"NARRATOR:" "in this frozen world, life is unforgiving." "winter plunges the land into icy darkness for half the year." "and summer brings little relief." "fierce winds rage year-round." "only the most resilient survive here where one wrong move spells the difference beeen life... and death." "this is the russian arctic." "captions paid for by discovery communications" "russia... the largest country on earth." "its wilderness is indescribably vast... and extraordinarily beautiful." "[ wind howling ] with alpine mountain valleys... dramatic volcanic peaks... steaming hot springs... and thousands of miles of pristine forest." "russia's northernmost wilderness is one of the least visited areas on the planet." "the 61/2 million square miles of russia's landmass are crowned by more than 2 million square miles of arctic territory." "in the arctic winter, land and frozen sea blend into a single expanse of ice covering an area nearly twice the size of the united states." "this bleak environment called tundra is home to remarkable creatures finely tuned to survive the brutal conditions here." "one arctic resident has been honing his survival skills for millennia." "the musk-ox survived the last ice age alongside humans some 20,000 years ago." "winter temperatures of 34 degrees below zero are easy to withstand for the musk-ox with his thick insulating layer of underwool called qiviut." "eight times warmer than sheep's wool and softer than cashmere it's one of the rarest fibers in the world." "but while the musk-ox is well-defended against even the brutal winter, others live a more fragile existence." "even spring, the time of renewal, can be brutally difficult here." "on the ice floes, tens of thousands of harp seals gather to give birth." "the arctic's newborns enter a hostile, frozen world." "if they can make it through their first year, they're likely to survive to adulthood." "[ crying ]" "a pup's life is tough from the start." "they only have 12 days with their mothers before they're left to fend for themselves." "though they weigh only about 25 pounds at birth, the high-fat content in their mother's milk helps them put on a remarkable five pounds a day." "this easy life ends when the mothers abruptly abandon their pups, leaving them to fend for themselves." "for almost six weeks, they'll lie helpless in groups without eating." "during this time, they lose half their body weight and shed their white coats." "now that the mothers have stopped nursing, they're fair game for males ready to mate." "but this male's out of luck." "with a decisive nod of her head, the female rebuffs his advances." "within a month, the pup's white pelt turns gray and black, and hunger forces these novice swimmers into the water." "it's good timing because their archenemy is on the prowl." "the polar bear reigns supreme in the russian arctic." "this bear is perfectly adapted for arctic life." "beneath its thick coat of fur, its black skin absorbs the sun's heat, helping it stay warm." "a layer of fat keeps the bear so warm it can overheat, even in winter." "the polar bear is a creature of the ice, utterly dependent on the huge sheets of frozen sea or pack ice for its survival." "this largest of land carnivores needs fresh meat and lots of it... up to 100 pounds in a single sitting." "and these amounts are unattainable off the ice." "but spring's warmer temperatures melt the pack ice and the bears' hunting platforms." "[ growling ] polar bears rarely make a kill in open water but they will swim to reach ice floes, sometimes up to 60 miles at one time." "the ice is the polar bear's lifeline... and a vital part of the arctic food chain." "global warming has increased the amount of time it takes for solid sea ice to form along russia's northern coast, putting the wildlife here at risk." "even so, some land-based sanctuaries remain." "russia's wrangel island covers 3,000 square miles." "a unesco world heritage site, wrangel island nature reserve boasts the greatest biodiversity of anyplace in the arctic." "each spring, up to 10,000 lesser snow geese arrive on wrangel island." "in this remote, icy land, they'll nest, breed, and lay their precious clutches of eggs." "but their arrival doesn't go unnoticed." "an arctic fox in its winter coat comes looking for a meal." "but these geese are strong and surprisingly good at defending themselves." "this fox will have to find a meal elsewhere." "[ snow geese honking ] wrangel island is one of the last landfalls for migratory birds flying north." "these ruffs, a type of sandpiper, have flown here from northern europe and siberia." "bare patches of earth become leks, display rings for males trying to attract mates." "[ chittering ] while dominate males perform a courtship dance, other males with white ruffs attract females to the ring." "they may look stylish, but these males are dressed to