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NARRATOR: Svalbard,
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a remote group of islands,
deep in the Arctic Circle.
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A paradise for polar bears,
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and the location for one of the
most ambitious polar bear films ever made.
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Disneynature has assembled
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some of the world's
best cinematographers and guides
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to capture the life
of this enigmatic and iconic animal.
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Filmed over three years,
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the team will cover thousands
of kilometers in search of bears...
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(WIND WHOOSHING)
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...cope with temperatures
below minus 40 degrees Celsius...
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People who haven't worked
in these conditions,
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it's not really imaginable
how difficult it is.
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NARRATOR: ...and be tested
to the absolute limit of their endurance.
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But the challenges of working here
are greater every year.
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This is the fastest warming place
on the planet.
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As Svalbard's landscape melts,
how will the bears and the crew
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adapt to a world that's losing its ice?
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(EXCLAIMS)
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Svalbard's islands
are an untouched wilderness.
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(BIRDS SQUAWKING)
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And a vital breeding ground
for Arctic wildlife.
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ROLF STEINMANN: When I was a teenager,
I was dreaming of Svalbard.
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Because, or me, it's the most
poetic environment on Earth.
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It's so different from anything else
you can experience.
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You have these gigantic glaciers,
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vast spaces of snow and ice.
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It's like a fairy-tale world.
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What you feel is,
this is the realm of the polar bear.
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NARRATOR: Found in the far north
of our planet,
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Svalbard sits in the Arctic Ocean,
midway between Norway and the North Pole.
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The ocean around Svalbard
freezes every winter,
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forming vast sheets of sea ice.
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It's the perfect hunting platform
for the 300 polar bears that live here.
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OSKAR STROM: There are many challenges
with filming bears.
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You have the fact
that you need to find bears
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in a massive environment,
you need to do it safely.
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So what we are looking for is sea ice
that is thick enough to work safely on.
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We are completely dependent
on good sea ice
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to find and film the bears.
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NARRATOR: In the most northerly town
on the planet,
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the team has spent two years designing
the perfect Arctic filming camp.
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Yep. We're good.
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STROM: This is a bit special
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because nobody's really
ever tried anything like this before.
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We're trying to be out
for the entire season.
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We're gonna be out
for three, four months at least.
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And to do so,
we have to construct this massive camp
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that we have been building and planning
for the last year.
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You need everything out there.
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We need all equipment,
we need accommodation for 10 people.
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We need showers, toilets,
we need everything.
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So, once we're out there,
we don't need to come back to town,
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we don't need to resupply, either people,
or food, or fuel, or water, or anything.
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That also means that
there's less impact on the environment.
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So, hopefully we can stay out there
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and just be out there
for the whole season.
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NARRATOR: The camp is perfectly designed,
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but getting it into the bears' habitat
is a huge logistical operation.
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So to get there,
we've got these heavy, heavy sleds.
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They are pulled behind
either a bulldozer or a PistenBully.
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And on top of that,
we can sit very insulated.
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I'd call 'em
environmentally-friendly barracks,
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because when we're using tent,
we use so much fuel
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just to keep warm because
the insulation properties are so bad.
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So these will allow us to stay warm,
stay relatively comfortable and safe.
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And safe from the polar bears.
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Keep going. Keep going.
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(VEHICLE BEEPING)
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NARRATOR: After years of planning,
the moment of departure finally arrives.
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In all of Svalbard,
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there are just 40 kilometers of road,
so the tarmac soon runs out.
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Out in the wilderness, the ice train must
cover over 100 kilometers
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across incredibly challenging terrain.
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It seems like we're getting towards
the more tricky part of the route,
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where it's starting to get
a little bit wetter.
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We still have a lot of water
coming from the glacier,
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so this is gonna be one of the areas
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that are a little bit trickier
than the other parts.
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So we'll see.
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NARRATOR: And it's not long
before the worst happens.
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ROBERTS: This is not a small problem,
it's actually a major problem.
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We have 50 ton of equipment stuck
in the water, up to half a meter deep.
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So I must admit it's probably been
the worst night of my life.
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I don't think
I've ever had such a bad night.
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NARRATOR: It's minus 25 degrees Celsius.
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So the longer the sleds stay in slush,
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the more chance
they'll become frozen into the ice.
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ROBERTS: This could take weeks
to get this out, literally.
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Let it freeze, get a chain saw,
start chain-sawing blocks, and yeah.
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Nothing's meant to be easy in life.
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Definitely not making a polar bear film.
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NARRATOR: The freeze is beginning,
and the clock is ticking.
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Since we got stuck, one inch of ice.
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NARRATOR: With the towing vehicle
on dry ground,
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an extra-long rope
is attached back to the sled.
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It's now or never.
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(VEHICLE REVVING)
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ROBERTS: Yeah. Yeah, there it goes.
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That was a miracle. I did not expect that.
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That's the last sled
pulled out of the ice.
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NARRATOR: Back on track, the ice train
continues through another polar night.
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And after ten long days,
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they finally reach their destination.
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Finally here.
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What a day, huh? What a day.
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NARRATOR: This is the crew's home
for the next three months.
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And Oskar has made sure
they have all the essentials.
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This looks good.
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It's a lot of cookies.
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A lot of cookies.
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The cabins will protect the crew
from any hungry bears roaming the ice
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and give the team everything they need.
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Well, this is my little castle here.
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So...
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For some people,
it might be not a lot of space,
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but for me, it's plenty.
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It's a comfortable bed.
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For me, very important,
my book collection here,
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and then just the stuff
that you need to survive.
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I think it's warm,
which is the most important thing
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after the cold days in the field,
and everything else is luxury.
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So, yeah, I'm super happy
with what I have here.
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So, this is our bathroom.
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It's allowed to take a short shower
for everyone once a week.
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And this is our magic toilet.
It actually burns everything.
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So, all what we leave is ash.
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It's, I would say,
quite environmentally friendly.
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So, yeah, again, all what you need
to be clean and happy, I guess.
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NARRATOR: The cabins provide
the perfect base.
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But polar bears cover
hundreds of kilometers.
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So the crew will have to do the same.
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STROM: Ready?
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NARRATOR: Team guide Oskar has worked
in this environment for 15 years,
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and his experience is key
to keeping the crew safe.
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While they venture into one of the most
remote landscapes on the planet.
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STROM: So now we're gonna drive up
about 600, 700 meters,
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up to what we call a tabletop mountain,
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and see if we can find the polar bear.
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NARRATOR: They head for high ground
for a better view.
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But as they climb,
the snow gets deeper and deeper.
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Until eventually, they're stuck.
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-One, two, three.
-(MEN GRUNTING)
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(LAUGHTER)
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(SNOWMOBILE BEEPING)
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NARRATOR: But Oskar's still convinced
they can get through.
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(LAUGHS) Well...
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Our second guide got stuck,
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so I think
we will not get through this snow.
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We have to find another route.
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-How does it feel to fail?
-No, I haven't failed yet.
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(LAUGHS) I'm gonna give it another go.
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-STROM: Victory!
-(STEINMANN LAUGHS)
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NARRATOR: With a path cleared
and Oskar's pride intact...
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Oh, yes!
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NARRATOR: ...the team is back on track.
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But with no bears in sight,
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Oskar checks in with the team of scouts
out on the sea ice.
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Jonathan. Jonathan, Oskar.
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Where are you located?
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JONATHAN ON RADIO:
We are on the lookout on Deeperstein
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and we have found a polar bear.
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Okay. Is it a single polar bear?
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JONATHAN: Yeah, so it is a single
polar bear from our perspective at least.
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Copy that. Okay, let's go.
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STEINMANN: Spotting for polar bears
is like nothing else
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because most of the time you have
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a vast ice landscape in front of you.
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And what you're looking for
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are these tiny little yellowish dots
in this landscape.
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Because polar bears
are slightly yellowish,
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and that makes them
spottable in this landscape.
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I don't see a bear.
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There's nothing
like encountering a polar bear.
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You feel it. It's magical.
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I feel like I have
a pretty deep connection to polar bears.
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And, I mean, I'm pretentious enough
to say the polar bear's my spirit animal.
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They are unique.
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They're out in this wilderness,
on the ice,
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and they can survive out there.
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RAGNHEID SOKGSETH:
Looking at polar bears on sea ice,
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you just know that
this is their right environment.
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They are adapted so perfectly
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for sea ice, living in sea ice,
hunting on sea ice.
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And it's just amazing to watch them.
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NARRATOR: To tell the full story,
the team has set their sights
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on capturing the holy grail
of polar bear filmmaking.
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The most difficult thing
when it comes to polar bear filmmaking
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is to film a mom with COYs.
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And COY stands for "Cubs of the Year."
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It means they have been born
in the winter in a little den.
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And, of course, these tiny bears
are incredibly vulnerable.
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So, approaching a mom
with COYs is almost impossible.
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NARRATOR: Now it's spring.
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Moms and cubs of the year are emerging
from their dens in the mountains
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for the first time.
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And the team's chance to film them begins.
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But they have to find a den first.
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STROM: When we look up the mountain,
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we're looking for either
a very tiny little hole,
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or we could find, when the den is open,
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that there is a lot of tracks
around the little hole.
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Because when the mother
pushes out the opening,
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she has to have the cubs learning
how to move and balance
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outside the den before she can
take them down on the sea ice.
