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[growling]
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[growling]
3
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[growling]
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[dramatic music plays]
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[David Harbour] The most powerful
predators to walk the Earth.
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But it takes more than brute force…
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[growling]
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…to reach the top.
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With remarkable brain power,
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and by making the most of any opportunity,
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bears rule some of the planet's
most hostile lands.
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[uplifting music plays]
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But cubs aren't born
with the skills to survive.
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They need to be taught.
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[uplifting music continues]
16
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So a mother bear has her work cut out
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preparing her cubs
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to face the world.
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[uplifting music continues]
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[uplifting music fades]
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[growling]
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Locked in winter's icy grip,
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northern forests
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are still.
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Silent.
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No clues to suggest
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that hidden beneath the snow,
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a giant lies asleep.
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[tranquil music plays]
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Breathing slow.
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Heart beating just eight times a minute.
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[tranquil music continues]
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Nothing to eat since fall.
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For three months,
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this American black bear
has been in suspended animation.
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[tranquil music continues]
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Even more miraculous…
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three weeks ago,
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she woke just long enough to give birth
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to three cubs.
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[tranquil music continues]
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Each just the weight of a can of soup.
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[tranquil music continues]
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Though she's surviving
on nothing but fat reserves,
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her babies won't go hungry.
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Her milk so rich,
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they've already doubled in size.
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[squealing]
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This same story is unfolding
across North America.
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[tranquil music continues]
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Over half a million
hibernating black bears.
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Underground.
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Or tucked under fallen trees.
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Some, incredibly, right out in the open.
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[whimpering]
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Cubs snuggle close,
kept alive by their mother's warmth.
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[tranquil music continues]
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But this mom
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picked the coziest of dens.
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[tranquil music continues]
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When the spring finally arrives,
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her hard work will begin.
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A bear's upbringing
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shapes the whole of its life.
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[tranquil music fades]
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[upbeat music plays]
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There are just eight species of bear.
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[growling]
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[upbeat music continues]
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Found from the jungles of Asia
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to the ice sheets of the Arctic.
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Some are surprisingly small,
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just the size of a dog.
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Others weigh in at nearly a ton.
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Though all are classified as carnivores,
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most eat whatever they can
get their paws on.
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[upbeat music continues]
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But how to find
the right food at the right time
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can only be taught by a devoted mother.
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Each bear's home
comes with its own challenges.
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[upbeat music continues]
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So learning to use brains
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as well as brawn
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is crucial to survival.
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[upbeat music fades]
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The Arctic winter.
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Hostile.
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Lifeless.
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Well,
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not entirely.
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[tense music plays]
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Even at 40 below,
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a polar bear is well insulated,
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with a double layer of fur
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and a blanket of fat
as thick as a man's arm.
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[polar bear growls]
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Polar bears never have to hibernate.
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Winter is their hunting season.
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[tense music continues]
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Seals are their favorite prey,
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and polar bears use
their astounding sense of smell
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to detect them many miles away.
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[tense music continues]
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This male has picked up a scent,
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but it's not prey.
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It's other bears.
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[tense music continues]
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Male bears are known
to kill cubs that are not their own.
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[growling]
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This mom's young, near fully grown,
are not so vulnerable.
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Still, best to keep their distance.
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[tense music continues]
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Before they can strike out alone,
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they need to perfect their hunting skills.
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And this may be a chance
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for Mom to show how it's done.
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[tense music continues]
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[grunts]
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Approach from downwind.
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Use camouflage.
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[tense music continues]
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Sneak into striking range.
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[tense music intensifies]
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[tense music fades]
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With each successful hunt,
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Mom helps her cubs
grow stronger and wiser.
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Once they leave her,
these lessons will make the difference
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between life and death.
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[tranquil music plays]
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Bears start learning from Mom
the day they leave the den.
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[tranquil music continues]
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Spring has finally arrived
for the black bear family,
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and the great outdoors is calling.
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[tranquil music continues]
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Mama bear has lost
over 100 pounds of fat since fall,
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nearly half her body weight,
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so she's ready to get going.
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But happily full of milk,
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her cubs seem in less of a hurry.
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[jaunty music plays]
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It's a whole new world.
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Climbing comes naturally.
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Even so, it's a bit of an obstacle course.
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[jaunty music continues]
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[bear cub squeals]
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[cubs whimper]
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[jaunty music fades]
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Right from the first hurdle…
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Mom's got their back.
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[jaunty music plays]
151
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She alone is provider,
teacher, and protector.
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It's a huge responsibility.
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Around a third of cubs
don't survive their first year.
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[squealing]
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[whimpering]
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One of the greatest dangers they'll face
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is other bears.