fight." "spring weather can turn in an instant." "fierce storms sweep in with blasts of icy air, and temperatures plummet 30 degrees." "yet little stops a lone wolf stalking." "[ snow geese honking ] his sensitive nose points the way to an arctic feast snow-goose eggs." "rising up in protest, the flock of birds drive out the wolf." "the geese may be safe for the moment, but in the arctic, danger always lurks nearby." "narrator:" "spring in russia's arctic brings warmer temperatures." "snow begins to melt, but the water can't penetrate the solid layer of ice just below the surface." "a simple thaw creates raging rivers some a few miles long." "[ snow geese honking ] as the icy cover around the snow-goose colony disappears, an arctic fox hunts for eggs." "small mammals are the fox's main prey." "but they'll eat anything from berries to rotting carcasses." "the geese are constantly on guard, but their eggs are a tempting target." "better yet, they can stash them for later times." "the earth is like a refrigerator, keeping the eggs fresh for months and the nests are like a well-stocked store." "foxes will steal over 1,500 snow-goose eggs in a single nesting season." "the gander attacks." "but the fox slips through, egg intact." "with another meal won, it marks its territory, sending a signal to others to stay clear of its precious store of food." "at the end of june, the brief summer arrives in the russian arctic, and the land bursts into full color." "more than 400 types of plants flourish on wrangel island... twice the number found in other areas of the tundra." "for three months, the sun will not set." "though snow bunting and common eider bask in the bright summer sun, temperatures seldom rise above freezing." "a sudden change in weather brings unexpected hardship." "sleet turns to heavy snow, brushing the summer flowers in a coat of white." "whenever there's a break in the weather, grey plovers eagerly peck out a meal." "plovers, ruddy turnstones, and dunlins... all birds that returned expecting summer temperatures... huddle against the cruel wind." "some perish from the unexpected turn of weather." "yet others barely seem to notice." "the musk-oxen's extraordinary fur keeps them insulated." "snow doesn't even melt off their backs." "[ grunts ] this small group led by an old bull notices a younger male swaggering towards them." "rising to the challenge, the older bull stifflyesumss a fighting stance." "these 900-pound males use intimidation as their first tactic." "but the newcomer seems unimpressed." "he approaches the females in the group." "the old bull has had enough." "this time, the younger one is lucky." "but soon, the rules of the game will change, and the young bull may face a more formidable opponent." "narrator: in russia's northernmost territory, wrangel island is a remote sanctuary for arctic wildlife." "summer's sunlit nights begin to melt thick layers of ice, revealing the island's prehistoric past." "ivory is exposed by the big thaw... a mammoth tusk over 4,000 years old." "when rising oceans cut wrangel off from the mainland, a colony of mammoths was stranded." "here, they survived about 6,000 years longer than their relatives elsewhere." "today, a different creature has staked out these hills... reindeer." "1/5 of the world's 5 million wild reindeer live in the russian arctic." "their search for food brings them across the snow-goose colony." "but these geese are preoccupied." "[ chirping ] the first chicks will leave the nest within hours." "but she may have up to four more eggs to go." "when a fox appears, the mother moves to conceal her chicks." "but today, the fox chases other prey." "one of their main sources of food is the tiny siberian brown lemming." "roughly every four years, the population explodes then crashes as they run out of space and food." "when lemming numbers decline, the entire arctic food chain suffers." "sharp eyes and ears pay off... a rare treat in this bad lemming year." "like the fox, the voracious wolverine is always on the prowl." "good thing he's too busy raiding the fox's store of eggs to bother with the chicks." "soon, the whole family will move to the flat tundra where lakes offer food and greater safety." "some families migrate over 30 miles... a long and dangerous journey for the tiny chicks." "about half will survive their first year." "as t russian arctic enters midsummer, the tundra turns green, and food is plentiful." "but the vegetation has a short growing season... just 50 days before snow falls again and the land freezes." "parents rush to fill the mouths of hungry youngsters." "in the mountain regions, arctic foxes aren't so lucky." "[ yips ] where normally a half dozen kits would frolic, only two undersized ones await the return of their malnourished mother." "this summer's lemming crash is taking its toll." "the mother's left to