- 7 weeks ago
The spy creatures explore the islands of the Southern Seas. In these isolated places, far from the mainland, some of the unique animals on earth have evolved. On the Galápagos Islands, spy iguana joins marine iguanas as they bask on ancient lava, before cliff-diving into the sea below. Lava cam films battling females as they fight over the best nesting spots.
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AnimalsTranscript
00:01The animal world is full of spectacle and wonder.
00:06But what's it like to be right in the heart of the action?
00:11To find out, our team of spy creatures goes undercover.
00:17They not only look like the animals they film,
00:22they behave like them too.
00:29Armed with the latest camera technology,
00:34they are heading across the globe.
00:43From the heat of the tropics,
00:48to the lands that lie in the north,
00:53from the islands of the southern seas,
00:59to the snow and ice of the frozen poles,
01:05our spies reveal the astonishing variety of life that thrives there,
01:11from inside their world.
01:25On this assignment, our spy creatures reveal how life thrives on the islands of the southern hemisphere.
01:34Far from the mainland, these isolated places have given rise to some of the most unique animals on earth.
01:44The Galapagos Islands of the Pacific Ocean.
01:48A barren archipelago formed by underwater volcanoes over three million years ago.
01:56This landscape of lava is home to a remarkable fauna,
02:01found nowhere else in the world.
02:08One of the most intriguing is the marine iguana.
02:17Before they can become active, these cold-blooded lizards must bask in the sun.
02:25Their black skin absorbs the heat, raising their core temperature to a toasty 40 degrees.
02:35To film these highly protected animals,
02:39spy iguana has special permission to go closer than any human is allowed.
02:52To succeed, it has to be totally convincing.
03:01Once they are hot enough, they start to move.
03:10Spy iguana now witnesses something remarkable.
03:22Cliff jumping for lizards.
03:36They are after the seaweed that flourishes just offshore.
03:48They are on borrowed time.
03:50The water is cold and in less than an hour, their body temperature will halve and they will have to
03:55return.
04:04Now, another spy takes over.
04:14Lava can can track the iguanas wherever they go.
04:25At this time of year, the females are laying their eggs on the beach.
04:35The sand is baking hot.
04:37But a metre down, it's the perfect temperature for incubation.
04:43Spy iguana joins them for a closer look.
04:49Digging the nest can take an hour.
04:51Hard work in the hot sun.
04:59When they take a break, they have a self-styled sun hat.
05:13Even our spy.
05:21Competition for the best nest sites is intense.
05:27Those digging must be prepared to hold their ground.
05:32Head bobbing is a challenge for ownership.
05:40The winner is decided by a test of strength.
05:56It is Brian believes himself.
05:57The winner is $20!
05:57By the way, the captain Firman still is down there!
05:58It's fair today!
05:58answers for displacement!
06:01two drinks and toil-out.
06:13աrez
06:13moving off the alles
06:13The owner wins.
06:20She's free to finish her work.
06:28Along the tideline, the others are returning from their underwater feast.
06:39Chilled through by the cold sea, they must sunbathe once more.
06:46As spy iguana joins them, another surprise is in store.
06:53They sneeze snot.
06:58Special glands in their nose remove excess salt, which is expelled spectacularly.
07:06Whatever they can do, our spy can do, too.
07:18Oh, perhaps not.
07:23As the day ends, the iguanas show their more affectionate side.
07:30Even our spy has an admirer.
07:39Snuggling together preserves precious warmth as the sun sets over the Galapagos Islands.
07:50Over 8,000 miles away, off the southern coast of Australia, Kangaroo Island is another unique wildlife haven.
08:01Cut off from the mainland for 10,000 years, it even has its own variety of kangaroo.
08:14Coalas are here, too.
08:16Coalas are here, too, but they are relative newcomers.
08:19Introduced here 100 years ago, they now survive in unrivalled numbers.
08:27Among them is a new coala, fresh from the mainland.
08:41It's here to film their breeding behaviour.
08:50The timing's perfect. They are just waking up.
08:59Yawning pumps oxygen to the brain.
09:07Even wide awake, he needn't go far.
09:10His favourite food is all around him.
