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To us, winter can appear magical.

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The way the snow transforms the landscape

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is little short of miraculous.

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But for the animals who have to live through it,

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winter is a time of incredible challenges.

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This is the story of a small group of baby animals

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facing some of the harshest conditions on the planet.

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Polar bear cubs following their mums

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to the ends of the Earth.

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Reindeer calves trying to keep up with the herd.

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Young otters and Arctic foxes learning to fend for themselves.

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Penguin chicks racing to independence.

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And baby snow monkeys

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who must find their place in the troop to survive.

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With the help of their mums...

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dads...

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and families,

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they might just make it through their first year.

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These are the snow babies.

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Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth.

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In winter, there's little daylight

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and the temperature may fall to minus 80 degrees centigrade.

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But for one remarkable animal, this is home.

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The emperor penguin.

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Winter fades.

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Spring isn't the only new arrival.

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He may be tiny, but he has a huge adventure ahead of him.

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If he's to survive his first winter,

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he must learn to stand on his own two feet by then.

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For the moment, though,

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he relies completely on his parents.

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Or, more precisely, his dad.

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This little chap has never met his mum.

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Two months before he hatched, in the darkest days of winter,

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she set off to get fish for her and her unborn chick.

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But right now it's 80 kilometres to the water's edge

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and she has a long journey home.

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Dad has fed his son what he can, and has little left to offer.

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He needs a proper meal...

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and soon.

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So does Dad.

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He hasn't eaten for over 100 days,

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and weighs half what he used to.

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But he can't leave until Mum comes back.

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All they can do is wait...

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and hope that nothing has happened to her.

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At last, a sight for sore eyes.

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It's the mums, returning with fish and squid

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for chicks they've never even set eyes on.

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It's a warm welcome home.

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But with 20,000 penguins all calling out at once,

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how will the mums ever find their own families?

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Incredibly, even in the uproar,

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penguins can recognise the calls of their partners.

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She's found them.

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Reunited at last.

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After two months apart,

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the adults spend a tender moment together.

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The chick has never seen his mum before, and is a little shy.

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For Mum, it's love at first sight.

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After months of it being just the two of them,

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it's hard for Dad to let go.

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It takes a lot of gentle persuasion...

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but he's finally ready.

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The chick has only a thin down to keep him warm.

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Just two minutes on the ice would be enough to kill him.

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They have to move fast.

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Mission accomplished.

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The young chick gets his first full meal,

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Mum gets time with her baby,

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and Dad can finally go fishing.

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Just 80 kilometres to go.

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At the other end of the world,

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in the high Arctic,

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winter is equally harsh.

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It engulfs the world like a ghost.

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It whips the land without mercy.

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But, again, it doesn't last for ever.

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Spring reveals new life.

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This polar bear cub was born two months ago

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and has only just come out of her den beneath the snow.

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Mum has been feeding her on rich, fatty milk,

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but hasn't had anything to eat herself for almost eight months.

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She needs to get them moving,

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just as soon as she's sure Baby can keep up.

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If she's to make it through her first year,

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the cub will have to be continually on the move.

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It's the only way to survive in a place where food is hard to come by.

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Mum makes it look easy.

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Baby's not so sure...

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..and needs some gentle reassurance.

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But if they're to catch any seals

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they'll need to get onto the sea ice before it starts to melt.

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And the sooner, the better.

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They've got a lot of travelling to do.

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Further south, the snow is still thick on the ground.

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The nights are still long,

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and the temperature well below freezing.

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This shivering little reindeer has only just been born...

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..yet she has only a few hours to find her feet

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and join the rest of the herd.

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The reindeer, or caribou,

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are on the longest overland migration of any mammal,

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searching for tender new grass revealed by the melting snow.

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But new-born calves are an easy target for hungry wolves.

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Shadowed as they go,

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these reindeer may walk more than 4,000 kilometres in a year

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and the calves will have to keep up to survive.

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But even animals born to run must take a break some time.

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When reindeer calves play, they aren't just having fun -

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they're getting fit and agile

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practising the defensive moves they'll need to survive.