scavenge for three." "her kits may not make it through summer." "like the fox mother, this snowy owl also feels the pinch." "in good times, she'd eat up to five lemmings per day." "but not this year." "[ screeching ]" "she has 2 chicks in her nest instead of the usual 10." "they beg, but she has no food for them." "one of the chicks is far too tiny." "if it doesn't eat soon, it won't survive." "narrator: it's summer in the russian arctic." "but the 24-hour sun doesn't bring relief to a family of snowy owls." "a mother struggles to feed her two chicks." "[ chick screeching ] the stronger chick will bully the smaller one and take most of the food, but only if the mother can find any at all." "things look brighter for another family." "these 4-week-old fox kits are filling their bellies with goose meat." "with lemming numbers low, geese are at the top of the foxes' diet." "arctic foxes have the biggest litters of any mammal, giving birth to as many as 19 kits." "even though this litter is small, the sibling rivalry among these three kits is fierce." "every scrap of food is precious." "[ snarling lightly ]" "while two squabble, the third outwits them and makes a clean break." "at 10 months, they'll be fully mature, but few manage to reach that age." "those that do survive will start out in a small, nomadic group before striking out on their own." "the young thief returns to its siblings, looking for a soft spot to nap until the adults return." "in the hills, the mother owl still searches for the scarce lemmings." "from a high vantage point, she can use her acute eyesight to spot the tiny mammal." "owls can't move their eyes in their sockets, but they can turn their heads three-quarters of the way around for a panoramic view." "[ screeches ]" "success is critical." "her hungry chicks are waiting." "[ screeches ] the instant she drops the precious lemming, the larger chick claims it." "by now, the smaller sibling can hardly move." "the bigger one won't give up the food." "it's remarkable footage of nature taking its course." "seeing the problem, the concerned mother tries her best to save her starving chick." "but the mother's too late." "this really is survival of the fittest." "she has one last chance to get it right before winter sets in." "narrator:" "in the russian arctic, hardship extends beyond land and into the sea." "the breakup of the ice floes allows the passage of migrants, some after a 3,000-mile journey... white beluga whales." "[ vocalizing ] in the summer, they travel along the coast, searching for crabs and schools of fish." "they lack a dorsal fin, an adaptation that allows them to swim under the ice floes safely." "a whale just a few hours old sticks close to its mother, hitching a ride in her slipstream." "groups can number in the hundreds, but with young, they travel in smaller pods." "hundreds of feet above the water, seabirds also enjoy the ocean's unty." "along the rocky coast, several species form large, raucous breeding colonies." "red-legged kittiwakes plunder small fry." "and the robust brunnich's guillemot can number in the thousands." "jutting up between the big sky and the deep sea, this chaotic avian apartment block offers birds protection from predators." "[ squawking ]" "but sometimes, it's the neighbors you have to watch out for." "fortunately, the management provides showers." "even though it's summer, what's a waterfall one day... can turn into ice the next." "arctic seabirds must be resilient." "fierce winds blast the face of the cliff and icicles block access to nests." "the drab, vertical cliffs aren't without local color, including horned puffins named for the hornlike ridges above their eyes." "in august, young guillemots leave the rock face and head for the water... quite a challenge when ice closes in." "unable to fly, the chicks must crawl to open water so their fathers can feed them." "arctic foxes dine here, too, and move nimbly across the floes." "the air carries a clear scent of the birds' movements." "but a 9-pound fox needs to tread more lightly than a 2-pound guillemot." "[ squawks ]" "this meal is too risky, so the fox trots away to find another." "perhaps a seal carcass." "the remarkably tough guillemots navigate the scattered floes to reach open waters." "only then will the young learn to fly." "as summer comes to a close, the polar bears await the return of the pack ice, their gateway off the island." "it's been four months, and the pickings on land are lean." "like any puddle-loving child, this young bear can't resist a shallow pool." "he takes a drink, and then he notices his own reflection." "but something even better catches his eye." "[ grunts ]" "this is a rarely seen sight... a fishing polar bear." "he has little idea how to handle his prize catch." "usually, polar bears hunt for seals out on the pack ice." "but until the ice reappears, any