09:14Eucalyptus.
09:18But their leaves are not only tough, they are poisonous.
09:22So koalas have powerful digestive juices that neutralise the toxins.
09:30Just digesting their food saps energy.
09:33So they sleep up to 23 hours a day.
09:43But today, this koala is breaking the habit.
09:55In the breeding season, he must step up a gear.
10:00One of our mobile spy cams must rise to the challenge.
10:07Koalas rarely come to the ground or show such a turn of speed.
10:17But he now has a territory to defend.
10:22He bellows to announce he's in charge.
10:27A warning to other males.
10:37Koalas scent mark the ground to tell each other who's been passing through.
10:44He's caught the scent of a female.
10:53But this one already has a baby.
10:58No point chasing her.
11:04But she's not the only female here.
11:07And our spy is now keeping her company.
11:20The male's enthusiasm may be short-lived.
11:26A rival has found her first.
11:30He will have to challenge for possession.
11:36He announces his arrival with a warning.
11:46Spy koala is witnessing something rarely filmed.
11:51A fight in the treetops.
12:18The only injury.
12:21A loss of dignity.
12:28The loser makes his retreat.
12:35While the challenger gets the girl.
12:48For all.
12:49That's quite enough activity for one day.
13:04Christmas Island.
13:06In the Indian Ocean.
13:08Home to a creature found almost nowhere else on Earth.
13:14Every year, the monsoon rains sweep the island and trigger a mass awakening.
13:24Spy crab is ready to capture what's about to unfold.
13:37The real crabs have been sealed in their burrows for months.
13:42Avoiding the worst of the yearly drought.
13:52Now, they emerge en masse.
14:01Each female carries thousands of eggs in a protective pouch beneath her belly.
14:08United by a common goal, they begin their march to the sea.
14:14The few soon become an army.
14:26They haven't eaten for months.
14:28And are hungry for anything they can find.
14:34Sometimes, even each other.
14:48But a robotic crab won't satisfy anyone's hunger.
14:55All in working order.
14:57Spy crab rejoins the march to the sea.
15:14Since human settlers arrived, the crabs have faced hurdles never found in nature.
15:23The smallest try to squeeze through.
15:29The rest have just one option.
15:35To climb.
15:41No problem with six powerful legs to help.
15:51Music
16:08Once down, an even greater challenge awaits them.
16:25Many roads close in the migration season, but not all.
16:34There are always some that never make it.
16:39But here it's a case of waste not, want not.
16:47Now it's Spycrab's turn.
17:24Against the odds, most make it to the coast.
17:41They assemble in the shade, waiting for the perfect moment.
17:48High tide triggers the final push.
18:08Then, in their thousands, they release their eggs.
18:17A victory dance speeds the process.
18:31Each crab may release 100,000 eggs, all swept out by the retreating tide.
18:39In four weeks' time, their hatchlings will return to the island.
18:51Madagascar.
18:53Bizarre baobab trees are a remnant of the island's ancient connection to Africa, now 300 miles west.
19:02It was once connected to Asia too.
19:06Separated from both for millions of years, life here has taken its own evolutionary course.
19:15In the island's spiny forest, 95% of plants exist nowhere else on Earth.
19:24And the animals are equally unique.
19:33A Shifaka lemur.
19:35One of over a hundred different species found only here.
19:48Madagascar is also home to half the world's species of chameleon.
19:59One of the most beautiful is the panther chameleon.
20:05This one's a spy.
20:14He's eyeing up a warty chameleon.
20:21To their own kind, they are fiercely territorial.
20:26But not, it seems, to our spy.
20:35While our chameleon is otherwise preoccupied, another takes over.
20:42It's soon spotted by another lemur.
20:49The ringtail.
20:54They spend more time on the ground than any other.
21:01They're also intelligent and curious.
21:08Anything new demands a second look.
21:18Lemurs are sun worshippers.
21:21Adopting the lotus position helps raise their body temperature.
21:28Vital for an animal with a low metabolism.
21:39They're very good natured.
21:41Even to those that steal their sun.
21:54After half an hour's meditation, the day begins.
22:01They live in large groups, up to 30 strong.