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[melancholy music plays]
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Brown bears, sometimes known as grizzlies,
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have come down
from winter dens in the mountains.
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They gather in coastal meadows
to feed on sedge grass.
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Bears don't defend a territory
like cats or dogs,
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but they still know who's boss.
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This old dominant male
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has laid claim
to this grazing spot for years.
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[melancholy music continues]
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[bird squawks]
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He needs to pile on the pounds
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so he can take on
anyone who dares challenge him
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when breeding season arrives.
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[melancholy music continues]
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[growls]
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[melancholy music fades]
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00:12:28,831 --> 00:12:32,585
This grass is surprisingly high
in muscle-building protein.
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But if you're smarter
than the average bear,
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there's even more nutritious food
to be found.
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[jaunty music plays]
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This mom is taking her cub
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on an exclusive dining experience.
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[jaunty music continues]
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00:13:03,365 --> 00:13:06,827
A muddy beach might look unpromising…
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[jaunty music continues]
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…but a little digging
can unearth some treasure.
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[jaunty music continues]
185
00:13:23,219 --> 00:13:24,970
Once you've found a clam,
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it needs shucking.
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A surprisingly delicate operation.
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Not all bears here can do this.
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She picked it up from her mother.
190
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And now she's passing it on.
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[jaunty music continues]
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00:13:50,204 --> 00:13:51,455
At low tide,
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a talented clammer might get
a hundred of these juicy treats.
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[jaunty music continues]
195
00:14:00,923 --> 00:14:02,925
A much better protein hit
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00:14:03,008 --> 00:14:05,469
than from the same time spent grazing.
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[jaunty music continues]
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00:14:10,766 --> 00:14:14,895
Teaching her daughter will give her
a head start in a competitive world.
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00:14:14,979 --> 00:14:16,981
[jaunty music continues]
200
00:14:23,445 --> 00:14:25,781
[jaunty music fades]
201
00:14:30,119 --> 00:14:30,995
[growling]
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00:14:31,871 --> 00:14:33,873
[tense music plays]
203
00:14:34,373 --> 00:14:35,416
A stranger.
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[growling]
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00:14:39,378 --> 00:14:40,671
Time to back off.
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00:14:43,799 --> 00:14:45,342
Another important lesson.
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00:14:46,051 --> 00:14:48,637
Avoid confrontation if you can.
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00:14:48,721 --> 00:14:50,139
[tense music fades]
209
00:14:51,849 --> 00:14:55,060
An angry bear is a force of nature.
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[roaring]
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[dramatic music plays]
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00:15:01,692 --> 00:15:08,657
[roaring]
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00:15:08,741 --> 00:15:10,451
Even when the opponent is bigger,
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00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:12,870
never bet against a bear.
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00:15:12,953 --> 00:15:14,955
[dramatic music continues]
216
00:15:15,831 --> 00:15:17,791
Or its claws.
217
00:15:19,460 --> 00:15:22,755
Up to four inches long,
they're fearsome weapons.
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00:15:23,964 --> 00:15:25,674
[dramatic music continues]
219
00:15:25,758 --> 00:15:28,719
But they're also multi-purpose tools.
220
00:15:30,137 --> 00:15:31,347
Climbing spikes.
221
00:15:33,557 --> 00:15:34,600
Shovels.
222
00:15:35,517 --> 00:15:36,727
Ice hooks.
223
00:15:37,645 --> 00:15:39,271
Even silverware.
224
00:15:41,857 --> 00:15:44,193
And when it's time for a good old scratch…
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[dramatic music stops]
226
00:15:45,986 --> 00:15:47,279
…there's nothing better.
227
00:15:49,698 --> 00:15:51,533
Some of the longest claws
228
00:15:51,617 --> 00:15:53,953
belong to the smallest of bears.
229
00:15:56,163 --> 00:15:58,916
Just one-tenth the size of a grizzly,
230
00:15:58,999 --> 00:16:03,003
a sun bear
is a jungle survival specialist.
231
00:16:04,630 --> 00:16:06,632
[uplifting music plays]
232
00:16:10,135 --> 00:16:12,846
Finding food in the tangle of vegetation
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00:16:12,930 --> 00:16:13,764
isn't easy.
234
00:16:16,225 --> 00:16:18,227
[uplifting music continues]
235
00:16:20,604 --> 00:16:23,857
But with an almost unrivaled
sense of smell…
236
00:16:27,194 --> 00:16:29,113
he follows his nose.