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And not a moment too soon.

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A white-tailed eagle has got them in its sights.

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These enormous birds can easily kill a young calf.

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A small group of mums and calves have strayed away from the herd.

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A miss.

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But the eagle isn't giving up.

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A strike.

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The eagle succeeds.

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It's a harsh lesson for the surviving calves,

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but they must stay with the herd.

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With one calf less, the herd continues north,

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chasing the melting snow.

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The thaw is also a busy time for adult Arctic foxes.

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Spring brings new mouths to feed.

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By the time winter comes around,

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these cubs must be all grown up and completely independent

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so they have a lot of learning to do.

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And, as we all know, youngsters learn faster when it's fun.

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The cubs are still too young to hunt for themselves,

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but they've seen their parents catching rodents under the snow

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and are already honing their skills.

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It's Mum.

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But she's come back without any food.

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It's still early in the year and there's little for her to catch.

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Mum isn't about to give up, though.

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She heads back out to try again.

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Until they can hunt and scavenge for themselves,

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all the cubs can do is wait and hope.

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In the polar regions, winters are long and harsh

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and spring is slow to arrive.

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The same is true here, in the mountains of Japan,

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where winter is a brutal affair.

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There is little greenery and few plants to eat.

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But when spring finally comes,

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life returns quickly.

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A troop of macaques makes the most of the sunshine.

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It's the perfect time to welcome a new addition to the family.

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It's a baby boy.

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This tiny monkey will need all the warmth, protection and milk

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his devoted mum can offer.

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Surrounded by greenery,

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it's hard to believe that Japanese macaques

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are also known as snow monkeys.

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Yet, in only six months' time,

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this baby monkey will be in a world of white.

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If he's to make it through his first winter,

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he too has a lot of learning to do.

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Not just about feeding himself,

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but also about fitting in.

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Snow monkey troops have a very strict pecking order.

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A queen-like female rules the roost.

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Below her, a whole cast of class-conscious males

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decides who gets into the gang...

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..and who doesn't.

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Probably best just to stick with Mum.

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Polar bear cubs must also stay close to their mums.

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It's the only way a cub is ever going to learn how to hunt.

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Ringed seals make their dens in the sea ice.

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But polar bears have the best sense of smell of any mammal.

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Unfortunately for her,

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ringed seals flee at the first hint of danger.

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Only 2% of polar bear hunts are successful,

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so Mum will just have to keep trying.

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At least, Baby has seen how it's done,

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though she might need a little more practice.

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Mum's not giving up.

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Seals make their dens in the ice,

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so the rising temperatures mean that they will soon be gone.

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Despite her growing hunger,

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Mum still makes time to play with her baby.

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But the clock is ticking.

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As the sea ice gradually melts, the seals will head out to sea.

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They have to keep moving, searching for their prey.

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The cub keeps up as best she can,

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but polar bears might walk as much 55 kilometres in a day

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and that's tough on a cub's tender little paws.

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The cub takes a rest to soothe them.

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But there's no time to waste.

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It's time to get moving again.

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In the Antarctic, spring is slower to take hold.

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But the penguin chicks are growing fast.

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And no wonder - in four months' time,

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this chick will be heading off to the open ocean.

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In the meantime, there's some local exploring to do.

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As far as Mum's concerned, a little independence is no bad thing.

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Still, better follow him, just in case.

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At the first sign of mischief,

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he's dragged back by the scruff of the neck.

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But this little chap has a will of his own.

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In the beginning, it's brilliant.

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It's his first slice of freedom, and it tastes great.

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The trouble is that he's in a colony of 80,000 penguins.

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Everyone looks pretty much the same.

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The result is inevitable.

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He's completely lost.

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It's the moment every toddler dreads.

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All he wants is to find his mum.

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But this mum belongs to someone else.

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Oh, dear.

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Some of the other females have lost their babies,

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and their maternal instincts are so overwhelming

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they'll steal any stray baby they see.

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Suddenly, he's running for his life.