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So, it's just about being
in the right place at the right time.
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NARRATOR: Finding a den is like looking
for a needle in a haystack.
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So the team calls in some help.
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Onboard the helicopter
is a state-of-the-art camera system.
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TIREN: Keep this elevation
for a while, and then we can
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gradually rise over the mountain
as we get closer to it.
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STROM: Really nice, Erika.
TIREN: Yeah.
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We're gonna go along the coastline,
looking for polar bear dens.
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So our crew on the ground
is camped up over here.
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-There it is there, Erika.
-TIREN: Yep.
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Looks very nice and comfy.
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NARRATOR: From the air, they can search
a vast area of inhospitable wilderness.
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ROBERTS: Guys, I'm looking at these ridges
for any den activities.
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NARRATOR: The technique quickly pays off.
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Bear tracks emerging from a den.
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When the female bear first puts
her head out and breaks surface,
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it's only just a black hole,
it's very hard to see.
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But once she starts
going out with the cubs,
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it becomes like a spider web in the snow.
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NARRATOR: The tracks leading away from
the den suggest this mother and her cubs
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have already left.
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JON AARS: Most important time of year
for polar bears
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is spring or early summer
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because that's when they
build up most of the fat reserves.
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A female might be in a den
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for more than half a year
without eating at all,
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at the same time nursing small cubs.
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It's very important for her
when they leave the den in March, April,
236
00:19:44,183 --> 00:19:47,019
that they find something to eat soon
237
00:19:47,102 --> 00:19:52,024
because she need to be able to produce
milk for those cubs for them to survive.
238
00:19:55,360 --> 00:19:58,322
NARRATOR: All the dens they find
are already empty.
239
00:20:02,201 --> 00:20:06,330
But the team soon discovers
a family on the move.
240
00:20:09,374 --> 00:20:12,085
STROM: When a mom comes out
of the den with her cubs,
241
00:20:12,169 --> 00:20:14,046
she's super hungry.
242
00:20:15,839 --> 00:20:19,301
So the first thing she will do is
to walk straight down to the sea ice
243
00:20:19,384 --> 00:20:21,011
and try to find food.
244
00:20:22,596 --> 00:20:25,682
If we miss this opportunity
to film them in the mountains,
245
00:20:25,766 --> 00:20:28,435
where they have the dens,
we have to change tactics.
246
00:20:29,228 --> 00:20:33,857
We quickly have to get down to the sea ice
and see if we can find any families
247
00:20:33,941 --> 00:20:35,901
that has come down to the ice already.
248
00:20:41,573 --> 00:20:45,661
NARRATOR: The mom and cubs
are quickly lost in the vast landscape.
249
00:20:45,744 --> 00:20:48,580
But it doesn't faze Rolf.
250
00:20:50,290 --> 00:20:53,210
STEINMANN: I'm a polar type of guy.
251
00:20:53,293 --> 00:20:57,714
I love the cold.
I love the aesthetics of snow and ice.
252
00:20:58,090 --> 00:21:01,843
But the sea ice,
as an environment to work on,
253
00:21:02,594 --> 00:21:05,097
is a place where you can't make mistakes
254
00:21:05,180 --> 00:21:08,934
because every mistake can be deadly there.
255
00:21:09,017 --> 00:21:13,021
That's why this job
can't be done by everybody.
256
00:21:13,105 --> 00:21:18,443
You have to be kind of
the type who can handle that.
257
00:21:21,822 --> 00:21:26,743
NARRATOR: Meanwhile, Oskar is keen
to make the most of a new bit of kit.
258
00:21:28,453 --> 00:21:31,331
Okay. Are we good to go?
259
00:21:33,125 --> 00:21:37,504
NARRATOR: This custom-made filming vehicle
is known as the side-by-side.
260
00:21:39,172 --> 00:21:44,761
Fitted with a special camera system,
it allows Erika to film moving images
261
00:21:44,845 --> 00:21:47,556
without any lumps and bumps.
262
00:21:47,639 --> 00:21:52,436
And cover great distances
while filming at the same time.
263
00:22:04,197 --> 00:22:06,408
There are lots of seals around.
264
00:22:06,491 --> 00:22:09,202
A good sign for finding bears.
265
00:22:10,704 --> 00:22:13,123
Seals are the best food
polar bears can get,
266
00:22:13,206 --> 00:22:16,376
particularly the fat,
the outer layer on the seals.
267
00:22:17,210 --> 00:22:19,963
The next few months,
late spring, early summer,
268
00:22:20,047 --> 00:22:22,424
polar bears,
they have good access to seals,
269
00:22:22,507 --> 00:22:24,676
and they build up fat reserves.
270
00:22:25,469 --> 00:22:28,180
Their ability to use blubber
271
00:22:28,263 --> 00:22:32,851
to make their own body fat is incredible,
so that's the best food they can get.
272
00:22:34,436 --> 00:22:37,272
STROM: They need to eat
a seal a week, basically.
273
00:22:38,023 --> 00:22:41,401
All seals have to come up
through the sea ice to breathe air,
274
00:22:41,485 --> 00:22:43,904
and that's why they have
breathing holes in the ice.
275
00:22:43,987 --> 00:22:46,156
And one of the techniques from the bear
276
00:22:46,239 --> 00:22:48,241
is to just go and find
those breathing holes.
277
00:22:48,950 --> 00:22:50,911
Then they will stay
at that breathing hole,
278
00:22:50,994 --> 00:22:54,373
be completely still,
not make a sound, and just wait.
279
00:22:56,875 --> 00:22:59,878
And a bear can stand there
for 15 hours straight,
280
00:22:59,961 --> 00:23:03,090
not moving a single limb of their body.
281
00:23:03,632 --> 00:23:05,467
Because the seal will not come out
282
00:23:05,550 --> 00:23:08,929
if it can hear any movement
on top of the ice.
283
00:23:09,471 --> 00:23:13,183
It's more effective to just sit still
and wait for the seal to come to you,
284
00:23:13,683 --> 00:23:16,603
not using any energy whatsoever.
285
00:23:25,195 --> 00:23:27,739
They can basically
lie at a hole and sleep,
286
00:23:27,823 --> 00:23:30,033
and hope that the seal
will pop up that hole,
287
00:23:30,117 --> 00:23:32,536
and that they will wake up
quickly enough to...
288
00:23:32,619 --> 00:23:33,662
To catch it.
289
00:23:38,166 --> 00:23:42,671
But the sea ice is a very changeable
environment to work on.
290
00:23:42,754 --> 00:23:44,172
It's a platform where we stay
291
00:23:44,256 --> 00:23:46,216
and where we work every day
with the bears.
292
00:23:46,758 --> 00:23:49,719
But it doesn't necessarily mean
that the ice is the same every day.
293
00:23:55,350 --> 00:23:58,812
Our lovely vehicle,
the side-by-side, is, um,
294
00:23:58,895 --> 00:24:02,566
deep in snow and water,
and we can't get out.
295
00:24:04,484 --> 00:24:07,112
(PANTING) Um...
296
00:24:07,529 --> 00:24:11,116
I think it's something called overwater
that we're stuck in right now.
297
00:24:11,199 --> 00:24:16,705
So, there's thick ice below this again,
and right here is loads of water.
298
00:24:16,788 --> 00:24:20,500
And then another good chunk of snow
on top of that.
299
00:24:20,584 --> 00:24:23,253
So, I'm keen to see
how we're gonna get out of here.
300
00:24:29,342 --> 00:24:33,180
NARRATOR: It's 1:00 a.m.
before help finally arrives.
301
00:24:45,233 --> 00:24:47,777
The speed that conditions can change here
302
00:24:47,861 --> 00:24:51,490
has always made it
a difficult place to work.
303
00:24:51,573 --> 00:24:55,869
But the changes are becoming
more drastic than ever before.
304
00:25:00,373 --> 00:25:04,961
Svalbard's average temperature is now
four degrees Celsius warmer
305
00:25:05,045 --> 00:25:06,671
than 50 years ago.
306
00:25:09,674 --> 00:25:11,676
SOKGSETH: Here in Svalbard,
we have seen that
307
00:25:11,801 --> 00:25:17,307
the wind patterns or weather systems,
they have kind of changed a bit.
308
00:25:18,475 --> 00:25:21,478
This has a huge effect
on what kind of air masses
309
00:25:21,561 --> 00:25:23,939
that are brought over Svalbard.
310
00:25:24,022 --> 00:25:29,778
So, this will change the temperature
up here completely or very dramatically
311
00:25:29,861 --> 00:25:31,738
in very short time.
312
00:25:31,821 --> 00:25:35,575
So it can change with 30 degrees
in just a few days.
313
00:25:41,623 --> 00:25:44,918
I actually feel a little bit
stupid today because
314
00:25:46,545 --> 00:25:52,425
I asked the office to send out all this
super warm Canada Goose clothing,
315
00:25:53,176 --> 00:25:54,511
and it's just super warm.
316
00:25:54,594 --> 00:25:58,056
And it's the warmest day we've had
since we came here.
317
00:25:58,682 --> 00:26:03,853
It went from being
minus 35 degrees last week,
318
00:26:03,937 --> 00:26:07,232
and I don't know what we have here now,
but it's probably
319
00:26:09,150 --> 00:26:10,860
just below zero.