237
00:16:34,952 --> 00:16:35,953
[sniffing]
238
00:16:36,036 --> 00:16:38,288
[squawking]
239
00:16:39,248 --> 00:16:41,250
[uplifting music plays]
240
00:16:51,176 --> 00:16:54,179
He's narrowed down
the source of the sweet aroma.
241
00:16:55,514 --> 00:16:58,183
Just one problem.
242
00:16:59,977 --> 00:17:01,979
It's all the way up there.
243
00:17:05,649 --> 00:17:07,693
Four stories high.
244
00:17:09,820 --> 00:17:11,655
But sun bears
245
00:17:11,739 --> 00:17:13,282
love honey.
246
00:17:15,159 --> 00:17:17,161
[jaunty music plays]
247
00:17:18,579 --> 00:17:21,707
Good thing they're also champion climbers.
248
00:17:21,790 --> 00:17:23,792
[jaunty music continues]
249
00:17:28,422 --> 00:17:32,593
Those long, curved claws
give excellent grip,
250
00:17:33,635 --> 00:17:37,514
and a dog-sized frame
keeps him light and agile.
251
00:17:38,265 --> 00:17:39,099
But
252
00:17:40,267 --> 00:17:42,186
he's barking up the wrong tree.
253
00:17:44,354 --> 00:17:45,397
[jaunty music fades]
254
00:17:46,398 --> 00:17:47,733
And now
255
00:17:48,734 --> 00:17:50,486
he's got competition.
256
00:17:52,780 --> 00:17:54,448
[tense music plays]
257
00:18:01,663 --> 00:18:04,333
Or has he?
258
00:18:08,879 --> 00:18:12,883
Sun bears also love
feasting on grubs inside rotten logs.
259
00:18:12,966 --> 00:18:18,347
[insects buzzing]
260
00:18:26,647 --> 00:18:29,024
While the other bear's distracted,
261
00:18:29,108 --> 00:18:31,360
a chance to switch trees.
262
00:18:31,443 --> 00:18:33,028
[upbeat music plays]
263
00:18:46,959 --> 00:18:48,085
The bees are angry,
264
00:18:48,627 --> 00:18:50,212
but thankfully stingless.
265
00:18:53,298 --> 00:18:54,299
At last…
266
00:18:56,552 --> 00:18:57,928
he's struck gold.
267
00:19:03,767 --> 00:19:06,645
Those claws also make a handy honey scoop.
268
00:19:13,443 --> 00:19:16,363
And a ten-inch tongue does the rest.
269
00:19:22,995 --> 00:19:25,581
When it comes
to finding food in the jungle,
270
00:19:25,664 --> 00:19:28,500
sun bears have it licked.
271
00:19:33,589 --> 00:19:35,591
[suspenseful music plays]
272
00:19:37,176 --> 00:19:40,637
But as the forests they rely on
are cleared for agriculture…
273
00:19:42,890 --> 00:19:45,017
it's leaving sun bears homeless.
274
00:19:45,100 --> 00:19:47,102
[suspenseful music continues]
275
00:19:48,562 --> 00:19:52,733
And more exposed
to poaching for traditional remedies.
276
00:19:55,444 --> 00:19:57,946
They're now the rarest bear on Earth.
277
00:20:01,992 --> 00:20:03,285
Rarer even
278
00:20:03,952 --> 00:20:06,705
than the most enigmatic bear of all.
279
00:20:08,457 --> 00:20:10,459
[eerie music plays]
280
00:20:14,254 --> 00:20:16,256
[tense music plays]
281
00:20:38,570 --> 00:20:40,572
[tense music fades]
282
00:20:41,657 --> 00:20:45,118
The giant panda spends most of its life
283
00:20:45,202 --> 00:20:47,204
eating just one thing.
284
00:20:50,123 --> 00:20:50,999
Bamboo.
285
00:20:55,837 --> 00:20:58,632
She can lounge around for 12 hours
286
00:20:58,715 --> 00:21:00,133
gorging on the stuff.
287
00:21:03,345 --> 00:21:06,515
It makes up 99% of her diet.
288
00:21:11,561 --> 00:21:13,480
She's the only bear
289
00:21:13,563 --> 00:21:16,400
with a bony pad on her paw,
kind of like a thumb.
290
00:21:18,902 --> 00:21:22,281
Perfect for making a bamboo hot dog.
291
00:21:23,782 --> 00:21:27,327
This veggie diet seems a bizarre choice.
292
00:21:27,411 --> 00:21:29,204
Pandas evolved to eat meat.
293
00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,335
But because bamboo's plentiful
294
00:21:35,419 --> 00:21:37,045
and grows year round,
295
00:21:37,129 --> 00:21:41,091
over millions of years,
they switched to the easier option.