source of sustenance will do." "as autumn approaches, the days grow shorter and cooler." "this is the season of the musk-ox." "males gather to compete for dominance." "but when bulls are evenly matched, the fighting can turn deadly." "narrator: autumn has arrived in russia's arctic, and the last flash of color brightens the landscape where fierce battles are underway." "it's the musk-oxen rut." "900-pound males compete for dominance, sometimes fighting to the death." "[ grunting and snorting ]" "and 8-inch-thick bone between their horns called the boss is mounted on a flexible base, protecting their brains from the shock of impact." "the head-on collisions can be heard a mile away." "and they'll repeat this up to a dozen times." "this rarely captured footage shows the ritualized standoff, which is intended to intimidate, but can turn deadly if neither bull gives ground." "running only 150 feet, they can reach 25 miles per hour before impact." "a winner finally prevails when one tires and retreats." "the victorious old bull keeps his harem and the chance to pass on his genes." "meanwhile, as the tundra slides ever closer to winter, the snow geese prepare to leave." "tens of thousands gather near the coast." "[ snow geese honking ]" "they are ready to fly as far as california 3,000 miles away." "but most mammals can't leave the desolate arctic and instead prepare to endure the long, frozen winter." "polar bears may be at the top of the food chain, but even these massive predators are vulnerable." "without pack ice, they'll eventually starve." "[ growling ]" "mothers and cubs desperately patrol the gravel banks for scraps." "the youngsters stay under her protection for about two years." "if threatened, adults can charge at 25 miles per hour." "mothers with the youngest cubs stay on high alert." "older cubs appear curious, but need to keep their distance." "body language warns others to stay away." "weighing up to three-quarters of a ton, males are a serious threat." "they take no part in raising cubs and will sometimes kill them." "females will defend their cubs, but wise mothers simply avoid potential dangers, heading for safer territory." "thankfully, the older bear is preoccupied, scouring the shore for food." "in times of plenty, polar bears will eat the blubber of a walrus and leave the rest." "but in hard times, they'll take what they can get." "this young male has found an old walrus skin." "it's tough but has some nutritional value." "wrangel island attracts the world's largest population of walruses... up to 100,000 in spring and summer." "at some point, the walruses will come ashore to rest." "they'll stay in the sea while the bears linger on the beach filling pouches in their throats with air so they can sleep upright in the water." "the big male continues his patrol, passing bones from kills of previous years." "a lone walrus has pulled up onshore." "separation from the herd suggests it may be sick." "when morning comes, the walrus is gone, and the bear has clearly feasted." "with blood on his face and paws, he's full and slow." "a younger bear has an air of caution as he approaches the other's kill." "but he needn't worry." "an adult walrus can weigh a staggering 3,700 pounds." "so it can feed many." "its blubber is rich in energy." "the youngster must eat fast." "polar bears have an acute sense of smell and can detect prey more than a half a mile away." "he won't be alone for long." "when the coast is clear, the group of walruses finally comes ashore to rest." "their unique tusks, actually enlarged teeth, average 20 inches long but can grow to twice that." "efficient tools, they're handy for fighting, cutting into ice, and tearing into prey." "but tusks can also be a liability for these social animals." "these gatherings carry other risks, too." "young calves sometimes get crushed as dozens of adults pile on." "[ grunts ]" "still, most manage to find a comfortable resting position." "once they regain strength and the temperature drops, they'll head to the bering strait for winter." "in october, temperatures plummet." "despite temperatures dipping to minus 40 degrees, bears continue their daily activities wrapped in thick fur and 3 inches of insulating fat." "broken fields of pack ice reach the coast and begin to freeze together." "once again, the bears are on the move." "the return of the pack ice and shimmering colors in the sky mark the close of autumn in the arctic." "the aurora borealis, or northern lights, dance 40 miles overhead." "it's as if the summer colors of thifrozen white expanse reside far above the russian arctic, ready to descend when the sunlit nights of summer reappear." "in the arctic's world of biting cold and howling storms, nature lays down harsh rules for survival." "but in this stark land lies a gentle beauty, a true russian wilderness at the top of the world."