22:06Their tail acts as a flag, making sure no one gets lost.
22:15While ringtails spend most of their time on the ground.
22:22Shifakas spend most of theirs in the trees.
22:27Their powerful legs and stabilising tails help them leap up to 10 metres.
22:39Adapted for jumping from tree to tree, they have trouble walking on all fours.
22:53They have a unique solution.
22:58They pogo.
23:09How better to cross open ground?
23:36It may not be conventional, but it's surprisingly quick.
23:44In just a few seconds, they can be gone.
23:53Leaving our spy with those who prefer life in the slow lane.
24:01Back on Kangaroo Island, it's now the breeding season for the animals that gave the island its name.
24:10This type of western grey kangaroo is smaller and stockier than its mainland relatives.
24:17They too hang around in groups known as mobs.
24:22Each consists of up to ten females and their babies, called joeys.
24:29Every mob has an adult male, known as a boomer, keeping an eye out for them.
24:43The boomer checks out any new member of his gang.
24:54She looks the part.
24:58That's good enough for him.
25:03Inside the mob, females often act as aunties to each other's joeys.
25:12One joeys has taken a shine to spy Roo.
25:19He seems to regard her as an auntie too.
25:24Then, as the ultimate sign of acceptance, he even tries to suckle.
25:37Despite the apparent harmony, there are dangerous rivalries here too.
25:44Competing males are everywhere, hoping to steal a female.
26:08Their liaison is no longer a secret.
26:16It's something no boomer would tolerate.
26:22First, a bit of shoving.
26:28Then, the claws are out.
26:37His mob can only watch from the sidelines.
27:02Now for the big guns.
27:06The kick can deliver a blow of over two tons.
27:31The kick can deliver a blow of over two tons.
27:44And the joey's adopted auntie is the centre of attention once more.
27:57Just off the coast of South Africa lies a small outcrop known as Seal Island.
28:07Cape gulls are common here, but this one has a camera in its eye and belly.
28:14Below are the cape fur seals that gave the island its name.
28:21Over 60,000 of them.
28:26They feed on the vast fish stocks that thrive in the cold Antarctic currents.
28:34At this time of year, they gather to raise their young.
28:41Among them is a spy.
28:57He can sneak right up close without raising suspicion.
29:06Touching noses shows they are totally at ease.
29:17All around, the pups are growing fast.
29:21Fed on their mother's full fat milk, they quickly outgrow their island home.
29:28Everyone is squabbling over space.
29:36Soon, they must venture into the water, including our spy.
29:57Female seals are known to adopt orphans.
30:01Perhaps this is why spy seal is creating interest.
30:13He's also a welcome playmate to the younger seals.
30:32He's also a welcome playmate to the younger seals.
30:32But in nature, danger is never far away.
30:39Spy gull is patrolling the waters around the island.
30:44Below, the ocean's greatest predator.
30:50A great white shark.
30:55Each year, over 40 gather here to hunt the young seals.
31:02Spy seal is the first to see the shark approach.
31:27Spy seal is the first to see the shark approach.
31:28But one young seal is still blissfully unaware.
31:36Seen from above, a game of cat and mouse unfolds.
31:56The seal may be young, but he's quick and maneuverable.
32:10From above, something remarkable becomes clear.
32:15The seal pup can turn faster than the shark.
32:18He deliberately gets behind it, out of sight.
32:26Whenever the shark turns, the seal stays right on its tail.
32:39Until finally, he makes his escape.
32:49Our spy is now the only seal remaining.
32:58The shark begins to circle.
33:04Checking out yet another likely target.
33:13Sharks can detect minute electric fields.
33:17Spy seal has plenty of those.
33:24At every pass, it gets closer.
33:33The first bite is exploratory.
33:40Testing if it's a worthwhile meal.
33:52Sharks have a highly developed sense of taste.
33:58This wasn't what it was looking for.
34:04Battered and bruised, spy seal is left alone.
34:13But it's a long way back to the island.
34:22Over 5,000 miles away, off the coast of Western Australia, is Rotnest Island.
34:28Home to one of the most photogenic creatures on Earth.