296
00:21:43,927 --> 00:21:45,220
Trouble is,
297
00:21:45,304 --> 00:21:48,598
their gut hasn't fully adapted
to digest it.
298
00:21:51,101 --> 00:21:54,771
So she only survives
by doing a lot of eating.
299
00:21:56,690 --> 00:21:58,150
And very little else.
300
00:21:58,233 --> 00:22:00,193
[jaunty music plays]
301
00:22:08,327 --> 00:22:12,372
But when humans cut down
swathes of Asia's bamboo forests,
302
00:22:13,165 --> 00:22:15,459
pandas had nothing left to eat
303
00:22:16,251 --> 00:22:18,795
and were forced
to the brink of extinction.
304
00:22:21,715 --> 00:22:24,217
Such a specialized diet is the exception.
305
00:22:26,053 --> 00:22:29,181
Most bears have more adventurous tastes.
306
00:22:32,517 --> 00:22:34,519
[dramatic music plays]
307
00:22:38,732 --> 00:22:41,026
The forests on the Canadian border
308
00:22:41,651 --> 00:22:44,696
are home to tens of thousands
of black bears.
309
00:22:46,156 --> 00:22:49,034
It's midsummer,
and this mother is leading her cubs
310
00:22:49,117 --> 00:22:50,660
on a feeding foray.
311
00:22:50,744 --> 00:22:52,037
[tranquil music plays]
312
00:22:52,120 --> 00:22:55,374
She keeps them on track with soft grunts.
313
00:22:59,544 --> 00:23:02,130
At six months, they're curious.
314
00:23:03,173 --> 00:23:05,050
[tranquil music continues]
315
00:23:07,803 --> 00:23:10,263
But still naive.
316
00:23:11,014 --> 00:23:13,016
[tranquil music continues]
317
00:23:18,980 --> 00:23:22,401
Mom must be their eyes and ears.
318
00:23:22,484 --> 00:23:23,860
[tranquil music continues]
319
00:23:23,944 --> 00:23:25,946
[whimpering]
320
00:23:28,448 --> 00:23:31,785
[moaning]
321
00:23:31,868 --> 00:23:33,453
Her low moan tells them
322
00:23:34,454 --> 00:23:35,747
something's not right.
323
00:23:35,831 --> 00:23:38,208
[tense music plays]
324
00:23:45,340 --> 00:23:46,258
A male.
325
00:23:48,218 --> 00:23:49,719
He could kill her cubs
326
00:23:50,262 --> 00:23:52,139
and force her back into heat.
327
00:23:53,473 --> 00:23:56,184
[low growling]
328
00:23:56,268 --> 00:23:59,271
When Mom growls, it's time to hide.
329
00:24:00,105 --> 00:24:02,107
[tense music continues]
330
00:24:05,152 --> 00:24:07,237
[growling]
331
00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:09,322
[tense music continues]
332
00:24:16,955 --> 00:24:17,998
[growling]
333
00:24:18,081 --> 00:24:19,374
She's warning the male,
334
00:24:19,958 --> 00:24:22,169
but he's not getting the message.
335
00:24:22,252 --> 00:24:23,420
[tense music continues]
336
00:24:24,004 --> 00:24:26,548
[bear coughs]
337
00:24:27,507 --> 00:24:29,801
That cough means "climb."
338
00:24:30,385 --> 00:24:31,636
[tense music intensifies]
339
00:24:39,102 --> 00:24:41,271
[tense music fades]
340
00:24:50,572 --> 00:24:51,823
[bear coughs]
341
00:24:51,907 --> 00:24:56,745
Now Mom must keep her nerve
and stand her ground.
342
00:25:03,502 --> 00:25:05,462
Until he understands
343
00:25:05,545 --> 00:25:07,339
she's not to be messed with.
344
00:25:21,269 --> 00:25:23,021
Ever since leaving the den,
345
00:25:23,688 --> 00:25:26,107
Mom's encouraged her cubs to climb.
346
00:25:26,191 --> 00:25:28,193
[quiet uplifting music plays]
347
00:25:29,528 --> 00:25:30,612
It's paid off.
348
00:25:35,158 --> 00:25:37,619
Till she's sure the coast is clear,
349
00:25:37,702 --> 00:25:39,371
they'll stay off the ground.
350
00:25:39,454 --> 00:25:41,456
[quiet uplifting music continues]
351
00:25:43,625 --> 00:25:45,919
A chance for some more climbing practice,
352
00:25:47,128 --> 00:25:49,965
while Mom grabs
a bit of well-earned shut-eye.
