flattened ears, and backing off. 184 00:16:22,300 --> 00:16:25,020 This is the etiquette that holds the clan together. 185 00:16:28,060 --> 00:16:31,100 So, the sisters have to get it right every time 186 00:16:31,100 --> 00:16:33,420 they encounter another hyena. 187 00:16:33,420 --> 00:16:37,020 Thing is, to keep that position, in the rank, 188 00:16:37,020 --> 00:16:39,300 you have to fight for it, pretty much. 189 00:16:40,620 --> 00:16:43,500 This youngster is six months old - 190 00:16:43,500 --> 00:16:47,660 twice their age, but his mother has a lower rank than theirs. 191 00:16:47,660 --> 00:16:49,260 So, he is subordinate. 192 00:16:50,900 --> 00:16:53,340 The twins must both give him a clear, 193 00:16:53,340 --> 00:16:55,380 dominant signal of their status. 194 00:17:14,460 --> 00:17:17,540 With their mother's support, the older cub submits. 195 00:17:20,780 --> 00:17:22,780 They're sending out the right signals. 196 00:17:29,300 --> 00:17:33,780 Day by day, the sisters' confidence is growing at the den. 197 00:17:33,780 --> 00:17:36,700 But they know little of the dangers lurking outside it. 198 00:17:39,220 --> 00:17:42,380 Lions patrol the same territory. 199 00:17:42,380 --> 00:17:47,580 They are the biggest rival for food and greatest threat to their lives. 200 00:17:48,780 --> 00:17:52,460 More hyenas are killed by lions than anything else. 201 00:17:52,460 --> 00:17:54,860 And they kill cubs to eliminate competition. 202 00:18:00,140 --> 00:18:02,580 Lions are not their only enemies. 203 00:18:05,300 --> 00:18:08,660 Hyenas sometimes hunt weak or young elephants. 204 00:18:11,980 --> 00:18:14,380 And occasionally, the elephants strike back. 205 00:18:25,660 --> 00:18:27,780 The twins must get underground to stay safe. 206 00:18:38,780 --> 00:18:43,420 Now, this is quite intense because they are starting to charge. 207 00:18:43,420 --> 00:18:46,460 But there was one female who stood her ground 208 00:18:46,460 --> 00:18:48,700 between cubs and elephants. 209 00:18:51,340 --> 00:18:53,580 The mothers call tells them to stay down. 210 00:18:55,660 --> 00:18:59,180 When the mother gave that grumbling signal, 211 00:18:59,180 --> 00:19:02,260 they understood it and they stayed in. 212 00:19:02,260 --> 00:19:06,180 And that's very important for their survival in 213 00:19:06,180 --> 00:19:08,140 this very dangerous environment. 214 00:19:10,660 --> 00:19:12,940 I just have to remind myself 215 00:19:12,940 --> 00:19:15,100 that half of those cubs won't make it. 216 00:19:19,660 --> 00:19:22,580 This is the most dangerous year of their lives. 217 00:19:30,300 --> 00:19:34,180 At 13 weeks old, the twins are learning to combine forces 218 00:19:34,180 --> 00:19:35,620 to dominate the den. 219 00:19:37,060 --> 00:19:39,180 But they must learn they cannot use aggression 220 00:19:39,180 --> 00:19:41,220 against every hyena in their clan. 221 00:19:46,500 --> 00:19:50,460 This two-year-old male will put them to the test. 222 00:19:50,460 --> 00:19:52,300 He's the queen's son, 223 00:19:52,300 --> 00:19:54,940 so he outranks the cubs and their mother. 224 00:19:58,580 --> 00:20:00,580 Bisque and Chowder must get this right. 225 00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:02,780 They must. 226 00:20:05,260 --> 00:20:07,540 They need to show respect. 227 00:20:09,580 --> 00:20:12,100 If they get this wrong, they could get badly beaten. 228 00:20:14,100 --> 00:20:17,860 Hyenas have been known to kill others in the clan to maintain rank. 229 00:20:20,100 --> 00:20:22,940 He's spotted the two sisters. 230 00:20:22,940 --> 00:20:25,220 Because of his superior status, 231 00:20:25,220 --> 00:20:27,820 their mother cannot defend them if they get it wrong. 232 00:20:41,260 --> 00:20:44,100 With their ears back and heads bobbing, 233 00:20:44,100 --> 00:20:47,060 they're making all the right signs of submission. 234 00:20:49,380 --> 00:20:53,620 From reading his body language, they calculate he is one of the few 235 00:20:53,620 --> 00:20:55,660 hyenas that ranks higher than them. 236 00:20:58,300 --> 00:21:02,300 Bisque and Chowder are learning really fast. 237 00:21:02,300 --> 00:21:07,260 One minute, they pick on the other cubs because they learn they can. 238 00:21:07,260 --> 00:21:10,380 And the next minute, he turns up - 239 00:21:10,380 --> 00:21:12,980 they learn that he's higher than them. 240 00:21:12,980 --> 00:21:14,980 And they are all submissive and sweet. 241 00:21:19,620 --> 00:21:23,700 From watching their mother, Bisque and Chowder have mastered 242 00:21:23,700 --> 00:21:27,340 an important step in negotiating into clan politics. 243 00:21:30,980 --> 00:21:34,580 But as they grow up, they have to move outside the den 244 00:21:34,580 --> 00:21:36,860 and into unknown enemy territory... 245 00:21:39,860 --> 00:21:41,140 ..where there are lions. 246 00:21:58,580 --> 00:22:01,980 15,000km away, another baby is growing up. 247 00:22:03,620 --> 00:22:07,300 This one shares his environment with hundreds of thousands of people. 