320
00:26:13,697 --> 00:26:17,200
It's completely flat light.
You can hardly see where you're going.
321
00:26:17,867 --> 00:26:19,869
NARRATOR: And as the snow comes in,
322
00:26:19,953 --> 00:26:23,081
the low visibility becomes
a problem for Rolf.
323
00:26:25,792 --> 00:26:28,878
STEINMANN: I just don't know really
what we can film.
324
00:26:29,963 --> 00:26:32,090
We have these constant
whiteout conditions.
325
00:26:32,799 --> 00:26:34,801
We have no access to bears.
326
00:26:35,510 --> 00:26:37,971
The environment
is completely inconsistent,
327
00:26:38,054 --> 00:26:40,682
it's changing all the time
and it doesn't change to the better.
328
00:26:41,266 --> 00:26:45,395
What we really need
is some colder temperatures.
329
00:26:46,688 --> 00:26:49,441
With colder temperatures,
we'll have more blue, clear skies
330
00:26:49,524 --> 00:26:51,860
and better, stable weather.
331
00:26:53,903 --> 00:26:59,159
Working with polar bears
is a complete rollercoaster of emotions
332
00:26:59,242 --> 00:27:00,368
because it is so difficult.
333
00:27:01,369 --> 00:27:04,581
But what I think
allows you to cope with that
334
00:27:04,664 --> 00:27:07,167
is that when you work with polar bears,
335
00:27:07,250 --> 00:27:10,170
you always know magic can happen.
336
00:27:16,718 --> 00:27:21,640
We had some reports about a couple
of bears not too far away from us.
337
00:27:21,723 --> 00:27:24,934
And we actually found them now.
338
00:27:28,688 --> 00:27:31,775
The issue really is
that they sleep so much.
339
00:27:34,319 --> 00:27:39,032
See, that's the truth, that polar bears
are not always that much fun.
340
00:27:42,327 --> 00:27:44,621
Filmmaking can be pretty slow.
341
00:27:46,748 --> 00:27:49,250
Wow. She changed position.
342
00:27:49,709 --> 00:27:52,796
Did you get that, when she moved her head,
343
00:27:52,879 --> 00:27:55,840
from that position to that position?
344
00:27:57,592 --> 00:27:59,594
Rolf never gets bored.
345
00:28:03,723 --> 00:28:06,518
This is him at his very most excitement.
346
00:28:07,477 --> 00:28:12,482
(BOTH LAUGHING)
347
00:28:15,568 --> 00:28:18,780
NARRATOR: Finally,
their patience pays off.
348
00:28:19,698 --> 00:28:21,533
(STROM EXCLAIMING)
349
00:28:32,419 --> 00:28:35,213
NARRATOR: Aerial cinematographer
Florian Ledoux
350
00:28:35,296 --> 00:28:39,134
sends the drone up
for a unique extra view.
351
00:28:40,635 --> 00:28:42,929
Wow. The light is amazing.
352
00:28:44,764 --> 00:28:48,727
We've got now the midnight sun,
and it's just all red all night.
353
00:28:49,060 --> 00:28:50,937
It's quite impressive.
354
00:28:51,354 --> 00:28:53,648
That's what I love in the Arctic.
355
00:28:55,024 --> 00:28:59,404
NARRATOR: From now until the end
of summer, the sun never sets.
356
00:29:00,238 --> 00:29:04,868
And with this 24-hour daylight
the crew can film around the clock.
357
00:29:05,535 --> 00:29:07,996
STEINMANN: Every polar bear
is a individual.
358
00:29:08,747 --> 00:29:10,707
You never know what's going to happen.
359
00:29:11,249 --> 00:29:14,711
But if you have two bears,
it's total excitement.
360
00:29:21,676 --> 00:29:22,802
Look at that.
361
00:29:26,848 --> 00:29:28,850
These two guys, they love each other.
362
00:29:34,898 --> 00:29:39,819
They've found this perfect pool,
and they're just running around sliding.
363
00:29:53,166 --> 00:29:54,667
They are having so much fun.
364
00:29:56,961 --> 00:30:00,131
They're just playing.
They're just punching through the ice.
365
00:30:00,215 --> 00:30:01,883
This looks stunning.
366
00:30:05,595 --> 00:30:08,056
One bear is actually
swimming under the ice,
367
00:30:08,139 --> 00:30:10,183
the other bear
is running on top of the ice,
368
00:30:10,266 --> 00:30:12,769
trying to punch through
where he is under the ice.
369
00:30:14,062 --> 00:30:15,814
It's just ridiculous.
370
00:30:16,314 --> 00:30:20,485
To be here, to be able to witness this,
we're the luckiest people on the planet.
371
00:30:26,074 --> 00:30:28,868
I don't think I've ever seen
two bears so happy together.
372
00:30:41,464 --> 00:30:43,675
-STROM: Here we go.
-(MEN CHUCKLE)
373
00:30:43,758 --> 00:30:48,513
They're trying to stand up
on their hind legs and wrestle,
374
00:30:48,596 --> 00:30:53,268
but their back legs just goes under them,
and they just fall.
375
00:31:02,318 --> 00:31:04,153
NARRATOR: In the beauty of the moment,
376
00:31:04,237 --> 00:31:08,575
it would be easy to forget that
these are dangerous predators.
377
00:31:10,952 --> 00:31:14,831
STEINMANN: When you're filming
polar bears, you have to stay safe.
378
00:31:19,335 --> 00:31:24,173
So, while you as a cameraman
want to be as close as possible,
379
00:31:24,257 --> 00:31:30,179
sometimes you realize this bear
looks at us as prey.
380
00:31:31,472 --> 00:31:34,809
STROM: Rolf. Rolf, come back.
381
00:31:42,233 --> 00:31:44,277
A bear is always faster than us.
382
00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:53,745
The only way to safely work with the bears
383
00:31:53,828 --> 00:31:56,456
is to have a way
of escaping the bears quickly
384
00:31:56,539 --> 00:31:58,458
if they decide to come too close to you.
385
00:32:02,503 --> 00:32:05,298
NARRATOR: Luckily,
a quick exit isn't needed.
386
00:32:05,924 --> 00:32:10,178
These bears are more interested
in each other than the film crew.
387
00:32:16,851 --> 00:32:21,773
For the next two weeks,
Rolf and Oskar watch the female bear.
388
00:32:26,194 --> 00:32:30,782
And soon she's formed a special bond
with an older, bigger male.
389
00:32:35,286 --> 00:32:39,666
STEINMANN: I have to admit,
I think polar bears are really romantic.
390
00:32:39,749 --> 00:32:42,335
They take their time, they're slow,
391
00:32:42,418 --> 00:32:45,672
they seem to get to know each other,
step by step.
392
00:32:46,297 --> 00:32:49,300
I think it's a beautiful thing to observe.
393
00:33:14,951 --> 00:33:20,707
(PANTING) So, what we actually
just observed is
394
00:33:20,790 --> 00:33:25,003
that a new generation of polar bears
is in the making,
395
00:33:26,421 --> 00:33:29,507
which is beautiful news, I think.
396
00:33:34,053 --> 00:33:37,098
NARRATOR: It's an incredible scene
to have in the bag.
397
00:33:40,143 --> 00:33:43,354
And now, it's time for the team
to renew their efforts
398
00:33:43,438 --> 00:33:47,316
to find the mother and young cubs
back on the sea ice.
399
00:34:18,681 --> 00:34:20,558
STROM: It's been going really well.
400
00:34:20,933 --> 00:34:23,061
We are one kilometer away
from the sea ice.
401
00:34:23,144 --> 00:34:25,396
There is a polar bear
in front of the glacier.
402
00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:26,981
Beautiful conditions.
403
00:34:27,065 --> 00:34:29,901
But, unfortunately,
our vehicle has broken down.
404
00:34:30,693 --> 00:34:36,199
NARRATOR: Without parts, this feat
of modern engineering is useless.
405
00:34:38,576 --> 00:34:42,121
Fortunately, Oskar has
yet another bit of kit at the ready.
406
00:34:44,874 --> 00:34:50,213
An '80s military vehicle
known as the Bandvagn, or BV.
407
00:34:53,716 --> 00:34:55,218
STROM: Every day, just problems.
408
00:34:55,676 --> 00:34:57,011
Nothing else than problems.
409
00:35:01,516 --> 00:35:06,437
NARRATOR: With the side-by-side towed
back to camp, the Bandvagn returns,
410
00:35:06,521 --> 00:35:10,024
promoted as the new filming vehicle.
411
00:35:18,616 --> 00:35:20,368
Okay. Moment of truth.
412
00:35:21,160 --> 00:35:23,704
So let's see now if this works.
413
00:35:24,872 --> 00:35:26,249
And it does.
414
00:35:26,833 --> 00:35:28,876
NARRATOR: The cameras are back in action.
415
00:35:29,585 --> 00:35:33,714
But the BV weighs over five tons
when fully loaded.
416
00:35:35,424 --> 00:35:36,634
We are taking a chance.
417
00:35:37,343 --> 00:35:39,137
We are driving this thing out on the ice.
418
00:35:39,220 --> 00:35:41,973
-It is a heavy vehicle. Yeah.
-There is always a risk involved.
419
00:35:42,140 --> 00:35:45,101
-Just take it easy, we just relax.