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It's chaos and very frightening.

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He's on his last legs...

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..when Mum comes to the rescue.

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The chick has learned his lesson about leaving his mother's side.

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Though he might have preferred a slightly more dignified exit.

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In the mountains of Japan, baby snow monkeys are still busy

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trying to find their place in the pecking order.

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Being the youngest in the troop can be tough

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when all the older kids have already worked out who their mates are.

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But if this monkey doesn't make friends,

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he could be in real trouble when winter comes round.

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An older baby comes over to investigate...

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..and a friendship begins.

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Soon, everyone wants to say hi.

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It's official - he's part of the gang.

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The snow monkeys are the only one to live to hang out in gangs

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So do the emperor penguins

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This little chick is not old enough to look after himself

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while mum and dad go fishing

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He's made a lot of friends.

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And he and his mates look out for each other...

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..most of the time.

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There's the odd disagreement, of course.

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Though it's usually quickly forgotten.

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Mum and Dad are now both working full-time

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just to keep their baby fed.

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Even with the ice melting and the sea getting closer,

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it's still a two-week round trip to catch food.

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The adults have no choice.

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Their chicks have some serious growing to do

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if they're to leave home before next winter.

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But, even in summer, the weather can turn in an instant.

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In an Antarctic blizzard,

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temperatures can quickly fall to minus 67 degrees Fahrenheit.

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The chicks' only chance of survival is to huddle together for warmth.

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The cold, though, is only part of the problem.

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They've lost the rest of the colony.

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They have two choices.

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They can stay together and hope that they are found,

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or they can break the huddle, search for the remaining adults,

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and risk freezing to death.

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Young and afraid, they decide to risk it.

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But they could be heading in completely the wrong direction.

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In the end, luck is on their side.

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Even at the height of the blizzard,

261
00:28:10,030 --> 00:28:14,000
there's still a column of adults bringing fish back from the sea.

262
00:28:14,730 --> 00:28:18,720
The chicks are led home like a party of lost schoolchildren.

263
00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:51,830
Back with the colony, they form a creche once more.

264
00:28:55,450 --> 00:28:58,310
But nothing beats snuggling up to Mum.

265
00:29:04,220 --> 00:29:06,750
Hanging out with your mates is all very well

266
00:29:07,460 --> 00:29:09,920
but mums are definitely better.

267
00:29:31,130 --> 00:29:33,930
This is boom time for the reindeer.

268
00:29:34,330 --> 00:29:37,300
The little calves are feeding for themselves now.

269
00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:41,400
Though they'll still drink mum's milk when they get a chance.

270
00:29:50,730 --> 00:29:55,260
But danger is never far away.

271
00:29:55,300 --> 00:29:57,600
The wolves have decided to strike.

272
00:30:04,180 --> 00:30:06,280
Their strategy is fear.

273
00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:08,900
Panic the reindeer,

274
00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:13,260
and the calves will fall behind or get separated from the herd.

275
00:30:14,580 --> 00:30:18,940
In the chaos, anxious mums call desperately for their babies.

276
00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:30,260
Most of the calves are lucky.

277
00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:33,540
This one was separated but survived.

278
00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:36,580
Now she just needs to find Mum.

279
00:30:39,580 --> 00:30:41,900
But while there may be safety in numbers,

280
00:30:42,220 --> 00:30:44,460
it's also easier to get lost.

281
00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:50,300
THEY CALL TO EACH OTHER

282
00:30:56,280 --> 00:31:01,560
Found at last, and desperate for Mum's reassurance.

283
00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:05,860
Others may not have been so fortunate.

284
00:31:07,100 --> 00:31:11,440
But at least this little one is safe and back with the herd.

285
00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:21,800
At the peak of the Arctic summer, the sun never sets.

286
00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:34,660
This constant warmth and energy

287
00:31:34,860 --> 00:31:37,540
triggers an incredible burst of life.

288
00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:44,280
Millions of seabirds flock to the cold, rich seas now freed from ice.