248 00:22:09,940 --> 00:22:12,020 The Pacific coast of North America 249 00:22:12,020 --> 00:22:15,460 is home to around 3,000 Southern Sea otters. 250 00:22:23,220 --> 00:22:28,100 Wildlife cameraman is here to reveal the high risks 251 00:22:28,100 --> 00:22:32,300 and rewards for an otter pup trying to survive so close to humans. 252 00:22:36,980 --> 00:22:40,460 Right now, it's winter and when storms hit this coastline, 253 00:22:40,460 --> 00:22:42,140 there is simply no place to hide. 254 00:22:44,140 --> 00:22:48,100 Out here, creatures really are at the mercy of these deep, cold seas. 255 00:22:48,100 --> 00:22:52,100 But, perhaps surprisingly, this is the time of year when some 256 00:22:52,100 --> 00:22:54,860 southern sea otters give birth and raise their young. 257 00:22:59,380 --> 00:23:01,620 Most new mothers raise their pups 258 00:23:01,620 --> 00:23:03,820 in the kelp forests along the wild coast. 259 00:23:11,940 --> 00:23:13,980 This sea otter is different. 260 00:23:15,820 --> 00:23:17,620 She's bringing up her pup 261 00:23:17,620 --> 00:23:20,620 inside the man-made marina at Monterey, 262 00:23:20,620 --> 00:23:23,740 a busy fishing port on the Californian coast, 263 00:23:23,740 --> 00:23:26,980 which lands more than 10,000 tonnes of fish a year. 264 00:23:28,980 --> 00:23:31,860 Here, they can avoid winter storms, 265 00:23:31,860 --> 00:23:33,900 but they are exposed to risks 266 00:23:33,900 --> 00:23:37,380 including boat strike and pollution. 267 00:23:37,380 --> 00:23:39,780 You really see how these otters are very much 268 00:23:39,780 --> 00:23:42,820 growing up in a human-dominated world. 269 00:23:43,860 --> 00:23:46,980 Sea otters were once hunted to the edge of extinction 270 00:23:46,980 --> 00:23:48,940 for their fur. 271 00:23:48,940 --> 00:23:50,180 They are now protected, 272 00:23:50,180 --> 00:23:52,220 but still live with the impact of humans. 273 00:23:54,020 --> 00:23:56,860 This pup has to learn to identify risks 274 00:23:56,860 --> 00:23:58,940 as he grows, to make it through. 275 00:24:10,860 --> 00:24:12,500 I've been racking my brains, 276 00:24:12,500 --> 00:24:16,140 trying to think about a name for this young pup. 277 00:24:16,140 --> 00:24:18,340 I think I'm going to call him Limpet, 278 00:24:18,340 --> 00:24:21,020 cos he's constantly stuck to his mum. 279 00:24:22,660 --> 00:24:23,900 Limpet is six weeks old. 280 00:24:25,420 --> 00:24:28,140 Until now, he's either floated on the surface 281 00:24:28,140 --> 00:24:31,180 or rested on his mother's belly. 282 00:24:31,180 --> 00:24:35,620 But already, he must take his first critical step towards independence 283 00:24:35,620 --> 00:24:39,820 because sea otters mothers leave their pups around six months old. 284 00:24:41,940 --> 00:24:45,620 My real mission is to try and capture an important moment, 285 00:24:45,620 --> 00:24:48,340 a vital moment in a young otter's life, 286 00:24:48,340 --> 00:24:51,100 and that's when it learns to dive for the very first time. 287 00:24:53,780 --> 00:24:56,300 He isn't able to dive beneath the surface as yet - 288 00:24:56,300 --> 00:24:58,740 he's got too much air in his fur. 289 00:25:00,220 --> 00:25:03,100 Otters have the densest fur of any mammal. 290 00:25:04,740 --> 00:25:08,460 There are more strands of hair in a square centimetre of fur 291 00:25:08,460 --> 00:25:10,540 than on an entire human head. 292 00:25:14,300 --> 00:25:20,140 Air trapped next to Limpet's skin keeps him warm and buoyant. 293 00:25:20,140 --> 00:25:23,780 And until they can dispel that air, it's like a little life jacket. 294 00:25:23,780 --> 00:25:28,860 And it means that they can't actually dive down and follow Mum. 295 00:25:28,860 --> 00:25:34,140 If he can't dive, he can't avoid boats or learn to feed himself. 296 00:25:36,100 --> 00:25:38,580 Limpet's fluffy coat will soon moult, 297 00:25:38,580 --> 00:25:41,020 but he also has to practise diving 298 00:25:41,020 --> 00:25:42,900 to build up essential muscle strength. 299 00:25:50,620 --> 00:25:52,900 This marina is just Limpet's nursery. 300 00:25:54,620 --> 00:25:58,300 So, his mother tows him out to practise in the ocean. 301 00:25:58,300 --> 00:26:00,700 But conditions out here are more dangerous. 302 00:26:02,340 --> 00:26:03,820 Well, the pup's going to learn 303 00:26:03,820 --> 00:26:06,540 the sea's got a little bit more inherent movement 304 00:26:06,540 --> 00:26:10,100 and a few more currents and things out here, 305 00:26:10,100 --> 00:26:12,340 so it's going to get that bit of exposure. 306 00:26:19,900 --> 00:26:23,300 His mother spends up to ten hours a day hunting, 307 00:26:23,300 --> 00:26:25,140 leaving Limpet alone to practise. 308 00:26:28,220 --> 00:26:29,820 The youngster's going down. 309 00:26:29,820 --> 00:26:31,020 He's trying. 