-I'll just jump straight off.
420
00:35:45,184 --> 00:35:47,603
-(LAUGHING)
-Remember that you have this stress thing.
421
00:35:48,646 --> 00:35:51,315
Side-by-side on the ice,
Bandvagn on the ice.
422
00:35:51,399 --> 00:35:52,733
(TIREN LAUGHS)
423
00:35:52,817 --> 00:35:56,529
-You can always use the stress ball.
-Thanks.
424
00:36:05,371 --> 00:36:07,874
STROM: This machine
doesn't have much leg room.
425
00:36:08,749 --> 00:36:11,794
It's like flying a low-fare airline.
426
00:36:12,545 --> 00:36:15,798
The coffee's no good,
and the leg room is no good,
427
00:36:16,549 --> 00:36:19,844
and you're not sure if you'll arrive
at your destination safely.
428
00:36:20,678 --> 00:36:22,388
(TIREN LAUGHS)
429
00:36:22,889 --> 00:36:27,185
NARRATOR: The warm temperatures
are beginning to melt the sea ice,
430
00:36:27,268 --> 00:36:30,688
so the team are having
to carefully monitor its thickness.
431
00:36:30,771 --> 00:36:33,232
So the ice here
is a little bit thinner than earlier.
432
00:36:33,316 --> 00:36:37,445
We are now at between
60 and 70 centimeters of ice.
433
00:36:37,528 --> 00:36:39,238
It looks still quite safe.
434
00:36:40,406 --> 00:36:43,159
NARRATOR: But the crew
is still feeling nervous.
435
00:36:45,703 --> 00:36:49,457
It's a little bit interesting feeling
because if we would go into overwater,
436
00:36:49,999 --> 00:36:53,169
we get this movement
of going down in the front.
437
00:36:53,544 --> 00:36:56,339
-Do you like it, Erika?
-No, (LAUGHS) I really don't like it.
438
00:37:09,769 --> 00:37:13,689
NARRATOR: Their risk-taking pays off
when they spot a family.
439
00:37:25,159 --> 00:37:27,620
STROM: Just gonna stop here
a little bit, Erika,
440
00:37:27,703 --> 00:37:29,789
to let them get used to us a little bit.
441
00:37:30,831 --> 00:37:35,670
So we have a bear family here.
We have a mother and two cubs.
442
00:37:37,255 --> 00:37:40,758
NARRATOR: Their size shows
these are last year's cubs,
443
00:37:41,342 --> 00:37:43,469
about 16 months old.
444
00:37:48,099 --> 00:37:52,270
STROM: So they have decided
to come up to us and check us out.
445
00:37:57,692 --> 00:38:00,444
NARRATOR: Being older,
they're much more confident.
446
00:38:00,528 --> 00:38:02,488
than the cubs born this year would be.
447
00:38:07,243 --> 00:38:09,954
The cubs are still dependent on their mom
448
00:38:10,037 --> 00:38:13,791
as there's so much for them to learn
to survive out here.
449
00:38:24,927 --> 00:38:28,681
STROM: I'm really worried that
they will head in the wrong direction.
450
00:38:29,265 --> 00:38:32,977
This is basically because we can't go
where we want with this machine.
451
00:38:33,060 --> 00:38:34,895
We have to be on solid ice
452
00:38:34,979 --> 00:38:41,068
and we have to have
good ice conditions, snow conditions.
453
00:38:48,701 --> 00:38:51,912
TIREN: Stop doing that.
You freak me out.
454
00:38:52,913 --> 00:38:55,875
You told me not to be nervous
because it makes you nervous,
455
00:38:55,958 --> 00:38:58,127
so now I'm doing my best
not to be nervous,
456
00:38:58,210 --> 00:39:00,296
-so stop being...
-Nervous.
457
00:39:00,379 --> 00:39:01,380
TIREN: ...nervous.
458
00:39:05,676 --> 00:39:08,137
STROM: As it's getting
wetter and wetter and wetter,
459
00:39:08,220 --> 00:39:10,806
I don't think we should go
any further out.
460
00:39:10,890 --> 00:39:14,185
And I think
we might as well call it a day.
461
00:39:17,563 --> 00:39:19,940
We are spending a lot of time out here.
462
00:39:20,024 --> 00:39:22,777
So, over time,
you see how the ice is changing.
463
00:39:23,569 --> 00:39:28,157
And as you're sitting here, you can see
big chunks of ice just leaving,
464
00:39:28,240 --> 00:39:30,534
and they are disappearing
out in the open ocean.
465
00:39:30,951 --> 00:39:34,622
And we see that our working area
has decreased
466
00:39:34,705 --> 00:39:38,876
with maybe 60-70% already.
467
00:39:39,627 --> 00:39:42,546
That we are much more restricted,
and we have much smaller areas
468
00:39:42,630 --> 00:39:44,965
where we can work with the bears.
469
00:39:45,049 --> 00:39:51,680
The change that we have noticed
in the cycle of sea ice cover in Svalbard
470
00:39:51,764 --> 00:39:56,268
is that the sea ice cover
is coming later in the winter,
471
00:39:56,644 --> 00:40:00,189
and it also disappears
earlier in the spring.
472
00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:04,860
So the summer season has kind of extended
473
00:40:04,944 --> 00:40:09,782
with no sea ice,
and the sea ice season has shortened.
474
00:40:12,493 --> 00:40:16,664
STEINMANN: You're working already
with a difficult species.
475
00:40:16,747 --> 00:40:20,751
And now, every year,
it will get even more difficult
476
00:40:20,918 --> 00:40:26,257
just because the world up there
in the polar regions is changing so fast.
477
00:40:26,424 --> 00:40:29,635
(WIND WHOOSHING)
478
00:40:29,718 --> 00:40:32,346
STROM: I just downloaded
the latest weather forecast,
479
00:40:32,430 --> 00:40:37,309
and it looks like we're getting hit
by 20 meters per second winds.
480
00:40:38,727 --> 00:40:41,188
It's gonna be really, really bad.
481
00:40:52,741 --> 00:40:57,037
NARRATOR: The crew wake to gale force
winds and visibility of almost zero.
482
00:41:00,791 --> 00:41:03,669
It's extremely frustrating
because all we wanna do
483
00:41:03,752 --> 00:41:08,340
is be down on the ice,
and work, and continue making a film.
484
00:41:08,424 --> 00:41:12,052
But at the moment, it's too windy,
it's too stormy to do work.
485
00:41:12,136 --> 00:41:16,724
And to find the mothers with the cubs
that is extremely important for our story.
486
00:41:16,807 --> 00:41:18,893
We have to be able to search a huge area,
487
00:41:18,976 --> 00:41:21,896
and we have to be able
to scout the mountains and the sea ice.
488
00:41:21,979 --> 00:41:25,608
And it's just a very, very bad timing
to have this weather at the moment.
489
00:41:28,652 --> 00:41:31,947
NARRATOR: The crew work hard to keep
the doorways clear of snow,
490
00:41:32,531 --> 00:41:35,201
and paths open between the cabins.
491
00:41:35,409 --> 00:41:40,164
It's a never-ending story.
Snow, snow, snow.
492
00:41:43,459 --> 00:41:47,463
NARRATOR: They also still have to
collect snow to melt for use in camp.
493
00:41:48,923 --> 00:41:51,717
Forty sledfuls a day.
494
00:41:58,807 --> 00:42:00,976
So the snow is melted here
in this electrical box,
495
00:42:01,060 --> 00:42:04,230
and then the water will go through
a couple of water filters
496
00:42:04,313 --> 00:42:06,398
down to a freshwater tank,
497
00:42:06,482 --> 00:42:10,110
and then we have sinks and dishwashers,
498
00:42:10,194 --> 00:42:12,613
and showers and everything.
499
00:42:13,822 --> 00:42:16,033
Living in camp, it's nice and comfortable,
500
00:42:16,116 --> 00:42:18,244
but there is not much to do here.
501
00:42:20,704 --> 00:42:22,790
STEINMANN: When you're
out there for months,
502
00:42:22,873 --> 00:42:26,168
sometimes you need a way
to release the pressure.
503
00:42:26,877 --> 00:42:29,505
And I think there are
a variety of ways to get there.
504
00:42:30,506 --> 00:42:33,425
-Showdown.
-Head down.
505
00:42:33,509 --> 00:42:36,178
-Am I allowed to use my hands?
-MAN: You cannot use your hands.
506
00:42:36,845 --> 00:42:39,181
(ALL CHEERING)
507
00:42:41,225 --> 00:42:43,894
And a new world record!
508
00:42:43,978 --> 00:42:45,187
(ALL APPLAUDING)
509
00:42:48,315 --> 00:42:49,733
NARRATOR: Fed up with waiting,
510
00:42:52,403 --> 00:42:55,281
the crew heads out
to look for bears.
511
00:42:59,743 --> 00:43:03,038
But it's still incredibly hard
to see anything.
512
00:43:05,374 --> 00:43:08,294
And just as difficult to get around.
513
00:43:18,429 --> 00:43:24,226
Once the crew reaches high ground,
their worst fears are realized.
514
00:43:32,693 --> 00:43:38,532
STEINMANN: We got the view of the coast,
and it's a little bit disastrous.
515
00:43:38,616 --> 00:43:43,662
After one week of storms,
the ice has completely broke off.