34:38Meet the Quokkas, the only native mammals to live here.
34:46These marsupials have no other living relatives and exist only in a few places in Australia.
34:54They have a friendly reputation.
35:00So our spy should fit right in.
35:14It's all going to plan.
35:19As few predators are found on the island, they are curious and welcoming.
35:37Spy Quokkas' mission is to find out how they raise their young.
35:42Quokkas are vegetarians, and tea tree is one of their favourites.
35:57Behind their cute smile are some razor sharp teeth.
36:03And they use their five fingered hands for grasping.
36:12Quokkas eat so much vegetation, they rarely need to drink.
36:30But this is what our spy has come to see.
36:40A baby quokka.
36:46A joey, just three months old.
36:53All marsupials carry their babies in a pouch.
36:57Quokkas are no exception.
37:00For the last three months, he's relied on his mother's milk.
37:07Now he's trying solid food, but as a result, he's getting too big for his pouch.
37:21Withholding food is one way to deal with the problem.
37:26It's already quite a squeeze to get out.
37:30But there's a big wide world to explore.
37:39He's going to need a lot of looking after.
38:02Our spy now witnesses another side of quokka life.
38:08For all their cuteness, quokkas will fight over food, especially tea tree.
38:21Even the joey's mother isn't keen to share.
38:33With all this competition, spy quokka is on dangerous ground.
38:55A peace offering.
39:06That seems to have done the trick.
39:16For the baby, it's been quite enough adventure for one day.
39:25To be continued...
39:26To be continued...
39:26To be continued...
39:27To be continued...
39:29To be continued...
39:31To be continued...
39:31To be continued...
39:32To be continued...
39:32To be continued...
39:32To be continued...
39:32To be continued...
39:33To be continued...
39:39To be continued...
39:50Across the Indian Ocean, on the remote island of Komodo, the east winds are blowing.
39:57They bring the dry and harsh conditions that trigger the breeding season for the infamous Komodo dragon.
40:10Unique to these tiny Indonesian islands, they are the largest lizard in the world.
40:15Up to three metres in length.
40:23The forked tongue is used to detect odours.
40:28This male is seeking a mate.
40:39Spy dragon looks just like the real thing.
40:51Certainly worth a closer inspection.
41:02He rakes his claws over the skin to try to release pheromones to reveal its sex and age.
41:11Then checks with his tongue.
41:18She may look the part, but she doesn't smell the part.
41:24There's nothing of interest here.
41:32He heads to the waterhole.
41:34Always a good meeting place at this time of year.
41:39Here, spy pig is also on duty.
41:48As wild pigs are often eaten by dragons, it soon attracts interest.
42:02Again, he uses his tongue to check its scent.
42:13But there is something far more interesting on the wind.
42:19A real female dragon.
42:28Some wooing is required.
42:33His advances captured by a mud cam.
42:36A dream set ofarnos.
42:51Yeah, feeling of joy.
43:06to show she's interested.
43:11This time, raking the skin gives off all the right signals.
43:18Our spy captures what must be the closest reptiles get
43:22to a tender moment.
43:28But pheromones travel far.
43:32Another male is also on the scent.
43:58With testosterone raging, a fight is inevitable.
44:02With testosterone raging, a fight is inevitable.
44:11The female has a vested interest in the outcome, so follows behind.
44:18They test their strength by wrestling.
44:35The victor pins his rival to the ground.
44:45And finally sees him off.
44:51But with everyone in a fighting mood,
44:54the spy pig is no longer quite so safe.
45:22The other dragons are showing interest, too.
45:24The other dragons are showing interest, too.
45:26The other dragons are showing interest, too.
45:27He may be down, but he keeps on filming.
45:31At nearly a hundred kilograms,
45:33these dragons are ten times heavier than their victim.
45:36And they've hardly even started.
45:38they've been around and moved.
45:39They've been running.
45:43They've been swooning.
46:00They've been moving on.
46:02a dragon's mouth, one laden with venom and toxic saliva, dosed with over 50
46:11types of deadly bacteria. But as Spy Pig doesn't taste edible, he's soon
46:19abandoned. Anyway, the dragons still have romance on their minds.