310 00:26:36,220 --> 00:26:38,980 I mean, I guess when he sticks his head under he's able to watch 311 00:26:38,980 --> 00:26:42,380 and see what his mum is doing and he's desperate to follow her, 312 00:26:42,380 --> 00:26:45,300 but he's just got a little bit too much buoyancy yet. 313 00:26:58,460 --> 00:27:01,860 Limpet is now six and a half weeks old, 314 00:27:01,860 --> 00:27:04,740 but still hasn't built up the stamina to practise for long. 315 00:27:06,780 --> 00:27:10,900 Some mothers find the pressure of raising a pup too great, 316 00:27:10,900 --> 00:27:12,460 so can abandon them. 317 00:27:26,700 --> 00:27:29,340 Next morning, practice begins again. 318 00:27:32,620 --> 00:27:36,420 And Michelle Staedler of Monterey Bay Aquarium joins Colin. 319 00:27:37,580 --> 00:27:40,820 She's been studying the otters here for the past 30 years. 320 00:27:45,580 --> 00:27:49,620 It seems like the pup is quite impatient to get under the water. 321 00:27:49,620 --> 00:27:53,940 Yes. He's also not physically able to dive that way. 322 00:27:53,940 --> 00:27:57,460 His muscles, his bones, much like toddlers when they start to walk, 323 00:27:57,460 --> 00:27:58,900 all of a sudden they can do it. 324 00:27:58,900 --> 00:28:00,780 And the same thing will happen with him. 325 00:28:00,780 --> 00:28:03,220 All of a sudden, he'll be able to dive a little deeper. 326 00:28:03,220 --> 00:28:05,740 There's also a lung capacity issue, 327 00:28:05,740 --> 00:28:09,420 so he can't hold his breath as long and he will be able to go 328 00:28:09,420 --> 00:28:11,780 down for a short time and eventually, over time, 329 00:28:11,780 --> 00:28:15,020 they build up the ability to hold more oxygen in their lungs. 330 00:28:18,060 --> 00:28:22,540 While he can't keep up with his mother underwater, he's at risk. 331 00:28:25,220 --> 00:28:29,140 Only half of sea otter pups make it through their first year. 332 00:28:30,460 --> 00:28:32,900 We've had a lot of sharks in this area. 333 00:28:32,900 --> 00:28:35,420 So, if the pup were on the surface by itself, 334 00:28:35,420 --> 00:28:37,380 the shark may come up and grab it. 335 00:28:38,860 --> 00:28:43,260 Great white sharks bite on objects they spot on the surface to work out 336 00:28:43,260 --> 00:28:45,500 if it's food they want to eat. 337 00:28:46,860 --> 00:28:49,980 Sea otters are not part of their diet, 338 00:28:49,980 --> 00:28:52,820 but the otters are too small to survive the wounds 339 00:28:52,820 --> 00:28:57,900 so, inadvertently, 50% of otter fatalities are from shark bite. 340 00:29:07,220 --> 00:29:09,500 Limpet is now seven weeks old. 341 00:29:10,700 --> 00:29:14,540 His muscles and coordination are improving every day, 342 00:29:14,540 --> 00:29:17,180 but he still hasn't completed his first dive. 343 00:29:29,340 --> 00:29:30,780 It's gone! 344 00:29:31,820 --> 00:29:34,140 He's gone underwater. 345 00:29:34,140 --> 00:29:35,460 Oh! 346 00:29:35,460 --> 00:29:37,500 He's come up again. 347 00:29:37,500 --> 00:29:38,900 That is a moment. 348 00:29:38,900 --> 00:29:40,340 It's a real moment. 349 00:29:40,340 --> 00:29:42,700 It's almost like, I don't know, seeing your kid ride a bike 350 00:29:42,700 --> 00:29:44,420 for the first time. 351 00:29:44,420 --> 00:29:46,220 And that is going to change everything. 352 00:29:46,220 --> 00:29:48,460 That moment means that, from now on, 353 00:29:48,460 --> 00:29:51,740 he's going to learn to follow Mum under water. 354 00:29:55,340 --> 00:29:58,820 But Limpet's next challenge is much more complex. 355 00:30:03,060 --> 00:30:06,180 He needs to learn how to find food 356 00:30:06,180 --> 00:30:10,220 in a crowded and dangerous man-made environment. 357 00:30:29,580 --> 00:30:32,860 On a tropical island 15,000km away, 358 00:30:32,860 --> 00:30:35,300 another baby has been born 359 00:30:35,300 --> 00:30:37,260 into a political hierarchy. 360 00:30:41,860 --> 00:30:44,940 He resides in the ancient capital of Sri Lanka, 361 00:30:44,940 --> 00:30:46,380 Polonnaruwa. 362 00:30:49,420 --> 00:30:53,260 Its regal ruins are now home to a new line of royalty... 363 00:31:00,260 --> 00:31:01,900 ..toque macaques, 364 00:31:01,900 --> 00:31:03,820 found nowhere else on Earth. 365 00:31:07,180 --> 00:31:11,740 Scientists are interested in their complex social interactions 366 00:31:11,740 --> 00:31:15,820 and believe that rank directly affects a baby's chances of survival 367 00:31:15,820 --> 00:31:17,220 in their first year. 368 00:31:21,500 --> 00:31:25,780 And last night, the alpha female of this troupe gave birth to a son. 369 00:31:37,740 --> 00:31:41,420 Sue will film him from his very first day on Earth 370 00:31:41,420 --> 00:31:45,300 to see how critical rank will be in his survival. 371 00:31:45,300 --> 00:31:49,140 A few hours ago, one of the troop's given birth. 372 00:31:49,140 --> 00:31:51,180 It's amazing. 373 00:31:51,180 --> 00:31:56,220 And an excellent opportunity to try and get some shots 374 00:31:56,220 --> 00:31:57,660 of a newborn macaque. 