516
00:43:44,622 --> 00:43:49,877
To be honest, we don't even know
how to operate on that ice anymore.
517
00:43:52,254 --> 00:43:55,716
NARRATOR: Warm temperatures had
thinned and weakened the sea ice,
518
00:43:55,799 --> 00:44:00,429
so the wind and waves of the storm
were able to completely destroy it.
519
00:44:02,765 --> 00:44:07,728
If we compare today to 50, 100 years ago,
when the trappers lived here,
520
00:44:07,811 --> 00:44:10,522
the ice conditions
are completely different.
521
00:44:11,649 --> 00:44:14,693
Maybe they had a meter and a half,
two meters of ice out there
522
00:44:14,777 --> 00:44:15,903
in this same fjord,
523
00:44:16,403 --> 00:44:20,449
but the ice would not be affected
as it is now by these storms.
524
00:44:21,950 --> 00:44:26,330
I think what we are doing here is really,
we are witnessing
525
00:44:26,413 --> 00:44:28,624
the massive change in environment.
526
00:44:32,711 --> 00:44:34,630
NARRATOR: It's still only April.
527
00:44:35,047 --> 00:44:39,218
But with the sea ice gone,
the crew is having to leave winter camp
528
00:44:39,301 --> 00:44:41,261
six weeks earlier than planned.
529
00:44:45,683 --> 00:44:49,645
STEINMANN: If I'm honest, I hate
to leave this place. I love this location.
530
00:44:50,562 --> 00:44:55,484
But we couldn't find cubs of the year,
and we have to move on,
531
00:44:55,567 --> 00:44:57,027
and we have to find...
532
00:44:57,111 --> 00:44:59,154
Try to find cubs of the year
in another location.
533
00:44:59,238 --> 00:45:00,447
So it's time to go.
534
00:45:01,490 --> 00:45:02,825
Let's go.
535
00:45:04,076 --> 00:45:06,453
NARRATOR: The team is heading west,
536
00:45:06,537 --> 00:45:09,998
towards a possible sighting
of cubs of the year.
537
00:45:37,985 --> 00:45:42,448
It's a 10-hour journey
across Svalbard's challenging terrain.
538
00:45:47,911 --> 00:45:51,206
But leaving the safety of their camp
far behind,
539
00:45:51,290 --> 00:45:54,626
the first thing
they need to find is shelter.
540
00:45:59,965 --> 00:46:04,470
An old coal mining town
once owned by the Soviet Union,
541
00:46:04,553 --> 00:46:07,931
Pyramiden was home
to more than 1,000 people,
542
00:46:09,767 --> 00:46:14,772
but in the '90s,
mining stopped and everyone left.
543
00:46:17,357 --> 00:46:19,485
The crew finds a new base,
544
00:46:19,735 --> 00:46:22,237
but they're not impressed
with their new neighbors,
545
00:46:22,321 --> 00:46:23,947
the kittiwakes.
546
00:46:25,824 --> 00:46:27,785
At least we've got plenty birds here.
547
00:46:28,702 --> 00:46:30,204
STROM: Yeah, I love the kittiwakes.
548
00:46:30,370 --> 00:46:33,665
Waking up in your five-hour sleep.
Kittiwake, kittiwake, kittiwake.
549
00:46:34,792 --> 00:46:37,336
Keep me awake,
keep me awake, keep me awake.
550
00:46:37,503 --> 00:46:39,171
(ALL LAUGHING)
551
00:46:39,254 --> 00:46:42,382
-STEINMANN: New name, keep me awake.
-Keep me awake, keep me awake.
552
00:46:46,845 --> 00:46:48,555
So we finally got a report
553
00:46:48,639 --> 00:46:53,685
that a bear family's been spotted
in the fjord system to the east.
554
00:46:54,228 --> 00:46:57,981
So we have some time to scout
and maybe find the family,
555
00:46:58,106 --> 00:47:00,818
but there is a lot of indication
that tells us
556
00:47:00,901 --> 00:47:02,569
that it's worth going there.
557
00:47:02,653 --> 00:47:05,405
NARRATOR: The area
is only accessible by boat,
558
00:47:05,489 --> 00:47:08,575
so the team loads up and ships out.
559
00:47:19,753 --> 00:47:21,421
MAN: There's a bear.
STROM: What?
560
00:47:21,505 --> 00:47:23,549
MAN: There's a bear.
561
00:47:23,632 --> 00:47:25,008
STROM: Where is the bear?
562
00:47:29,096 --> 00:47:31,765
Yeah, I see it. I see it.
563
00:47:31,849 --> 00:47:33,684
You see the cubs on the right?
564
00:47:33,976 --> 00:47:37,062
MAN: It's the one.
STROM: Yeah, two cubs.
565
00:47:38,313 --> 00:47:41,400
NARRATOR: Finally,
the tiny cubs born this year,
566
00:47:41,483 --> 00:47:43,777
the crew have worked so hard to find.
567
00:47:43,944 --> 00:47:46,029
-MAN: Yep, I see it.
-There they are.
568
00:47:48,323 --> 00:47:50,075
-It's the ones?
-Yeah.
569
00:47:50,909 --> 00:47:53,829
STROM: You see the cubs, yeah?
MAN: Yeah. There.
570
00:47:53,912 --> 00:47:55,539
STROM: And they look happy.
571
00:47:56,498 --> 00:47:58,500
NARRATOR: The bear's huge padded feet
572
00:47:58,584 --> 00:48:01,420
allow them to walk
on the thin, fragile ice.
573
00:48:03,714 --> 00:48:06,842
But the ice isn't strong enough
to hold the crew.
574
00:48:07,509 --> 00:48:11,138
So it falls to Florian
to get the shots using the drone.
575
00:48:16,602 --> 00:48:17,603
AARS: Both cubs.
576
00:48:17,936 --> 00:48:20,397
Yeah, I got them. Okay.
577
00:48:21,189 --> 00:48:23,400
It's quite exciting. Whoo!
578
00:48:24,735 --> 00:48:28,947
Oh, she's on an ice floe.
Wow, that's super cool.
579
00:48:30,866 --> 00:48:33,952
I've got the reflection of her body
in the water.
580
00:48:44,004 --> 00:48:47,257
AARS: Their ability to swim
is better than we thought.
581
00:48:48,216 --> 00:48:51,803
At the Polar Institute,
we have data that have showed us
582
00:48:51,887 --> 00:48:55,349
that they swim several hundred kilometers
without resting.
583
00:48:55,432 --> 00:48:59,269
But it's much, much more costly,
energetically, to make a long swim
584
00:48:59,353 --> 00:49:01,271
than to walk.
585
00:49:02,898 --> 00:49:05,901
Polar bears only swim
with their front paws,
586
00:49:05,984 --> 00:49:08,987
so their hind legs will always
be stretched straight out.
587
00:49:09,947 --> 00:49:13,200
And the cubs of the year,
obviously they don't have the energy
588
00:49:13,283 --> 00:49:17,955
to swim as far as an adult bear,
so they will ride on these hind legs
589
00:49:18,038 --> 00:49:20,165
and just sit
and claw themselves to the fur
590
00:49:20,248 --> 00:49:22,167
and keep in the wake of the mother.
591
00:49:24,169 --> 00:49:26,546
But the longer they're in the water,
the colder they get,
592
00:49:26,630 --> 00:49:28,882
and they can't spend
too much time in the water.
593
00:49:28,966 --> 00:49:30,509
But, of course, with lesser ice,
594
00:49:30,592 --> 00:49:34,096
the distances between
different ice floes will be larger,
595
00:49:34,179 --> 00:49:37,099
and the cubs will have to stay
in the water much longer time.
596
00:49:39,810 --> 00:49:41,770
STEINMANN: That mother
must be such a good hunter,
597
00:49:41,853 --> 00:49:46,274
she is well-fed,
and her cubs are just so active.
598
00:49:46,358 --> 00:49:47,943
It's really impressive.
599
00:49:48,193 --> 00:49:54,491
They seem to be in super good shape,
which is, I think, really nice to observe.
600
00:49:59,162 --> 00:50:04,876
NARRATOR: It's an amazing first encounter,
but getting the ground shots they need
601
00:50:04,960 --> 00:50:06,795
is not going to be easy.
602
00:50:06,878 --> 00:50:10,507
STEINMANN: Now the question is simply
how do we get to them
603
00:50:10,590 --> 00:50:13,844
because the ice is so rotten here.
604
00:50:14,386 --> 00:50:16,179
That's another challenge ahead.
605
00:50:20,726 --> 00:50:23,562
NARRATOR: The team
needs to find thicker ice.
606
00:50:29,860 --> 00:50:35,240
Keen to scout the area,
Rolf and Oskar set off on skis.
607
00:51:00,474 --> 00:51:04,728
But while they're out, the mother and cubs
arrive back in Pyramiden,
608
00:51:04,811 --> 00:51:07,773
where they're picked up by the drone crew.
609
00:51:17,157 --> 00:51:21,161
The cubs are already brimming
with confidence and curiosity,
610
00:51:23,997 --> 00:51:27,250
essential qualities
for an animal that must investigate
611
00:51:27,334 --> 00:51:30,504
every possible food source
if they're to survive.