289
00:31:47,260 --> 00:31:50,800
Humpback whales arrive for a spectacular feast

290
00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:52,740
of shrimp-like krill.

291
00:32:12,980 --> 00:32:17,320
The fox cubs get their share of the feast - an adult seabird.

292
00:32:20,460 --> 00:32:24,840
They're already displaying signs of independence, fighting over food.

293
00:32:26,140 --> 00:32:29,040
As adults, they will live largely alone,

294
00:32:29,300 --> 00:32:32,600
and it's quickly becoming every pup for himself.

295
00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:41,420
High above them, guillemots race to feed their hungry chicks

296
00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:43,140
while summer lasts.

297
00:32:43,890 --> 00:32:46,790
Only three weeks old, it's time for the young birds

298
00:32:46,850 --> 00:32:49,520
to take their first flight into the unknown.

299
00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:55,770
And they only get one shot to reach the safety of the sea,

300
00:32:56,220 --> 00:32:59,230
with mum following anxiously behind.

301
00:33:17,560 --> 00:33:20,810
For many, it's a perfect - if bumpy - landing.

302
00:33:23,500 --> 00:33:25,500
But not all of them succeed.

303
00:33:39,370 --> 00:33:43,500
A botched first flight delivers easy pickings for a mother fox.

304
00:33:45,690 --> 00:33:49,160
Wily Mum stores her catch for harder times ahead.

305
00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:54,170
In the Arctic, it pays to be prepared.

306
00:34:11,210 --> 00:34:16,090
The summer thaw in the Antarctic has melted much of the ice...

307
00:34:18,680 --> 00:34:23,150
..and this penguin colony is now on the verge of being washed away.

308
00:34:29,150 --> 00:34:31,610
It's make or break time for the chicks.

309
00:34:32,910 --> 00:34:36,160
They've started growing their waterproof adult feathers

310
00:34:36,430 --> 00:34:38,910
and their parents have stopped feeding them.

311
00:34:40,380 --> 00:34:45,290
It's time to take to the water, whether they like it or not.

312
00:34:54,300 --> 00:34:57,240
Eventually, after much hesitation,

313
00:34:57,470 --> 00:35:01,310
they summon their courage and take the plunge.

314
00:35:07,480 --> 00:35:10,970
Swimming is a wonderful discovery.

315
00:35:24,810 --> 00:35:28,640
At last, they're almost the same size as the adults...

316
00:35:29,610 --> 00:35:32,910
..and a perfect meal for a leopard seal.

317
00:35:34,380 --> 00:35:37,760
Having barely wet their beaks, they shoot back on to the ice.

318
00:36:06,380 --> 00:36:11,000
It's been a harsh introduction to the reality of life at sea.

319
00:36:17,630 --> 00:36:21,290
But they can't stay here for ever - they have to start fishing.

320
00:36:21,740 --> 00:36:24,570
It's time for another deep breath.

321
00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:36,650
This time, they swim straight out to the open ocean

322
00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:39,610
and off to independence.

323
00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:48,780
High summer in the Arctic and there's little ice left.

324
00:36:53,790 --> 00:36:57,160
It's the hardest time of year for hungry polar bears.

325
00:36:57,680 --> 00:37:01,660
There are still a few seals, but not enough ice to hunt them on.

326
00:37:03,100 --> 00:37:04,940
There's only one thing for it.

327
00:37:15,130 --> 00:37:18,200
Polar bears are superb swimmers

328
00:37:18,700 --> 00:37:22,120
and can easily swim 30 miles in a day.

329
00:37:28,170 --> 00:37:31,440
Mum is perfectly at home under water.

330
00:37:32,490 --> 00:37:35,440
but seals can swim faster and deeper.

331
00:37:44,110 --> 00:37:48,880
It's time to admit defeat and head for dry land.

332
00:37:57,770 --> 00:38:00,640
Eventually the days close in.

333
00:38:01,280 --> 00:38:03,390
Summer slowly fades.

334
00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:10,490
A chill comes to the mountains of Japan.