375 00:31:59,700 --> 00:32:01,460 I think I can see it. 376 00:32:03,580 --> 00:32:06,380 This is pretty unreal, actually. 377 00:32:06,380 --> 00:32:11,100 I get treated with a little baby boy who's just a few hours old. 378 00:32:11,100 --> 00:32:15,100 Scientists have named him Jazeer. 379 00:32:15,100 --> 00:32:18,500 He weighs just over 400g but could treble that 380 00:32:18,500 --> 00:32:21,420 if he makes it through his first year. 381 00:32:23,300 --> 00:32:27,300 Jazeer's mum, being the alpha female, means that Jazeer might 382 00:32:27,300 --> 00:32:31,380 one day go off and form a troop of his own and be the alpha male 383 00:32:31,380 --> 00:32:32,980 of that troop. 384 00:32:34,740 --> 00:32:38,180 But Jazeer has been born just before the dry season, 385 00:32:38,180 --> 00:32:40,580 the worst time for macaques, 386 00:32:42,340 --> 00:32:46,220 when the vegetation they eat dries up. 387 00:32:50,780 --> 00:32:54,740 To make it through the next three months, Jazeer must learn 388 00:32:54,740 --> 00:32:59,420 how to exert his authority and use the advantage he's been born with. 389 00:33:08,340 --> 00:33:12,220 Don't look them in the eyes, it's a threat in monkeys. 390 00:33:12,220 --> 00:33:14,860 Sue is working with Dr Wolfgang Dittus 391 00:33:14,860 --> 00:33:17,300 from the Smithsonian Institute. 392 00:33:18,700 --> 00:33:22,500 Head of the longest-running primate study in the world, 393 00:33:22,500 --> 00:33:23,980 almost 50 years, 394 00:33:25,300 --> 00:33:29,660 which has revealed the impact rank has on an infant's chances. 395 00:33:29,660 --> 00:33:33,340 It gives them a sort of priority of access to whatever 396 00:33:33,340 --> 00:33:35,140 contested resources there are, 397 00:33:35,140 --> 00:33:37,900 like figs, like fruit, like water, resting places, 398 00:33:37,900 --> 00:33:40,700 and all those things translate into their body condition 399 00:33:40,700 --> 00:33:44,220 and their ability to survive and ultimately reproduce. 400 00:33:44,220 --> 00:33:46,740 If you're always privileged in getting the best food, 401 00:33:46,740 --> 00:33:49,780 the best water, sitting out of the sun in the shade, 402 00:33:49,780 --> 00:33:52,660 being the first one up on a tree when there's a predator coming, 403 00:33:52,660 --> 00:33:56,660 that sort of translates into survivorship. 404 00:33:56,660 --> 00:33:59,140 So, there's no guarantee that Jazeer will survive 405 00:33:59,140 --> 00:34:00,380 his first year? 406 00:34:00,380 --> 00:34:02,060 No, there's no guarantee. 407 00:34:02,060 --> 00:34:04,820 Only about 60% of babies that are born 408 00:34:04,820 --> 00:34:07,300 survive to their first birthday. Wow! 409 00:34:07,300 --> 00:34:10,940 So, there's a pretty high rate of mortality in the first year. 410 00:34:10,940 --> 00:34:14,580 And only 10% of males go on to make it to adulthood. 411 00:34:17,860 --> 00:34:21,340 The top macaque population is now endangered, 412 00:34:21,340 --> 00:34:26,100 as it loses habitat across Sri Lanka to human development. 413 00:34:26,100 --> 00:34:29,220 Jazeer's forest sanctuary is a fraction of the size 414 00:34:29,220 --> 00:34:30,820 it once was. 415 00:34:31,860 --> 00:34:36,660 The ancient ruins of Polonnaruwa are a small, protected haven 416 00:34:36,660 --> 00:34:39,300 in the middle of a busy, modern city. 417 00:34:49,300 --> 00:34:53,140 Living so close to people can have its upsides. 418 00:34:54,540 --> 00:34:57,620 The temple macaques have more chances to find food 419 00:34:57,620 --> 00:34:59,940 than monkeys living in the wild. 420 00:35:07,340 --> 00:35:10,620 But where there are people, there are dogs. 421 00:35:15,700 --> 00:35:20,700 Feral dogs hunt monkeys, especially babies like Jazeer. 422 00:35:29,020 --> 00:35:31,340 These dogs look like they mean business. 423 00:35:31,340 --> 00:35:34,540 They're looking straight at our troop. 424 00:35:34,540 --> 00:35:37,580 They've got a certain swagger about them, that's for sure. 425 00:35:40,900 --> 00:35:45,780 He's definitely interested because he's salivating. 426 00:35:45,780 --> 00:35:50,180 Low-ranking macaques at the edge of the troop act like sentries. 427 00:35:50,180 --> 00:35:52,580 They are the first to see the threat. 428 00:35:54,540 --> 00:35:58,660 So, I hope Jazeer and his mum are somewhere safe. 429 00:36:02,420 --> 00:36:06,380 Jazeer's mum can always get up a tree first because, 430 00:36:06,380 --> 00:36:10,180 top rank means other monkeys have to wait. 431 00:36:16,860 --> 00:36:18,500 Phew. 432 00:36:18,500 --> 00:36:21,300 So, that was a little bit of a thumping heart moment. 433 00:36:24,580 --> 00:36:28,820 Jazeer's mother has protected him from the dogs. 434 00:36:28,820 --> 00:36:33,100 But they still have to face the challenges of the dry season. 435 00:36:39,180 --> 00:36:44,260 It's June, this tree will provide the troop's last harvest. 436 00:36:45,700 --> 00:36:51,140 It produces their most prized, nutrient rich food, figs. 437 00:36:52,500 --> 00:36:56,660 But the window is short and competition is fierce. 