612
00:51:38,386 --> 00:51:40,680
And it's food they're here for,
613
00:51:42,307 --> 00:51:44,142
an old seal carcass.
614
00:51:47,187 --> 00:51:49,106
There are only scraps left.
615
00:51:51,441 --> 00:51:56,363
But mom would've been able to smell this
up to 30 kilometers away.
616
00:52:16,091 --> 00:52:20,762
It's incredible luck to get
such unique and intimate shots.
617
00:52:23,014 --> 00:52:26,351
But it's still a cruel discovery
for Rolf and Oskar
618
00:52:26,434 --> 00:52:28,436
that they've missed the cubs.
619
00:52:30,438 --> 00:52:33,692
And finding them again
is going to be a challenge.
620
00:52:34,985 --> 00:52:39,447
Our bears decided to move
out and away from this fjord.
621
00:52:39,531 --> 00:52:43,243
So now they are in an area where
we can't really follow them by snowmobiles
622
00:52:43,326 --> 00:52:45,036
and skis anymore,
623
00:52:45,120 --> 00:52:48,039
and we don't really know
where they're going.
624
00:52:49,499 --> 00:52:52,711
So this might actually be the...
625
00:52:52,794 --> 00:52:56,840
The end of our spring snowmobile shoot.
626
00:53:02,304 --> 00:53:05,682
NARRATOR: Now, the only way to access
the workable patches of ice
627
00:53:05,765 --> 00:53:07,684
is via a bigger boat.
628
00:53:09,269 --> 00:53:12,314
Significantly strengthened
to withstand the ice.
629
00:53:12,397 --> 00:53:15,066
It's crewed by a much larger team.
630
00:53:19,571 --> 00:53:22,991
And ably steered
by a specialized ice captain.
631
00:53:31,541 --> 00:53:35,045
STEINMANN: Well, to film bears,
you have to find them first,
632
00:53:35,128 --> 00:53:37,923
and up here in the crow's nest,
in my opinion,
633
00:53:38,006 --> 00:53:42,636
it's the best place to find them,
because you have 360-degree view.
634
00:53:43,595 --> 00:53:47,599
And considering
we're in the middle of the ocean,
635
00:53:47,682 --> 00:53:52,604
and we find the bears on the drift ice
in the absolute middle of nowhere
636
00:53:52,687 --> 00:53:54,231
is kind of incredible.
637
00:53:54,314 --> 00:53:58,777
I don't know how they can
survive out here, but they do.
638
00:54:19,798 --> 00:54:22,801
NARRATOR: It may be
the best place to spot bears,
639
00:54:23,009 --> 00:54:26,388
but there's a very good reason
why no one else is up there.
640
00:54:30,141 --> 00:54:34,854
(GROANS) For a potentially seasick person,
it's not nice work.
641
00:54:36,356 --> 00:54:37,691
I'm so sick.
642
00:54:37,774 --> 00:54:41,361
I was actually not sick
before I went into the crow's nest.
643
00:54:42,404 --> 00:54:45,198
And now I'm completely sick again.
(GROANS)
644
00:54:45,282 --> 00:54:47,867
(CREW CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY)
645
00:54:47,951 --> 00:54:51,663
This is... It's brutal.
It's absolutely brutal.
646
00:54:53,498 --> 00:54:57,460
NARRATOR: And now summer's here, the team
can add another problem to the list.
647
00:54:59,045 --> 00:55:01,673
The fog's just done a typical Svalbard.
648
00:55:01,756 --> 00:55:05,719
It's down on us,
we've got about 50 meters visibility.
649
00:55:06,428 --> 00:55:09,180
But the positive thing is,
is that in the last 24 hours,
650
00:55:09,264 --> 00:55:11,099
we've seen four bears.
651
00:55:11,182 --> 00:55:14,811
So, two days in,
and things are looking good,
652
00:55:15,061 --> 00:55:16,646
apart from the fog.
653
00:55:19,816 --> 00:55:23,153
It comes and goes. (CHUCKLES)
654
00:55:23,236 --> 00:55:27,282
-MAN: When's it gonna go?
-I don't know. If you go to bed.
655
00:55:27,365 --> 00:55:29,409
(BOTH LAUGHING)
656
00:55:32,912 --> 00:55:37,792
NARRATOR: Cold air above warm water
is the perfect recipe for fog.
657
00:55:37,876 --> 00:55:40,545
And while fog has
always been a problem here,
658
00:55:40,628 --> 00:55:44,132
warming temperatures
are making things worse.
659
00:55:45,759 --> 00:55:48,595
TOM FORMAN: So,
we've just recorded, two days ago,
660
00:55:48,678 --> 00:55:51,056
the highest temperatures
ever recorded on Svalbard,
661
00:55:51,139 --> 00:55:53,933
21.7 degrees in Longyearbyen.
662
00:55:54,059 --> 00:55:58,605
We are seeing more and more
filming days in the summer lost to fog
663
00:55:58,688 --> 00:56:01,441
compared to 10 years ago or so
664
00:56:01,524 --> 00:56:03,860
because we are getting
much warmer temperatures,
665
00:56:03,943 --> 00:56:06,654
which is just giving us
extremely foggy days.
666
00:56:06,738 --> 00:56:11,034
Much foggier conditions in the last
few years than we've really been used to.
667
00:56:14,079 --> 00:56:18,083
NARRATOR: This reduced visibility
makes spotting bears much harder,
668
00:56:18,833 --> 00:56:21,711
and traveling more dangerous.
669
00:56:25,965 --> 00:56:28,843
(CHUCKLES)
670
00:56:30,678 --> 00:56:34,140
-Cor, look at that iceberg. Look at that.
-Cool.
671
00:56:35,183 --> 00:56:36,810
WILSON: That's not the sort of thing
672
00:56:36,893 --> 00:56:39,938
that we want to be heading towards
at nine knots, is it?
673
00:56:41,773 --> 00:56:46,820
The one member of our team who's
completely indispensable is our captain,
674
00:56:46,903 --> 00:56:50,865
because sailing around
in sea ice in dense fog
675
00:56:50,949 --> 00:56:53,368
is a skill that none of us have.
676
00:56:54,411 --> 00:56:57,997
You need to have seen it all before
to get us through this safely.
677
00:56:58,081 --> 00:57:01,960
You can get this lovely
kind of thin first-year ice,
678
00:57:02,043 --> 00:57:04,504
which is easy to bash through
with a ship like this,
679
00:57:04,629 --> 00:57:09,342
but if you get into the chunkier
multiyear ice, which is really dense,
680
00:57:09,426 --> 00:57:12,720
that could stop this ship dead,
which wouldn't be good.
681
00:57:15,265 --> 00:57:19,185
NARRATOR: The crew head north
in search of colder water.
682
00:57:20,854 --> 00:57:23,314
And after three long weeks,
683
00:57:23,398 --> 00:57:26,192
they finally manage
to leave the fog behind.
684
00:57:34,742 --> 00:57:39,497
Oskar knows where to head for solid ice
at this time of year,
685
00:57:39,581 --> 00:57:41,875
but he's in for a shock.
686
00:57:43,251 --> 00:57:46,838
So this fjord is one of the
northernmost fjords on the eastern coast
687
00:57:46,921 --> 00:57:48,339
of Spitsbergen Island.
688
00:57:48,423 --> 00:57:52,719
I would expect this ice to be good
for much longer than now.
689
00:57:52,802 --> 00:57:54,304
We are in the beginning of June,
690
00:57:54,387 --> 00:57:57,557
and we see that the ice
are completely rotten.
691
00:57:57,682 --> 00:58:00,435
It's a place where
over the 20 years I've been up here,
692
00:58:00,518 --> 00:58:04,189
I would come to because it's normally
good ice conditions,
693
00:58:04,272 --> 00:58:09,861
and to see it completely rotten
in the early start of June is quite scary.
694
00:58:16,993 --> 00:58:18,995
AARS: Svalbard has lost sea ice
695
00:58:19,078 --> 00:58:22,874
more than twice as fast
as anywhere else in the Arctic.
696
00:58:24,459 --> 00:58:30,340
Now we have several months less sea ice
than we had 30, 40 years ago.
697
00:58:36,554 --> 00:58:39,766
STROM: Forty years ago, we had sea ice
most of the year in Svalbard.
698
00:58:39,849 --> 00:58:42,936
Today, we're down
to less than six months a year.
699
00:58:45,438 --> 00:58:49,108
The scale of that thought is pretty hard
to get your head around.
700
00:58:55,740 --> 00:59:00,495
NARRATOR: Following the retreating ice,
the crew is pushing ever northwards.
701
00:59:06,209 --> 00:59:09,837
Finding solid ice has forced them
300 kilometers
702
00:59:09,921 --> 00:59:13,508
further north than they'd have
to travel 40 years ago.
703
00:59:13,800 --> 00:59:17,929
It took about 30 hours to come here,
704
00:59:18,388 --> 00:59:22,183
but we managed to reach this
little last piece of fast ice
705
00:59:22,267 --> 00:59:24,852
in one of the northern fjords
that we were hoping for.
706
00:59:24,936 --> 00:59:27,730
We know that the ice
will be better further in the fjord,
707
00:59:27,814 --> 00:59:30,233
but we also need to find a family,
we need to find
708
00:59:30,316 --> 00:59:33,653
a family with two cubs here.