335
00:38:20,250 --> 00:38:23,610
Mothers and babies must cuddle together for warmth.

336
00:38:29,020 --> 00:38:31,470
Autumn is finally here.

337
00:38:44,650 --> 00:38:47,420
As they make the most of the dwindling grass,

338
00:38:47,610 --> 00:38:50,910
the reindeer calves also grow thicker coats.

339
00:38:53,390 --> 00:38:56,440
The fox cubs' coats are not just getting thicker,

340
00:38:56,730 --> 00:39:00,460
they're also getting paler to match the coming snow.

341
00:39:01,610 --> 00:39:06,570
They'll be leaving home soon to face their first winter alone.

342
00:39:08,330 --> 00:39:12,860
As a result, their play is much more like real hunting now.

343
00:39:14,030 --> 00:39:18,280
And playing with their food is positively encouraged.

344
00:39:25,980 --> 00:39:27,420
When you're having fun,

345
00:39:27,790 --> 00:39:31,560
it's easy to think that the good times will last for ever.

346
00:39:38,830 --> 00:39:42,240
But there's no mistaking the change in the air.

347
00:39:48,330 --> 00:39:53,310
Further north, these polar bears have swum back to shore.

348
00:39:55,310 --> 00:39:59,950
Until the sea freezes over again, there's little for them to eat.

349
00:40:01,980 --> 00:40:03,840
What is Mum up to?

350
00:40:05,040 --> 00:40:08,300
Actually, desperation is setting in.

351
00:40:09,770 --> 00:40:12,000
She must forage for what she can.

352
00:40:15,450 --> 00:40:18,280
A bit of seaweed hardly helps with the hunger.

353
00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:22,170
It's more like a vitamin supplement than a meal,

354
00:40:22,560 --> 00:40:24,120
but it's better than nothing.

355
00:40:34,350 --> 00:40:36,490
While Mum hunts in the water,

356
00:40:37,280 --> 00:40:40,200
baby grabs the chance to hunt on land.

357
00:40:51,710 --> 00:40:53,900
Just a little bit more practice.

358
00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:04,080
Her baby is still getting milk

359
00:41:04,570 --> 00:41:08,670
but it's been months since Mum last ate a proper meal.

360
00:41:09,900 --> 00:41:14,270
And these bones from a beached whale were picked clean years ago.

361
00:41:16,010 --> 00:41:17,130
All they can do

362
00:41:17,980 --> 00:41:21,360
is wait for the sea to freeze over.

363
00:41:29,520 --> 00:41:33,560
When winter comes, it makes a dramatic entrance...

364
00:41:35,370 --> 00:41:36,720
..arriving with a force

365
00:41:36,760 --> 00:41:40,800
that the snow babies have never experienced before.

366
00:42:00,440 --> 00:42:03,560
The youngsters have learned all they can.

367
00:42:04,490 --> 00:42:05,530
For most of them,

368
00:42:05,880 --> 00:42:09,880
it's time to face the greatest challenge of their lives.

369
00:42:11,320 --> 00:42:14,990
With the change in season, the reindeer turn south.

370
00:42:18,800 --> 00:42:22,700
1,000 freezing miles now separate the calves

371
00:42:22,860 --> 00:42:25,160
from the lush southern pastures.

372
00:42:39,600 --> 00:42:42,960
At last, the first shock is over.

373
00:42:45,920 --> 00:42:48,730
The world is transformed.

374
00:43:10,480 --> 00:43:15,680
In Japan, this year's babies are seeing snow for the first time.

375
00:43:17,770 --> 00:43:20,330
At first, they're just curious.

376
00:43:21,960 --> 00:43:23,690
Then they get creative.

377
00:43:27,980 --> 00:43:30,160
Snow monkeys are quick learners,

378
00:43:30,540 --> 00:43:32,360
and this young monkey has found

379
00:43:32,360 --> 00:43:34,850
a wonderful way of entertaining himself.

380
00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:40,520
Making snowballs.

381
00:43:50,620 --> 00:43:54,830
The only problem is it keeps rolling away.