438 00:36:56,660 --> 00:36:59,300 The tree only fruits for three weeks a year. 439 00:36:59,300 --> 00:37:00,820 It will soon be over. 440 00:37:04,180 --> 00:37:07,580 The more fruit Jazeer's mum eats, the richer her milk 441 00:37:07,580 --> 00:37:10,060 and the bigger he grows. 442 00:37:10,060 --> 00:37:13,460 Up to 50% bigger than low-ranking babies. 443 00:37:14,740 --> 00:37:17,580 It could determine who makes it through. 444 00:37:27,700 --> 00:37:31,020 To keep his advantages of birth in the coming months, 445 00:37:31,020 --> 00:37:35,060 Jazeer will have to learn to compete with his peers for limited resources 446 00:37:35,060 --> 00:37:37,220 on his own. 447 00:37:37,220 --> 00:37:39,940 And it all begins by letting go of Mum. 448 00:37:43,980 --> 00:37:47,660 They're right here, your lucky day. 449 00:37:47,660 --> 00:37:49,100 The first steps away from Mum. 450 00:37:49,100 --> 00:37:51,100 That's the first time we've seen that. 451 00:37:57,020 --> 00:37:59,940 So, Jazeer looks like he's trying to... 452 00:37:59,940 --> 00:38:01,260 Explore his world, yes. 453 00:38:01,260 --> 00:38:03,340 ..explore a little bit, yeah. 454 00:38:03,340 --> 00:38:05,300 But always going back to Mum after... 455 00:38:05,300 --> 00:38:06,740 Yeah. ..a bit of time. 456 00:38:16,940 --> 00:38:21,380 At just nine days old, he begins to interact. 457 00:38:21,380 --> 00:38:26,220 He has developed the confidence to join in with other baby macaques. 458 00:38:27,460 --> 00:38:31,820 But he must find the skills and strength to assert his dominance 459 00:38:31,820 --> 00:38:35,020 over them if he is to become an alpha like his mother. 460 00:38:59,620 --> 00:39:02,940 Every baby is precious to its mother. 461 00:39:02,940 --> 00:39:08,100 But some babies are precious to us all because they are so rare. 462 00:39:09,300 --> 00:39:15,620 In Uganda, a tiny miracle is hidden in the last fragment of a once giant 463 00:39:15,620 --> 00:39:19,900 forest kingdom called Bwindi, the impenetrable forest. 464 00:39:21,980 --> 00:39:25,340 A baby mountain gorilla, Nyakabara. 465 00:39:27,180 --> 00:39:31,660 Her name means "marked" because she was born 466 00:39:31,660 --> 00:39:35,700 with a white bracelet of fur, never seen before. 467 00:39:38,980 --> 00:39:43,020 Nyakabara is one of perhaps only 50 mountain gorilla babies 468 00:39:43,020 --> 00:39:44,260 in the world. 469 00:39:46,020 --> 00:39:50,300 She is eight weeks old and weighs just over two kilos. 470 00:39:50,300 --> 00:39:55,820 She shares 98% of her DNA with human babies and, like them, 471 00:39:55,820 --> 00:39:58,460 is utterly dependent on her mother. 472 00:40:02,940 --> 00:40:08,020 Within days, she should develop an interest in her family group of 12. 473 00:40:11,380 --> 00:40:13,900 And the forest that will dramatically affect 474 00:40:13,900 --> 00:40:15,220 her chances of survival. 475 00:40:20,420 --> 00:40:23,580 The only other group of mountain gorillas 476 00:40:23,580 --> 00:40:27,380 is in the Virunga Mountains, on the border with Congo and Rwanda. 477 00:40:27,380 --> 00:40:30,620 But they have been separated for 5,000 years. 478 00:40:38,060 --> 00:40:43,140 Unlike the Virunga gorillas, the Bwindi apes feed high in trees, 479 00:40:43,140 --> 00:40:45,780 even though some weigh more than 180 kilos. 480 00:40:56,620 --> 00:41:01,020 Nyakabara's family will climb up over 25 metres 481 00:41:01,020 --> 00:41:03,420 to get to seasonal fruit. 482 00:41:07,740 --> 00:41:09,340 It's fraught with danger. 483 00:41:10,980 --> 00:41:14,020 The previous silverback fell to his death. 484 00:41:15,220 --> 00:41:19,100 Another was struck by lightning as he slept in a tree. 485 00:41:21,820 --> 00:41:26,740 A third of babies don't survive their first years. 486 00:41:26,740 --> 00:41:28,460 Falls are a factor. 487 00:41:33,980 --> 00:41:36,780 Vianet is in Uganda to film Nyakabara, 488 00:41:36,780 --> 00:41:38,820 to see how she can stay safe 489 00:41:38,820 --> 00:41:41,980 through her first months as she adapts to life at heights. 490 00:41:52,020 --> 00:41:55,980 He will be helped by researchers from the Max Planck Institute. 491 00:41:58,300 --> 00:42:01,980 20 years of study is gradually unlocking the secrets 492 00:42:01,980 --> 00:42:04,100 of these arboreal great apes. 493 00:42:06,020 --> 00:42:09,260 Vianet is only allowed four hours a day with them, 494 00:42:09,260 --> 00:42:10,900 once he finds them. 495 00:42:13,820 --> 00:42:15,980 Oh! Oh, oh, oh, oh! Gosh! 496 00:42:19,420 --> 00:42:23,300 WHISPERS: I'm just about to go and film mountain gorillas. 497 00:42:24,660 --> 00:42:27,380 And they're my favourite one. 498 00:42:27,380 --> 00:42:32,100 But, as a protocol, I have to wear a mask because one of the biggest 499 00:42:32,100 --> 00:42:34,620 threats to them is human infection. 500 00:42:37,180 --> 00:42:43,060 Especially that little baby I'm going to be following for a year. 501 00:42:45,860 --> 00:42:48,780 The gorillas are endangered. 