Otherwise there's no point being here.
709
00:59:36,155 --> 00:59:38,741
Time to break out the snowmobiles
710
00:59:39,867 --> 00:59:42,495
while Oskar checks
the thickness of the ice.
711
00:59:44,497 --> 00:59:47,083
STROM: We might break through
this first layer of water,
712
00:59:47,166 --> 00:59:49,877
-but it's gonna be completely fine.
-MAN: Yeah.
713
00:59:49,961 --> 00:59:54,132
So there is a lot to think about
when we're out on this summer ice.
714
00:59:54,215 --> 00:59:56,509
First of all, the ice is not consistent.
715
00:59:56,593 --> 01:00:00,930
Some places the ice is 60 centimeters,
sometimes the ice is 20 centimeters,
716
01:00:01,014 --> 01:00:02,807
some areas is only 10 centimeters.
717
01:00:03,016 --> 01:00:05,059
And the air temperature is plus degrees.
718
01:00:05,435 --> 01:00:09,397
So with these strong winds,
it's like putting a hairdryer to the ice.
719
01:00:09,480 --> 01:00:12,984
The changes on this summer ice
is happening so rapidly.
720
01:00:13,067 --> 01:00:15,403
If something happens to us
when we're out here,
721
01:00:15,486 --> 01:00:17,488
there is nothing
they can do from the ship.
722
01:00:17,572 --> 01:00:20,617
The ship can't break the ice in here
and come to our rescue.
723
01:00:20,700 --> 01:00:24,037
We have to be able to get back to the ship
by our own means.
724
01:00:32,337 --> 01:00:34,756
NARRATOR: Despite the risks,
the team knows
725
01:00:34,839 --> 01:00:39,886
this is one of the last patches of sea ice
where they can use their snowmobiles.
726
01:00:54,233 --> 01:00:58,738
STEINMANN: We always look in front of
the glaciers for the bear families.
727
01:00:59,364 --> 01:01:03,201
But on the maps,
the glacier should be right here,
728
01:01:03,576 --> 01:01:06,496
and it's one or two kilometers
in the distance already.
729
01:01:06,579 --> 01:01:08,790
So it's just...
730
01:01:08,873 --> 01:01:12,919
Yeah, it's pretty obvious
how fast the glaciers are receding here.
731
01:01:19,133 --> 01:01:20,927
Hey, over there, Rolf, look.
732
01:01:21,010 --> 01:01:22,512
There's like two yellow things.
733
01:01:22,845 --> 01:01:24,597
-Yes.
-One is bigger, one is smaller.
734
01:01:30,687 --> 01:01:34,273
NARRATOR: Finally,
a family with cubs of the year.
735
01:01:36,150 --> 01:01:37,443
STEINMANN: We found the family.
736
01:01:38,444 --> 01:01:42,490
Family's up there in the moraine.
It's the tiny cubs from this winter,
737
01:01:42,615 --> 01:01:45,284
and we are actually really excited
738
01:01:45,368 --> 01:01:49,163
that we have the chance now
to work with them.
739
01:01:49,247 --> 01:01:51,666
Normally, these families
are very skittish,
740
01:01:51,749 --> 01:01:55,795
so we will have to be very patient now.
741
01:02:00,049 --> 01:02:05,221
It's the most difficult thing
to film a mom with COYs.
742
01:02:06,681 --> 01:02:09,392
There's no place to hide on the ice
from a polar bear mom,
743
01:02:09,475 --> 01:02:11,185
she will always see you.
744
01:02:12,854 --> 01:02:14,981
But if you get it right,
745
01:02:15,064 --> 01:02:18,693
if you are in the right place
at the right time,
746
01:02:18,776 --> 01:02:22,029
it's indescribable
what you can experience.
747
01:02:33,708 --> 01:02:37,920
NARRATOR: Just as Rolf is getting
the shots they've all worked so hard for,
748
01:02:38,004 --> 01:02:40,256
everything changes.
749
01:02:42,300 --> 01:02:46,596
We have some fog coming in.
It's coming fast.
750
01:02:48,848 --> 01:02:53,478
It's very frustrating because we know
that our family's out there,
751
01:02:53,561 --> 01:02:56,939
and now, the fog is coming in instead.
752
01:03:00,026 --> 01:03:01,903
And when the fog comes, it's not good,
753
01:03:01,986 --> 01:03:04,489
because then we can't see
the holes in the ice.
754
01:03:07,617 --> 01:03:10,995
NARRATOR: They have no choice
but to head back to the boat
755
01:03:11,078 --> 01:03:14,749
before the fog thickens
and they can't travel safely.
756
01:03:28,054 --> 01:03:31,265
The weather goes from bad to worse.
757
01:03:34,852 --> 01:03:39,982
STROM: The rain's started, and we have had
a pretty heavy rainfall
758
01:03:40,066 --> 01:03:42,860
that has completely changed
the condition on the ice.
759
01:03:42,944 --> 01:03:46,656
We're driving around
on 30 centimeters of water on the ice.
760
01:03:47,114 --> 01:03:49,534
I've never seen changes happening so fast.
761
01:03:52,995 --> 01:03:56,833
What happens is that
all this water is making the ice rot,
762
01:03:56,916 --> 01:04:00,670
and we basically decided that it's
not safe to be out on the ice anymore.
763
01:04:02,755 --> 01:04:06,467
This is not normal rain for the Arctic,
it's kind of scary.
764
01:04:11,055 --> 01:04:13,850
NARRATOR: Snowmobiles are now useless,
765
01:04:14,016 --> 01:04:17,520
and the sea ice
is breaking apart completely.
766
01:04:26,112 --> 01:04:28,447
Time to change the plan again.
767
01:04:29,574 --> 01:04:31,993
WILSON: We've got three bears,
it turns out.
768
01:04:32,785 --> 01:04:37,248
So, hopefully, today will be
a good, fog-free day.
769
01:04:39,375 --> 01:04:40,543
Okay, mate.
770
01:04:41,294 --> 01:04:44,130
NARRATOR: They launch a small boat
called a tender,
771
01:04:44,213 --> 01:04:47,592
perfect for navigating
the broken pieces of ice.
772
01:04:47,884 --> 01:04:49,260
WILSON: It's exciting.
773
01:04:49,343 --> 01:04:52,430
You get a different perspective from
the tender, being lower to the ocean
774
01:04:52,513 --> 01:04:54,599
and closer to the bears.
775
01:04:54,932 --> 01:04:56,559
And off we go.
776
01:05:01,522 --> 01:05:05,610
NARRATOR: The stabilized camera system
is mounted onto the tender.
777
01:05:16,996 --> 01:05:19,206
With so many seals around,
778
01:05:19,290 --> 01:05:23,711
the crew begins to hope
this bear might be on the hunt.
779
01:05:28,883 --> 01:05:33,137
But while the bear can move quickly
and easily through the broken ice,
780
01:05:33,220 --> 01:05:37,016
the team can't,
and they're soon left behind.
781
01:05:40,019 --> 01:05:42,772
FORMAN: The ice is starting to get
a bit thicker in here,
782
01:05:42,855 --> 01:05:47,443
and we're starting to have trouble
just tracking the bear. Over.
783
01:05:50,112 --> 01:05:53,783
Tom, don't be too close.
You will come up a piece of ice
784
01:05:53,866 --> 01:05:55,576
under the boat.
785
01:05:59,622 --> 01:06:00,998
No, no, no!
786
01:06:01,999 --> 01:06:03,876
If they stop, they're in trouble.
787
01:06:04,669 --> 01:06:07,254
We're finally making Jamie
do some hard work.
788
01:06:08,798 --> 01:06:11,384
(LAUGHS)
789
01:06:12,385 --> 01:06:14,512
Seriously, they are completely stuck.
790
01:06:15,554 --> 01:06:17,098
Yeah, just keep on pushing.
791
01:06:17,181 --> 01:06:20,476
Really works.
Yeah, you're doing a great job.
792
01:06:20,559 --> 01:06:21,936
(LAUGHING)
793
01:06:27,900 --> 01:06:31,112
NARRATOR: The team eventually
manages to break free
794
01:06:31,195 --> 01:06:34,031
and catches up with the bear again.
795
01:06:34,323 --> 01:06:37,451
WILSON: Okay. I've got the bear.
I've got the bear. I've got the bear.
796
01:06:39,078 --> 01:06:41,455
(ON RADIO) Vida.
797
01:06:41,539 --> 01:06:42,915
Go ahead, Vida.
798
01:06:43,582 --> 01:06:45,793
VIDA: Do you have eyes
on the bear at the moment?
799
01:06:45,876 --> 01:06:48,379
WILSON: Yeah,
it's on a floe just in front of us.
800
01:06:48,796 --> 01:06:50,464
So we're just gonna hang back a bit
801
01:06:50,548 --> 01:06:53,718
and we're gonna leave the bear
a good distance
802
01:06:53,801 --> 01:06:55,845
until we think maybe it's hunting.
803
01:06:57,096 --> 01:06:59,473
She's seen something or smelt something.
804
01:07:05,730 --> 01:07:07,732
NARRATOR: With the ice broken apart,
805
01:07:07,815 --> 01:07:11,485
a bear can no longer
just sit at an ice hole and wait.
806
01:07:12,319 --> 01:07:15,406
She needs a different hunting technique.