382
00:44:05,160 --> 00:44:06,510
Or maybe that's the point.

383
00:44:07,160 --> 00:44:10,970
After all, why else would he take it to the top of the hill again?

384
00:44:20,640 --> 00:44:23,070
For this particular troop of macaques,

385
00:44:23,600 --> 00:44:27,360
making snowballs has become part of their unique culture.

386
00:44:28,160 --> 00:44:29,660
By copying the others,

387
00:44:30,040 --> 00:44:34,430
this little monkey is doing his best to stay part of the gang.

388
00:44:55,560 --> 00:44:59,640
When you're young, snow is fun and extremely exciting.

389
00:45:01,960 --> 00:45:05,400
But the sense of fun doesn't always last.

390
00:45:10,010 --> 00:45:12,860
Snow monkeys are the most northerly monkeys on earth

391
00:45:13,400 --> 00:45:16,830
and face winter temperatures that are well below freezing.

392
00:45:21,000 --> 00:45:22,330
There's nowhere to shelter...

393
00:45:23,790 --> 00:45:26,330
..and food is hard to come by.

394
00:45:37,720 --> 00:45:41,680
But snow monkeys are nothing if not resourceful.

395
00:45:44,620 --> 00:45:50,590
They'll eat berries, leaves, fruit, nuts and insects.

396
00:45:52,780 --> 00:45:54,880
And, when there's no food on the ground,

397
00:45:55,950 --> 00:45:57,370
they'll try the water.

398
00:45:59,850 --> 00:46:02,560
And that includes the babies.

399
00:46:06,810 --> 00:46:09,550
Small crustaceans are hiding under the rocks,

400
00:46:10,680 --> 00:46:15,820
and this baby snow monkey has been taught by his mum how to find them.

401
00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:22,320
It's fiddly work and the water is freezing...

402
00:46:23,720 --> 00:46:25,440
..but beggars can't be choosers.

403
00:46:31,360 --> 00:46:33,040
With their thick coats,

404
00:46:33,370 --> 00:46:37,440
adult snow monkeys are well equipped to deal with the wind and the snow.

405
00:46:40,330 --> 00:46:43,070
The babies aren't so lucky.

406
00:46:44,750 --> 00:46:49,130
Without some respite, this baby could be in real trouble.

407
00:46:56,760 --> 00:47:00,860
As winter deepens, even the sea freezes.

408
00:47:08,670 --> 00:47:11,290
The surface turns to icy slush.

409
00:47:21,130 --> 00:47:25,550
Gradually, the ice merges into flat plates.

410
00:47:30,320 --> 00:47:33,720
Eventually, after much toing and froing,

411
00:47:34,460 --> 00:47:36,220
the plates lock together...

412
00:47:39,850 --> 00:47:42,760
..and the sea becomes land again.

413
00:47:48,590 --> 00:47:54,400
At last, the Arctic is just how polar bears like it.

414
00:47:57,920 --> 00:48:00,760
They are back on solid ice,

415
00:48:01,310 --> 00:48:04,780
and seals are back at the top of the menu.

416
00:48:09,630 --> 00:48:11,070
Hunting day and night,

417
00:48:11,340 --> 00:48:14,170
this mum has been making up for lost time.

418
00:48:15,150 --> 00:48:17,450
Ringed seals are abundant

419
00:48:17,610 --> 00:48:20,540
and the ice is no longer melting underfoot.

420
00:48:27,390 --> 00:48:29,740
Mum is having a field day,

421
00:48:30,320 --> 00:48:32,520
and so too is her little cub.

422
00:48:36,830 --> 00:48:40,650
With their bellies full, they take a well-earned rest.

423
00:48:40,990 --> 00:48:43,550
It's 12 degrees Fahrenheit below...

424
00:48:44,320 --> 00:48:46,440
..and just how they like it.

425
00:48:52,090 --> 00:48:53,920
And what about the fox cubs?

426
00:48:54,680 --> 00:48:57,680
They're all grown up and living on their own now.