502 00:42:48,780 --> 00:42:54,700 Fewer than 500 in Bwindi and habitat loss restricts their growth. 503 00:43:01,500 --> 00:43:05,940 Thousands of people live within 15 km of the forest edge. 504 00:43:09,420 --> 00:43:12,860 One of the densest, rural populations in Africa. 505 00:43:13,900 --> 00:43:19,100 Legislation has stopped the forest shrinking 506 00:43:20,260 --> 00:43:23,620 but there is no longer any room for it to grow, 507 00:43:23,620 --> 00:43:25,500 limiting the gorilla's population. 508 00:43:30,460 --> 00:43:35,180 Infanticide is another risk infants face in their first year. 509 00:43:37,060 --> 00:43:40,900 Nyakabara's father is a muscular, young silverback, 510 00:43:40,900 --> 00:43:43,140 the same height as Vianet, 511 00:43:43,140 --> 00:43:45,780 but he's two and a half times his weight. 512 00:43:47,380 --> 00:43:51,500 His role is to prevent a takeover by another silverback 513 00:43:51,500 --> 00:43:53,860 who would kill babies to father his own. 514 00:43:55,140 --> 00:43:57,580 That is the boss. 515 00:43:57,580 --> 00:44:00,980 He knows that and no-one can take that from him. 516 00:44:02,020 --> 00:44:05,340 Males beat their chest to show dominance but 517 00:44:05,340 --> 00:44:09,340 infants of both sexes also go through a phase. 518 00:44:09,340 --> 00:44:11,540 Scientists don't yet know why. 519 00:44:13,220 --> 00:44:16,620 18-month-old Gorodi is in the midst of hers. 520 00:44:17,940 --> 00:44:19,820 VIANET CHUCKLES 521 00:44:19,820 --> 00:44:21,900 You can't get any better than that. 522 00:44:27,220 --> 00:44:30,860 In the first six months, Nyakabara's mother stays close 523 00:44:30,860 --> 00:44:33,900 to the silverback for protection. 524 00:44:33,900 --> 00:44:38,380 She doesn't welcome attention from other gorillas. 525 00:44:38,380 --> 00:44:42,020 It's very hard trying to get a shot of the mother and the baby 526 00:44:42,020 --> 00:44:43,900 at this stage. 527 00:44:43,900 --> 00:44:46,900 And the mother just trying to make sure that baby doesn't get hurt. 528 00:44:46,900 --> 00:44:48,300 They're so weak. 529 00:44:48,300 --> 00:44:51,780 She just wants to make sure she's protecting her little baby. 530 00:44:59,940 --> 00:45:03,140 Not even a potential playmate is allowed near. 531 00:45:07,780 --> 00:45:12,700 And what I'm hoping to see is those beautiful baby's eyes looking out 532 00:45:12,700 --> 00:45:17,940 and taking in their family and their surroundings. 533 00:45:24,940 --> 00:45:28,100 The ancient forest sits on equatorial mountaintops 534 00:45:28,100 --> 00:45:31,860 at 2,400 metres. 535 00:45:31,860 --> 00:45:36,500 Unique microclimates support almost 400 plant species 536 00:45:36,500 --> 00:45:39,980 and the highest diversity of trees in East Africa. 537 00:45:43,580 --> 00:45:46,340 The mostly vegetarian apes seek out 538 00:45:46,340 --> 00:45:49,380 around 100 different plants for food. 539 00:45:53,620 --> 00:45:57,780 RIPPING 540 00:45:59,380 --> 00:46:03,460 It takes at least two to three years to learn them all. 541 00:46:05,460 --> 00:46:08,540 Nyakabara is now eight and a half weeks old 542 00:46:08,540 --> 00:46:12,820 and supporting her own head. Her eyes are just focusing. 543 00:46:12,820 --> 00:46:17,300 This is the first time I've got the little baby's eyes open, 544 00:46:17,300 --> 00:46:19,940 and she looks stunning. 545 00:46:19,940 --> 00:46:21,740 She's got a spark in her eye. 546 00:46:24,660 --> 00:46:28,660 At this stage, she's more advanced than a human baby. 547 00:46:29,740 --> 00:46:33,940 But she's still months away from being able to climb for herself. 548 00:46:39,900 --> 00:46:43,900 Her mother can't hold on to her as she forages. 549 00:46:43,900 --> 00:46:47,980 Nyakabara must cling to her fur. 550 00:46:47,980 --> 00:46:51,580 I can actually see the mother and the baby on the tree. 551 00:46:54,340 --> 00:46:56,980 That's a long way for the baby to be. 552 00:46:58,100 --> 00:47:00,580 I hope that she's fine there. 553 00:47:05,540 --> 00:47:08,540 LEAVES RUSTLE 554 00:47:16,500 --> 00:47:19,420 I can't believe that branch just snapped. 555 00:47:19,420 --> 00:47:21,380 I just hope the baby's still alive! 556 00:47:22,580 --> 00:47:25,940 They have fallen out of sight, down a steep slope. 557 00:47:26,980 --> 00:47:29,220 Just can't see them at all. 558 00:47:31,220 --> 00:47:33,660 Vianet can't get down there. 559 00:47:43,620 --> 00:47:48,460 The next day, Vianet has to track the family from the fall site. 560 00:47:48,460 --> 00:47:50,340 GORILLAS GRUNT 561 00:47:50,340 --> 00:47:53,980 ROARING AND GROWLING 562 00:47:55,860 --> 00:47:59,900 Gorodi is on her mother's back, but there's no sign of Nyakabara. 563 00:48:12,900 --> 00:48:16,500 A flash of white reveals both survived the fall. 564 00:48:18,540 --> 00:48:21,620 Hey, Jack, is the baby OK? And the mother? It looks OK. 565 00:48:21,620 --> 00:48:25,220 Luckily, there's lots of vegetation so it was a soft landing. 