Frozen Planet II - Episode 2PHOTO: A polar bear pouncing to catch her seal prey, hidden under several feet of snow and sea ice (BBC Studios)OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASENEWS PROVIDED BY BBC One In Frozen Ocean the series dives into a world of water and ice to reveal the animals which survive on and under the Arctic sea ice. It’s a seasonal story that begins in the depths of winter. This is a time of plenty for polar bears who can afford to play in the short winter days, through to the perils of spring as the sea ice breaks up, finally to its bountiful summer where visitors are drawn to the ocean from afar to feed up and breed. A pod of beluga whales has been confined to an ice hole for five months risking starvation as the food around them runs out. In spring the sun melts the sea ice allowing their escape. And off the east coast of Greenland, the floating pack ice becomes a nursery ground for harp seals. Summer is a time of plenty in the Arctic Ocean and plankton blooms feed millions of tiny skeleton shrimps and ancient bowhead whales. But today’s loss of sea ice is having a profound impact on these long-lived creatures. Every year they travel to secret locations, known as ‘whale spas’, and their vulnerable calves are now more likely than ever to be attacked by killer whales. Full summer also brings 24-hour daylight to the Arctic attracting visitors from afar, including huge flocks of seabirds like crested auklets. For the resident walrus the summer heat can be unbearable and an old male uses an ingenious technique to get himself back to the cool of the water. And a mother polar bear finds herself stranded on a remote island full of threatening males as she struggles to feed her cubs. Key Species and Stories Polar bear playing, Svalbard, Norway Beluga whale, Russia and Canada Narwhal, Canada The behaviour filmed by Frozen Planet II is so special a scientific publication is underway based on our BBC footage. Harp seal, Greenland Sea Skeleton shrimp, Norway Bowhead whale, Russia and Canada Killer whale, Russia Crested auklets, Sivuqaq, St Lawrence Island, USA Walrus, Atlantic Walrus Polar bear (mother and cub), Wrangel Island, Russia AboutFrozen Planet II is on BBC One and iPlayer from Sunday, 11 September at 8pm.
Source BBC One
September 8, 2022 4:00am ET by BBC One |