353
00:25:52,926 --> 00:25:55,011
[whimpering]
354
00:26:02,352 --> 00:26:03,270
[whimpering]
355
00:26:03,979 --> 00:26:05,981
[quiet uplifting music continues]
356
00:26:08,858 --> 00:26:09,985
But not too much.
357
00:26:11,820 --> 00:26:13,071
Fall is coming,
358
00:26:13,655 --> 00:26:16,116
and the whole family needs to feed up.
359
00:26:16,700 --> 00:26:18,702
[quiet uplifting music continues]
360
00:26:21,788 --> 00:26:23,623
In more hostile lands,
361
00:26:23,707 --> 00:26:25,542
finding food and water
362
00:26:25,625 --> 00:26:27,419
is a year-round struggle.
363
00:26:37,137 --> 00:26:39,639
These peaks may look uninhabitable…
364
00:26:42,267 --> 00:26:44,394
but for a few spectacled bears,
365
00:26:45,353 --> 00:26:46,187
it's home.
366
00:26:47,772 --> 00:26:51,067
The only species of bear in South America.
367
00:26:52,861 --> 00:26:54,696
The real-life Paddington.
368
00:26:54,779 --> 00:26:56,781
[tranquil music plays]
369
00:26:57,407 --> 00:27:00,035
But no need for a duffle coat
and rain hat here.
370
00:27:01,077 --> 00:27:03,496
The tallest mountains block clouds…
371
00:27:03,997 --> 00:27:05,999
[tranquil music continues]
372
00:27:07,917 --> 00:27:10,837
…creating a high-altitude desert.
373
00:27:12,380 --> 00:27:14,382
[tranquil music continues]
374
00:27:17,636 --> 00:27:21,139
It can go eight months without rain.
375
00:27:29,439 --> 00:27:31,441
[tranquil music fades]
376
00:27:32,025 --> 00:27:36,655
This is the only natural spring for miles.
377
00:27:39,366 --> 00:27:42,035
A lush oasis.
378
00:27:55,799 --> 00:27:57,676
He could chill out here all day.
379
00:27:58,176 --> 00:28:00,178
[jaunty music plays]
380
00:28:03,473 --> 00:28:05,308
When a male hogs the bath,
381
00:28:06,393 --> 00:28:08,895
others must be more resourceful.
382
00:28:08,978 --> 00:28:10,980
[jaunty music continues]
383
00:28:24,452 --> 00:28:26,538
This mother is showing her cub
384
00:28:26,621 --> 00:28:28,039
how even a tree trunk
385
00:28:28,123 --> 00:28:29,791
can be a survival aid.
386
00:28:30,875 --> 00:28:34,212
With the strongest jaws
for her size of any bear,
387
00:28:34,295 --> 00:28:37,924
she easily tears it apart
to reach the moisture inside.
388
00:28:38,007 --> 00:28:40,009
[jaunty music continues]
389
00:28:44,305 --> 00:28:45,306
[squealing]
390
00:28:47,183 --> 00:28:50,228
Food and water are so scarce,
391
00:28:50,311 --> 00:28:51,855
she must save energy.
392
00:28:52,647 --> 00:28:54,190
Rest often.
393
00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,446
It's a lot cooler off the ground,
394
00:28:59,529 --> 00:29:01,865
but spindly trees
don't offer much support.
395
00:29:03,575 --> 00:29:07,203
So she does something no other bears do.
396
00:29:09,706 --> 00:29:12,167
[jaunty music plays]
397
00:29:14,753 --> 00:29:16,629
She makes her own bed.
398
00:29:16,713 --> 00:29:18,715
[jaunty music continues]
399
00:29:25,930 --> 00:29:27,640
It's this ingenuity
400
00:29:28,183 --> 00:29:31,978
that helps see her through
till the rains finally return.
401
00:29:36,566 --> 00:29:38,318
Naturally air-conditioned.
402
00:29:38,401 --> 00:29:40,195
[tranquil music plays]
403
00:29:40,945 --> 00:29:42,071
Nice and comfy.
404
00:29:44,032 --> 00:29:46,701
The perfect spot for a siesta.
405
00:29:50,121 --> 00:29:52,499
[melancholy music plays]
406
00:29:52,582 --> 00:29:53,917
In the far north,
407
00:29:54,501 --> 00:29:56,044
life is less peaceful.
408
00:30:00,924 --> 00:30:02,675
The dominant grizzly.
409
00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:04,969
Since spring,
410
00:30:05,053 --> 00:30:07,347
he's packed on two pounds a day.
411
00:30:08,848 --> 00:30:10,517
He needs the extra weight.