566 00:48:25,220 --> 00:48:26,740 That's a big relief. 567 00:48:41,140 --> 00:48:44,860 Nyakabara is now nine weeks old, and is reaching the stage 568 00:48:44,860 --> 00:48:49,460 when - like a human baby - she can recognise family beyond her mother. 569 00:48:56,140 --> 00:48:58,620 BIRD CALLS 570 00:49:07,300 --> 00:49:09,980 NYAKABARA SCREECHES 571 00:49:16,700 --> 00:49:20,460 This is the moment I've been waiting for. 572 00:49:20,460 --> 00:49:24,420 For the first time, Vianet sees Nyakabara show interest 573 00:49:24,420 --> 00:49:27,020 in the group's other infant, Gorodi. 574 00:49:28,660 --> 00:49:32,140 Nyakabara is just starting to connect with her troop. 575 00:49:35,140 --> 00:49:39,380 As curiosity and coordination grow, the biggest challenge 576 00:49:39,380 --> 00:49:44,220 Nyakabara faces is to adapt to life in the trees herself. 577 00:49:44,220 --> 00:49:47,460 She will have to learn to climb in order to feed 578 00:49:47,460 --> 00:49:49,540 and stay safe in the forest. 579 00:50:17,380 --> 00:50:20,220 The fjords of north-west Iceland. 580 00:50:21,980 --> 00:50:25,700 In winter, the sun barely rises. 581 00:50:25,700 --> 00:50:30,340 And temperatures can plummet 22 degrees below zero. 582 00:50:30,340 --> 00:50:34,660 But it is home to the island's only native land mammal... 583 00:50:34,660 --> 00:50:37,420 ..the arctic fox. 584 00:50:37,420 --> 00:50:41,980 FOX CALLS 585 00:50:41,980 --> 00:50:45,620 Half the size of a red fox, they are perfectly adapted 586 00:50:45,620 --> 00:50:48,140 to live in this hostile environment. 587 00:50:49,500 --> 00:50:53,020 With one of the warmest coats of any animal, 588 00:50:53,020 --> 00:50:57,100 its highly insulatory fur even covers the pads of its feet. 589 00:51:06,460 --> 00:51:12,140 In June, the Icelandic summer brings a spectacular contrast to winter... 590 00:51:12,140 --> 00:51:14,660 ..with 24-hour daylight. 591 00:51:15,980 --> 00:51:19,140 This is the time arctic fox cubs emerge. 592 00:51:19,140 --> 00:51:21,700 But they will only have three months to fatten up before 593 00:51:21,700 --> 00:51:23,740 most of their food disappears 594 00:51:23,740 --> 00:51:25,860 and the harsh winter returns. 595 00:51:27,020 --> 00:51:30,540 Only half of the cubs survive their first year. 596 00:51:34,540 --> 00:51:38,860 Colin has come to the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve to see what it takes 597 00:51:38,860 --> 00:51:41,900 to survive with such limited time to develop. 598 00:51:44,540 --> 00:51:47,380 But first...he has to find the cubs. 599 00:51:53,460 --> 00:51:56,140 Arctic foxes vary in colour. 600 00:51:58,140 --> 00:52:01,580 This male will keep his dark coat throughout the year. 601 00:52:05,860 --> 00:52:09,420 While his mate turns the classic white in winter. 602 00:52:11,140 --> 00:52:15,620 Their cubs will stay hidden in a den under rocks for up to five weeks. 603 00:52:18,220 --> 00:52:21,900 Lots of places to hide amongst the boulders. 604 00:52:21,900 --> 00:52:26,180 But it really does look like a typical arctic fox den site. 605 00:52:27,740 --> 00:52:31,260 But there's no way of knowing exactly when they'll emerge. 606 00:52:43,460 --> 00:52:46,500 DISTANT BARKING 607 00:52:49,740 --> 00:52:52,020 FOX BARKING 608 00:52:52,020 --> 00:52:55,100 That could well be Dad calling, not too far away. 609 00:52:57,180 --> 00:53:00,020 BARKING CONTINUES 610 00:53:00,020 --> 00:53:01,300 That's a good sign. 611 00:53:05,460 --> 00:53:07,180 Oop! Oh... 612 00:53:11,940 --> 00:53:13,420 That was a fox cub. 613 00:53:14,740 --> 00:53:18,980 Little, fluffy, brown back moving amongst the boulders. 614 00:53:18,980 --> 00:53:21,140 So they're definitely here. 615 00:53:21,140 --> 00:53:25,100 The five-week-old cub weighs around 700g 616 00:53:25,100 --> 00:53:27,300 and is about the size of a kitten. 617 00:53:27,300 --> 00:53:28,860 Wow! 618 00:53:28,860 --> 00:53:31,980 Looked to be the very same colour as the dad. 619 00:53:31,980 --> 00:53:34,220 Dark brown...but tiny. 620 00:53:35,620 --> 00:53:38,340 At this size, they're still vulnerable to cold 621 00:53:38,340 --> 00:53:39,740 despite their warm fur. 622 00:53:41,540 --> 00:53:44,660 They will only emerge for about an hour at a time. 623 00:53:46,380 --> 00:53:49,460 WHISPERS: There's at least six or seven. 624 00:53:49,460 --> 00:53:51,500 Oh, there's a little white one! 625 00:53:51,500 --> 00:53:53,380 CUBS CHIRP 626 00:53:53,380 --> 00:53:56,380 That's the one we're going to have to follow... 627 00:53:56,380 --> 00:53:58,620 ..because I can't tell any of the others apart. 628 00:54:01,220 --> 00:54:03,460 I'm going to call him Fela. 629 00:54:03,460 --> 00:54:06,180 In Icelandic, I think it means to hide or hidden. 630 00:54:06,180 --> 00:54:08,580 Something like that. 631 00:54:08,580 --> 00:54:11,420 Been hiding from me for a while, so... 632 00:54:11,420 --> 00:54:13,620 What a wonderful little animal. 