46:28Spy Pig's days are well and truly over, while our friendly dragon survives unscathed.
46:43In the middle of the South Atlantic, the Falkland Islands become the focus of another spectacular
46:49event. Lockhopper penguins have arrived to breed.
46:58Here, too, is Spy Penguin, part of an army of penguin cams ready to provide total coverage.
47:07While the mothers are fishing out at sea, the males are left on parenting duties. One is
47:14already in trouble. His chicks have hatched, and his partner is yet to return with food.
47:23Just offshore, another spy also awaits the penguins' return. They arrive without warning.
47:59Just getting ashore is difficult enough.
48:09Another penguin cam is there to film their achievement. Many more will be needed to cover the huge
48:18challenge ahead. To reach their chicks, somehow the penguins must scale this 100-metre cliff.
48:31Just reaching the first level is tricky enough.
48:43But rockhoppers will never let one mishap get in their way, even though at every step they
48:57risk going back to the start.
49:08With a little fancy footwork, this female is fearing best of all. However, she still needs to reach the next
49:17level up.
49:20But they're not called rockhoppers for nothing.
49:30Although a little practice is required, or perhaps an easier route.
49:47But nothing here is ever that easy.
50:02Next, this aquatic bird must become a climber, with beaks and bills acting as crampons.
50:31Fortunately, a thick layer of fat cushions her fall.
50:47She follows an ancient route, the sides carved out by the beaks and claw marks of generations before her.
51:06For some, the intensity of the climb brings out a competitive streak.
51:19But her heroine avoids getting involved. Instead, she finds some welcome relief.
51:26A natural shower. A quick freshen up before meeting her partner.
51:33Just one more level to complete what's known in the trade as a chimney climb.
51:55Now it's just a matter of finding her maid.
51:58Not so easy when everyone here is equally feisty.
52:10The reunion will be short.
52:12It's now the father's turn to go fishing.
52:18They will each take shifts over the next six weeks, until the chicks are ready for a life at sea.
52:35Back in the Galapagos Islands, the most shrouded mountains of Santa Cruz set the scene for another remarkable gathering.
52:49Boulder Can is on a mission to find this rare and secret event.
52:57It's not long before it finds the first hopeful sign.
53:02A giant Galapagos tortoise.
53:10Unique to these islands, at nearly two metres head to tail, they are the biggest in the world.
53:18In these moist mountain valleys, there is plenty for them to eat.
53:28But it's so tough and fibrous, they must feed for eight hours a day, just to get enough nutrients.
53:39It's not the only tortoise here.
53:44There's a spy in disguise.
53:48It's the breeding season.
53:52Spy tortoise could be just what he's looking for.
54:04Although he's never come across a female like this before.
54:19With 400 kilos on her back, it's a good job her shell is reinforced.
54:38Well, that was never going to work.
54:42But he soon picks up the scent of a real female.
54:47With both spies, hot on his heels.
54:53He would have smelt her from over a mile away.
54:57A useful skill in such a dense forest.
55:07It's now just a case of following the sound.
55:22Mating can last for hours.
55:41It never ends gracefully.
55:47Finding a mating pair is quite an achievement.
55:50But our spies have yet to complete their mission.
55:57But this is a hopeful sign.
56:04In fact, Galapagos tortoises are everywhere.
56:10And here it is.
56:12Their Shangri-La.
56:15An incredible gathering of over 30 giant tortoises.
56:26All enjoying the fresh water found in just a few mountain pools.
56:39It's a haven for other wildlife too.
56:44The Galapagos pintail duck.
56:52For the tortoises, the pools not only offer a place to drink and chill.
56:57But to absorb the food they've eaten.
57:01Our spies' mission is finally complete.
57:06Leaving the tortoises to digest their high fibre meal.
57:16Next time, our spy creatures venture to the pools.
57:20To find the extraordinary animals that thrive in a world of ice and snow.
57:34New spy in the wild, back next Wednesday at nine.
57:38Live at the Apollo on BBC Two now.
57:40Or if you fancy something on iPlayer before bed,
57:43how about our spicy legal drama, The Split, starring the great Nicola Walker.
57:47How about the