412
00:30:11,100 --> 00:30:12,727
[growling]
413
00:30:14,062 --> 00:30:17,148
It's being bigger and badder
that makes him the boss,
414
00:30:17,941 --> 00:30:19,984
controlling the best feeding spots
415
00:30:20,068 --> 00:30:22,111
and mating with the local females.
416
00:30:22,195 --> 00:30:23,905
[melancholy music continues]
417
00:30:29,786 --> 00:30:31,788
But after a decade in charge,
418
00:30:32,956 --> 00:30:35,458
he seems to be losing his charm.
419
00:30:35,542 --> 00:30:37,168
[growls]
420
00:30:39,087 --> 00:30:41,089
[tense music plays]
421
00:30:44,259 --> 00:30:49,973
[growling]
422
00:30:50,056 --> 00:30:52,058
[tense music continues]
423
00:30:57,272 --> 00:31:00,525
And a bigger problem is coming his way.
424
00:31:14,038 --> 00:31:15,665
[tense music plays]
425
00:31:15,748 --> 00:31:18,543
A younger male has sensed weakness.
426
00:31:19,669 --> 00:31:20,795
[sniffing]
427
00:31:20,879 --> 00:31:24,173
[growling]
428
00:31:24,257 --> 00:31:26,259
[tense music continues]
429
00:31:28,845 --> 00:31:30,471
[growling]
430
00:31:32,307 --> 00:31:35,184
The boss needs
to prove himself to the females
431
00:31:36,060 --> 00:31:38,897
and show junior
who's in charge around here.
432
00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:41,274
[growling]
433
00:31:42,025 --> 00:31:43,526
The cowboy swagger.
434
00:31:43,610 --> 00:31:45,612
[tense music continues]
435
00:31:51,659 --> 00:31:54,203
It's meant to look imposing.
436
00:31:54,287 --> 00:31:56,289
[tense music continues]
437
00:31:58,708 --> 00:31:59,918
The only thing is,
438
00:32:01,502 --> 00:32:04,422
the youngster is enormous.
439
00:32:04,505 --> 00:32:09,844
[growling]
440
00:32:12,263 --> 00:32:13,806
[tense music fades]
441
00:32:13,890 --> 00:32:15,767
But with females watching on…
442
00:32:15,850 --> 00:32:17,810
[roaring]
443
00:32:17,894 --> 00:32:19,562
…no backing out now.
444
00:32:19,646 --> 00:32:21,439
[growling]
445
00:32:21,522 --> 00:32:23,441
[roaring]
446
00:32:25,568 --> 00:32:27,570
[tense music plays]
447
00:32:29,155 --> 00:32:32,951
[growling]
448
00:32:33,034 --> 00:32:35,036
[tense music continues]
449
00:32:39,332 --> 00:32:40,541
[growling]
450
00:32:41,793 --> 00:32:43,795
[tense music intensifies]
451
00:32:48,716 --> 00:32:49,884
[growling]
452
00:32:50,677 --> 00:32:52,929
[growling]
453
00:32:54,722 --> 00:32:55,682
[growling]
454
00:32:55,765 --> 00:32:57,642
[tense music continues]
455
00:32:58,351 --> 00:33:00,061
[growling]
456
00:33:01,187 --> 00:33:03,189
[tense music crescendos]
457
00:33:04,065 --> 00:33:07,485
[growling]
458
00:33:11,781 --> 00:33:12,991
[growling]
459
00:33:13,074 --> 00:33:15,660
The old boss is down for the count.
460
00:33:15,743 --> 00:33:17,745
[growling]
461
00:33:27,797 --> 00:33:30,049
The meadow's getting
a change in management.
462
00:33:31,801 --> 00:33:33,428
Effective immediately.
463
00:33:42,186 --> 00:33:44,439
The old boss's reign is over.
464
00:33:51,237 --> 00:33:53,698
The female made the smart choice,
465
00:33:53,781 --> 00:33:57,702
holding out for a stronger,
fitter bear to father her cubs.
466
00:33:58,619 --> 00:33:59,454
[growling]
467
00:34:00,788 --> 00:34:02,498
He spends the long, warm days
468
00:34:02,582 --> 00:34:04,000
reaping the rewards.
469
00:34:07,420 --> 00:34:09,047
But even further north,
470
00:34:09,130 --> 00:34:10,715
just getting through the summer
471
00:34:11,466 --> 00:34:12,967
is a serious struggle.
472
00:34:17,638 --> 00:34:20,224
Each year, as the Arctic warms,
473
00:34:20,308 --> 00:34:22,477
the sea ice retreats north.