633 00:54:15,660 --> 00:54:21,060 In some countries, arctic foxes have up to 14 cubs in a litter. 634 00:54:21,060 --> 00:54:25,820 But in Iceland, they have fewer as there is so little food. 635 00:54:25,820 --> 00:54:29,940 There won't even be enough food for this litter of eight. 636 00:54:29,940 --> 00:54:32,140 They will have to fight for it. 637 00:54:35,580 --> 00:54:40,460 CUBS CHIRP AND SQUEAK 638 00:54:42,260 --> 00:54:46,340 There is intense sibling rivalry between them. 639 00:54:46,340 --> 00:54:48,940 And although this just looks like play - 640 00:54:48,940 --> 00:54:53,060 and I guess that's what it is - it has a very important function. 641 00:54:53,060 --> 00:54:55,300 The stronger you are, the feistier you are, 642 00:54:55,300 --> 00:54:57,900 the more chance you have of accessing the food that 643 00:54:57,900 --> 00:54:59,940 the parents deliver to the site. 644 00:54:59,940 --> 00:55:02,180 The better chance you have of growing up. 645 00:55:02,180 --> 00:55:04,660 And it looks like, so far... 646 00:55:04,660 --> 00:55:06,940 ..Fela looks boisterous, 647 00:55:06,940 --> 00:55:08,900 and that's a good sign. 648 00:55:10,620 --> 00:55:13,340 Because they have so little time to learn, 649 00:55:13,340 --> 00:55:16,740 the fox cubs are already born with the instinct to hunt. 650 00:55:19,940 --> 00:55:23,820 Arctic foxes practise a very particular hunting technique. 651 00:55:26,940 --> 00:55:30,420 When they detect the tiniest movement of rodents 652 00:55:30,420 --> 00:55:31,860 under the snow... 653 00:55:31,860 --> 00:55:33,540 ..they pounce. 654 00:55:35,540 --> 00:55:37,540 RODENT SQUEAKS 655 00:55:43,420 --> 00:55:47,580 The last patches of snow act as a trigger for the cubs' instincts. 656 00:55:54,500 --> 00:55:58,140 CUBS CHIRP AND YELP 657 00:55:58,140 --> 00:55:59,820 I find intriguing... 658 00:55:59,820 --> 00:56:02,380 ..how they know just how to jump, 659 00:56:02,380 --> 00:56:05,540 how to do that, sort of, arctic fox leap. 660 00:56:05,540 --> 00:56:08,300 These things are just ingrained and in-built. 661 00:56:15,860 --> 00:56:18,500 But Fela isn't pouncing. 662 00:56:19,820 --> 00:56:23,260 With seven siblings as rivals for limited food, 663 00:56:23,260 --> 00:56:25,660 he cannot afford to fall behind. 664 00:56:28,980 --> 00:56:32,780 The only way to get through the winter - when they could face 665 00:56:32,780 --> 00:56:36,980 a month between meals - is to lay down fat from now on. 666 00:56:38,860 --> 00:56:42,020 Their parents are catching breeding sea birds 667 00:56:42,020 --> 00:56:44,260 from nearby cliffs to feed them. 668 00:56:44,260 --> 00:56:47,540 But the birds will leave by the end of summer... 669 00:56:47,540 --> 00:56:51,460 ..and then there will not be enough food to go around. 670 00:56:51,460 --> 00:56:55,140 Survival is not guaranteed in this part of the world. 671 00:56:55,140 --> 00:56:56,940 Summers are very short. 672 00:56:58,180 --> 00:57:00,620 And the litter of eight is going to need a lot of food, 673 00:57:00,620 --> 00:57:03,220 a lot of food deliveries, every day. 674 00:57:03,220 --> 00:57:06,060 If they don't get them, they won't make it. 675 00:57:06,060 --> 00:57:07,980 And the sad thing is, if they just miss out on 676 00:57:07,980 --> 00:57:09,980 a few meals, they get weak. 677 00:57:09,980 --> 00:57:12,980 And then they just lose out on that competition. 678 00:57:14,260 --> 00:57:17,860 Life will always be a struggle for Fela. 679 00:57:17,860 --> 00:57:21,020 Out here, only the toughest survive. 680 00:57:21,020 --> 00:57:24,820 But his ability to get to food first and bulk up in the race 681 00:57:24,820 --> 00:57:28,700 towards winter will ultimately determine if he makes it 682 00:57:28,700 --> 00:57:31,260 through his first year on Earth. 683 00:57:41,820 --> 00:57:43,980 As the babies grow more independent, 684 00:57:43,980 --> 00:57:46,300 they start to run into new challenges. 685 00:57:47,700 --> 00:57:50,380 With only a month to learn how to forage, 686 00:57:50,380 --> 00:57:53,620 Limpet mistakes waste plastic for food. 687 00:57:53,620 --> 00:57:55,660 It's always a shame to see 688 00:57:55,660 --> 00:58:00,100 wild animals playing with things that we have discarded. 689 00:58:00,100 --> 00:58:02,140 In a race to get the best food, 690 00:58:02,140 --> 00:58:05,300 Safina's mother gambles with her daughter's safety 691 00:58:05,300 --> 00:58:08,660 and leads her into the midst of armed conflict. 692 00:58:08,660 --> 00:58:10,900 I just want them to come back over here, 693 00:58:10,900 --> 00:58:13,500 out of harm's way, and be safe. 694 00:58:13,500 --> 00:58:16,580 And as Bisque and Chowder's confidence grows, 695 00:58:16,580 --> 00:58:19,620 the time comes for them to venture into new territory, 696 00:58:19,620 --> 00:58:22,340 where they'll discover new threats. 697 00:58:22,340 --> 00:58:25,180 I'm quite nervous because... 698 00:58:25,180 --> 00:58:27,860 ..lions don't like hyenas.