427
00:48:59,400 --> 00:49:03,760
Their winter coat gives them the best insulation of any mammal

428
00:49:04,280 --> 00:49:06,680
and excellent camouflage in the snow.

429
00:49:08,890 --> 00:49:14,560
This cub is now a master at hunting rodents scurrying beneath the snow.

430
00:49:15,760 --> 00:49:19,120
But some of the best food is served frozen.

431
00:49:20,220 --> 00:49:22,570
Whether killed by illness, or by the cold,

432
00:49:23,020 --> 00:49:26,990
this adult reindeer will keep for a long, long time.

433
00:49:28,190 --> 00:49:31,340
The cub's mum and dad would be proud of him.

434
00:49:36,640 --> 00:49:40,620
The reindeer calves are also independent of their mums.

435
00:49:41,390 --> 00:49:44,940
Heading south, they are keeping one step ahead of the weather...

436
00:49:46,270 --> 00:49:49,530
..ensuring the snow is still shallow enough to move through

437
00:49:49,580 --> 00:49:51,180
and find food in.

438
00:50:01,310 --> 00:50:04,270
Arctic wolves may still be shadowing them

439
00:50:05,160 --> 00:50:07,850
but the calves are bigger and faster now

440
00:50:08,090 --> 00:50:10,240
and no longer easy prey.

441
00:50:17,870 --> 00:50:21,560
The young reindeer still have an epic journey ahead of them,

442
00:50:22,220 --> 00:50:25,470
but the future is definitely looking brighter.

443
00:50:29,050 --> 00:50:32,990
But the reindeer aren't the only ones on an epic journey.

444
00:50:37,550 --> 00:50:39,900
Having left the ice at the height of the summer,

445
00:50:40,520 --> 00:50:44,040
they've journeyed well beyond the Antarctic Circle.

446
00:50:45,420 --> 00:50:47,150
At over a metre long,

447
00:50:47,360 --> 00:50:50,700
the young penguins are now the same size as their parents,

448
00:50:52,040 --> 00:50:57,360
and they can dive to depths of over 500 metres on a single breath.

449
00:51:01,550 --> 00:51:05,920
They are, at last, the essence of freedom.

450
00:51:16,060 --> 00:51:20,760
But life doesn't look quite so easy for the Japanese macaques.

451
00:51:21,870 --> 00:51:23,870
In their volcanic mountains,

452
00:51:24,170 --> 00:51:27,000
the snow monkeys are living up to their name.

453
00:51:30,990 --> 00:51:34,060
The weather has taken a turn for the worse.

454
00:51:36,030 --> 00:51:38,280
But they have a secret.

455
00:51:45,900 --> 00:51:51,080
Heated by the volcano, it's an enormous hot tub.

456
00:51:54,030 --> 00:51:58,300
For a little monkey, it doesn't get better than this.

457
00:52:00,140 --> 00:52:02,320
Surrounded by family and friends,

458
00:52:02,350 --> 00:52:04,970
all his efforts to get in with the rest of the troop

459
00:52:05,020 --> 00:52:06,800
have finally paid off.

460
00:52:07,580 --> 00:52:09,870
He hasn't been left out in the cold.

461
00:52:22,750 --> 00:52:26,270
But there's someone who deserves some special attention.

462
00:52:28,120 --> 00:52:31,080
She's seen him through the toughest times.

463
00:52:31,840 --> 00:52:36,940
She's nursed him, protected him, and taught him everything he knows.

464
00:52:39,150 --> 00:52:42,720
Because of her, his future is looking good.

465
00:52:46,010 --> 00:52:47,020
Thanks, Mum.

466
00:53:07,500 --> 00:53:10,270
Thanks to everything they've learned along the way,

467
00:53:10,790 --> 00:53:13,040
all our snow babies have made it through

468
00:53:13,050 --> 00:53:15,840
the most difficult time of their young lives...

469
00:53:18,130 --> 00:53:21,730
..with a little help from family and friends.

470
00:53:30,000 --> 00:53:40,000
Subtitles by funnykiddy and LATINO