474
00:34:22,977 --> 00:34:24,979
[melancholy music plays]
475
00:34:34,739 --> 00:34:35,948
[growling]
476
00:34:36,032 --> 00:34:40,411
Polar bears become stranded on land,
where there's little to eat.
477
00:34:40,495 --> 00:34:42,497
[melancholy music continues]
478
00:34:48,252 --> 00:34:51,172
And now that climate change
is making the ice melt earlier,
479
00:34:52,340 --> 00:34:54,425
polar bears go hungry for longer.
480
00:34:57,095 --> 00:34:59,680
A mom must do what it takes
481
00:34:59,764 --> 00:35:01,557
to keep her family alive.
482
00:35:02,058 --> 00:35:04,060
[melancholy music continues]
483
00:35:06,521 --> 00:35:10,191
Even if it means
leading them towards danger.
484
00:35:13,194 --> 00:35:15,113
On the north Alaskan coast,
485
00:35:15,196 --> 00:35:18,366
subsistence whale hunters
leave piles of bones.
486
00:35:20,701 --> 00:35:22,578
Driven by hunger,
487
00:35:22,662 --> 00:35:25,039
bears come together to scavenge.
488
00:35:28,835 --> 00:35:31,879
They tolerate each other… to a point.
489
00:35:31,963 --> 00:35:37,885
[growling]
490
00:35:37,969 --> 00:35:42,098
Mom knows her cubs are vulnerable
among bad-tempered adults.
491
00:35:42,181 --> 00:35:43,599
[tense music plays]
492
00:35:48,062 --> 00:35:51,566
But the threat of starvation
is even worse.
493
00:35:52,233 --> 00:35:54,235
[tense music continues]
494
00:35:58,406 --> 00:36:02,618
The cubs will have to learn to cope
with uncomfortable situations like this
495
00:36:03,161 --> 00:36:06,122
if they're to survive longer,
hotter summers ahead.
496
00:36:06,789 --> 00:36:07,915
[tense music fades]
497
00:36:10,251 --> 00:36:11,627
[growling]
498
00:36:12,420 --> 00:36:16,966
Even so, polar bear numbers
are predicted to fall by a third
499
00:36:17,049 --> 00:36:18,759
over the next few decades.
500
00:36:18,843 --> 00:36:20,469
[melancholy music plays]
501
00:36:26,851 --> 00:36:28,936
They're not the only ones under threat.
502
00:36:31,147 --> 00:36:36,194
Six of the eight bear species
are vulnerable to extinction.
503
00:36:36,277 --> 00:36:38,196
[gentle music plays]
504
00:36:38,863 --> 00:36:40,239
Their biggest threat
505
00:36:41,199 --> 00:36:42,658
is habitat loss.
506
00:36:42,742 --> 00:36:44,827
[gentle music continues]
507
00:36:48,915 --> 00:36:51,083
Many also face persecution.
508
00:36:54,462 --> 00:36:56,756
But it's not too late to save them,
509
00:36:58,466 --> 00:37:01,302
to protect the wilderness
they need to thrive…
510
00:37:04,347 --> 00:37:07,308
and help bears by rescuing,
511
00:37:07,391 --> 00:37:08,851
rehabilitating,
512
00:37:10,019 --> 00:37:11,187
and releasing them.
513
00:37:13,064 --> 00:37:15,066
[gentle music continues]
514
00:37:21,989 --> 00:37:23,699
It's been shown to work.
515
00:37:25,326 --> 00:37:27,787
Breeding projects and forest protection
516
00:37:27,870 --> 00:37:31,165
have almost doubled
the number of wild pandas.
517
00:37:33,709 --> 00:37:35,628
If we make room for bears,
518
00:37:36,212 --> 00:37:38,965
their adaptable nature will do the rest.
519
00:37:41,342 --> 00:37:45,179
As long as they have someone
to show them the way.
520
00:37:48,599 --> 00:37:50,393
[gentle music fades]
521
00:37:53,938 --> 00:37:55,940
[tranquil music plays]
522
00:37:57,775 --> 00:38:00,486
As fall colors sweep across North America…
523
00:38:02,571 --> 00:38:07,076
black bear mothers have one last push
to get cubs ready for winter.
524
00:38:08,995 --> 00:38:11,706
They target foods high in calories.
525
00:38:14,292 --> 00:38:18,713
In a good year, the acorn harvest
provides plenty of carbs and fat.
526
00:38:18,796 --> 00:38:20,756
[tranquil music continues]
527
00:38:24,010 --> 00:38:26,262
But when there's not enough food
in the wild,
528
00:38:27,179 --> 00:38:28,889
bears get their dinner to go…
529
00:38:31,726 --> 00:38:32,977
heading downtown
530
00:38:33,602 --> 00:38:37,023
to make the most
of the food we throw away.
531
00:38:37,106 --> 00:38:39,108
[jaunty music plays]
532
00:38:41,110 --> 00:38:43,070
In the urban jungle
533
00:38:43,154 --> 00:38:44,530
or out in the wild,
534
00:38:44,613 --> 00:38:49,118
bears rely on their resourceful nature
to feed up through fall.
535
00:38:49,201 --> 00:38:50,411
[jaunty music fades]
536
00:38:53,331 --> 00:38:57,209
And the bigger the bear,
the more epic the feast.
537
00:38:58,753 --> 00:39:03,924
[dramatic music swells]
538
00:39:04,008 --> 00:39:05,551
Brown bears,
539
00:39:05,634 --> 00:39:08,304
the most widespread of all bears,
540
00:39:08,387 --> 00:39:11,682
found across North America,
Europe, and Asia.
541
00:39:11,766 --> 00:39:13,768
[tranquil music plays]
542
00:39:18,981 --> 00:39:22,193
The largest live
where there's plenty of food.
543
00:39:23,319 --> 00:39:27,406
And there are around 10,000
on this volcanic peninsula.
544
00:39:30,159 --> 00:39:35,081
But this land will soon be snowbound
for six months.
545
00:39:36,707 --> 00:39:41,128
To survive a hibernation that long,
they'll need to double their weight.
546
00:39:42,004 --> 00:39:43,506
[growling]
547
00:39:43,589 --> 00:39:45,883
And there's only one way to do it.
548
00:39:46,926 --> 00:39:48,260
Go fishing.
549
00:39:48,344 --> 00:39:49,845
[dramatic music plays]
550
00:40:01,982 --> 00:40:03,150
Every year,
551
00:40:03,234 --> 00:40:07,071
millions of breeding salmon
provide a bonanza of prey.
552
00:40:07,154 --> 00:40:09,532
[dramatic music continues]
553
00:40:15,413 --> 00:40:21,585
A big male can gorge
on a staggering 100,000 calories a day.
554
00:40:22,128 --> 00:40:24,922
That's 300 cheeseburgers.
555
00:40:26,674 --> 00:40:28,467
It's called hyperphagia.
556
00:40:29,051 --> 00:40:30,386
They can eat
557
00:40:30,469 --> 00:40:31,679
and eat
558
00:40:32,263 --> 00:40:33,848
and eat
559
00:40:33,931 --> 00:40:35,766
without ever feeling full.
560
00:40:35,850 --> 00:40:37,768
[dramatic music crescendos]
561
00:40:39,395 --> 00:40:41,939
Taking a seasonal feast
and storing it as fat,
562
00:40:42,565 --> 00:40:44,608
fuel for the long winter ahead.
563
00:40:54,326 --> 00:40:57,163
Each bear lives life a little differently.
564
00:40:57,246 --> 00:40:59,248
[uplifting music plays]
565
00:41:00,124 --> 00:41:02,751
But there's something
they all have in common.
566
00:41:02,835 --> 00:41:04,336
[uplifting music continues]
567
00:41:06,130 --> 00:41:08,090
The time mothers spend
568
00:41:08,174 --> 00:41:10,551
passing skills down generations…
569
00:41:11,343 --> 00:41:13,345
[uplifting music continues]
570
00:41:16,140 --> 00:41:19,393
…and leading their cubs
through the seasons
571
00:41:21,145 --> 00:41:23,939
is the real secret to a bear's success…
572
00:41:26,484 --> 00:41:29,195
whether enduring harsh deserts
573
00:41:30,863 --> 00:41:34,700
or heading out once again
to face the Arctic winter.
574
00:41:35,659 --> 00:41:37,661
[uplifting music continues]
575
00:41:48,172 --> 00:41:51,759
The black bear cubs
have made it to the end of their year.
576
00:41:55,387 --> 00:41:56,388
Back in the den,
577
00:41:57,806 --> 00:41:59,600
batteries fully charged…
578
00:41:59,683 --> 00:42:01,685
[tranquil music plays]
579
00:42:03,020 --> 00:42:05,022
…they've gone into standby mode.
580
00:42:05,856 --> 00:42:07,858
[tranquil music continues]
581
00:42:11,695 --> 00:42:12,988
Safe and warm,
582
00:42:13,656 --> 00:42:16,242
they'll sleep tight till spring returns.
583
00:42:19,078 --> 00:42:21,497
Snuggled up to Mom.
584
00:42:25,584 --> 00:42:27,461
[dramatic music plays]