807
01:07:24,123 --> 01:07:27,585
AARS: Polar bears, they frequently
swim in between ice floes,
808
01:07:27,752 --> 01:07:30,504
where it's like broken sea ice,
and jump out of the water
809
01:07:30,588 --> 01:07:32,798
and take the seals,
810
01:07:32,882 --> 01:07:34,467
but it's hard for polar bears.
811
01:07:37,845 --> 01:07:42,099
Of course, conditions have changed,
so it's now often less sea ice,
812
01:07:42,183 --> 01:07:44,226
more open areas.
813
01:07:44,310 --> 01:07:48,564
So this aquatic stalking
is more important.
814
01:07:57,782 --> 01:08:02,286
NARRATOR: Once spotted, the bear
has no hope of outswimming a seal.
815
01:08:05,372 --> 01:08:06,707
WILSON: The seal got away.
816
01:08:07,124 --> 01:08:09,043
Oh, bear.
817
01:08:10,044 --> 01:08:14,131
NARRATOR: This technique
relies on pure stealth.
818
01:08:16,050 --> 01:08:18,677
WILSON: Go super slow. It's nice.
819
01:08:35,111 --> 01:08:37,905
It's really hard to pick
where he's gonna come up.
820
01:08:53,796 --> 01:08:55,965
NARRATOR: It's thought
that only some polar bears
821
01:08:56,048 --> 01:08:58,092
know how to hunt like this.
822
01:08:58,425 --> 01:09:03,597
But mastering this technique
may become a crucial skill for survival.
823
01:09:19,905 --> 01:09:25,911
SOKGSETH: The sea ice prediction
is not so good. I think it will disappear.
824
01:09:28,956 --> 01:09:33,836
It is already disappeared on the
western side of Svalbard in many fjords,
825
01:09:34,086 --> 01:09:37,506
but with the continuing rising
of the temperature,
826
01:09:37,590 --> 01:09:40,384
the sea ice will be reduced more and more,
827
01:09:40,467 --> 01:09:44,471
and in the end, it will not be cold enough
to produce sea ice.
828
01:09:46,098 --> 01:09:52,688
In 30 years, it can be a reality
that sea ice, in Svalbard, at least,
829
01:09:52,771 --> 01:09:54,315
is just history.
830
01:09:56,984 --> 01:10:01,071
AARS: If sea ice continues to disappear,
831
01:10:01,197 --> 01:10:05,659
it's likely that the polar bears
will decline quite significant in numbers.
832
01:10:19,048 --> 01:10:23,302
NARRATOR: Polar bears are being forced
on to land earlier and earlier.
833
01:10:24,595 --> 01:10:27,640
And there, these remarkable animals
834
01:10:27,723 --> 01:10:30,643
are learning to find
other sources of food.
835
01:10:31,936 --> 01:10:35,189
AARS: Polar bears change behavior,
they can do that quite fast.
836
01:10:36,148 --> 01:10:38,817
They're curious, they try to look
for other opportunities
837
01:10:38,901 --> 01:10:41,237
to find food if conditions change.
838
01:10:42,071 --> 01:10:45,491
So, what we see is
they use more time on land.
839
01:10:46,742 --> 01:10:49,411
We see they plunder more bird nests.
840
01:10:50,871 --> 01:10:54,291
We have seen that
much more often polar bears
841
01:10:54,375 --> 01:10:56,418
hunt and take reindeer.
842
01:10:57,836 --> 01:11:01,715
I have a lot of respect for the bears
and how able they are to survive,
843
01:11:01,840 --> 01:11:05,052
and it's very nice to see
their ability to adapt.
844
01:11:06,929 --> 01:11:11,517
NARRATOR: This adaptability is likely
to be the polar bear's greatest strength
845
01:11:11,600 --> 01:11:14,728
in coping with our changing climate.
846
01:11:16,063 --> 01:11:20,067
So when the Disneynature team
discovers a buffet of blubber,
847
01:11:20,567 --> 01:11:23,529
they know
it's worth getting ready to film.
848
01:11:26,740 --> 01:11:30,327
Because polar bears
will come from far and wide
849
01:11:30,494 --> 01:11:32,913
to take advantage of the feast.
850
01:11:44,300 --> 01:11:50,055
With over 100 million calories on offer,
there's plenty to go around.
851
01:11:51,724 --> 01:11:56,103
There's this massive, what we now know
is a sperm whale carcass,
852
01:11:56,854 --> 01:11:59,773
that I think at the most so far
it's had five bears on it
853
01:11:59,857 --> 01:12:05,529
at the same time, just chowing down
on lovely, yummy, rotting whale flesh.
854
01:12:06,739 --> 01:12:09,199
It's pretty cool until you get
downwind of the whale.
855
01:12:09,283 --> 01:12:11,577
But, yeah, it's been an amazing morning.
856
01:12:14,705 --> 01:12:18,459
One of things that you have with bears
when you have a whale carcass
857
01:12:19,084 --> 01:12:21,503
is that because they're so well-fed,
858
01:12:21,587 --> 01:12:24,840
and they don't need
to keep searching for their food,
859
01:12:24,923 --> 01:12:27,968
they get a chance to actually interact
with other bears in a manner
860
01:12:28,052 --> 01:12:29,970
which is non-aggressive.
861
01:12:30,387 --> 01:12:34,558
Most of the bigger, older males
will just sleep and tolerate each other,
862
01:12:34,641 --> 01:12:39,104
but the younger bears will interact
and they sort of learn off each other,
863
01:12:39,605 --> 01:12:42,566
which leads to some
great interactions for us to film.
864
01:12:45,444 --> 01:12:47,571
They've all had a feed,
and now we're watching
865
01:12:47,654 --> 01:12:53,786
three young adults sort of sparring,
chasing each other, sizing each other up.
866
01:12:53,869 --> 01:12:55,913
There's no malice in what they're doing.
867
01:12:56,497 --> 01:12:59,583
I think they're just learning
how to be adult bears.
868
01:13:05,089 --> 01:13:09,385
WILSON: There's a set of cubs that have
been on the island since we got here,
869
01:13:10,052 --> 01:13:12,221
and they're really our stars.
870
01:13:12,304 --> 01:13:14,681
They play,
they have a big fight in the water,
871
01:13:14,765 --> 01:13:18,477
they have a big fight on land,
and their mom's really good at...
872
01:13:18,560 --> 01:13:20,813
I think she's training them,
kind of Rocky style,
873
01:13:20,979 --> 01:13:24,733
in how to be fighting bears
because she joins in.
874
01:13:24,817 --> 01:13:27,778
But, yeah, she's really
putting them through their paces.
875
01:13:29,029 --> 01:13:32,074
They play more than any other animal
I've ever come across
876
01:13:32,157 --> 01:13:34,076
in 20 years of making wildlife films.
877
01:13:34,159 --> 01:13:37,371
These bears probably play
six or seven hours a day.
878
01:13:59,017 --> 01:14:02,646
NARRATOR: Even more bears arrive,
keen to join in.
879
01:14:03,355 --> 01:14:06,775
STROM: (WHISPERING) These two guys
just came straight up to our two cubs.
880
01:14:08,652 --> 01:14:10,279
They don't seem hostile.
881
01:14:10,988 --> 01:14:14,491
So we might see that
they start playing with each other.
882
01:14:14,825 --> 01:14:17,035
Here we go.
883
01:14:24,251 --> 01:14:27,671
Unbelievably, they've decided
to hook up and play
884
01:14:27,754 --> 01:14:29,965
with the other two pairs of cubs.
885
01:14:34,636 --> 01:14:38,390
I've never seen anything like this before,
up close.
886
01:14:38,474 --> 01:14:41,894
There's four bears
that are super relaxed with us.
887
01:14:47,149 --> 01:14:50,360
This is super cool, it's very unusual.
888
01:14:56,950 --> 01:14:58,619
Yeah!
889
01:14:58,702 --> 01:15:02,623
NARRATOR: Capturing such a unique moment
is a high point for the crew.
890
01:15:02,706 --> 01:15:06,126
But with the story of young cubs
still incomplete,
891
01:15:06,210 --> 01:15:08,795
they're desperate for one more chance.
892
01:15:10,422 --> 01:15:12,883
WILSON: We've got sun and we've got seals,
893
01:15:12,966 --> 01:15:18,096
but that elusive mother and cubs, though,
still no sign.
894
01:15:19,264 --> 01:15:23,560
NARRATOR: Finally, all their resilience
and hard work pay off.
895
01:15:25,229 --> 01:15:29,274
The crew spots a mother
with a cub born this year.
896
01:15:31,777 --> 01:15:33,779
NARRATOR: They immediately
launch the tender,
897
01:15:34,071 --> 01:15:36,532
hoping this is their moment.
898
01:15:42,204 --> 01:15:45,332
(ON RADIO) Am I heading straight for it,
or is it on our starboard side?
899
01:15:46,917 --> 01:15:50,003
FORMAN: It's on your starboard side.
STROM: Perfect. Thank you.
900
01:16:03,225 --> 01:16:06,353
STROM: We've been trying to find a family
with cubs of the year,
901
01:16:06,645 --> 01:16:09,565
and we've been trying to find them
with snowmobiles,
902
01:16:09,731 --> 01:16:13,193
we've been out scouting 24 hours,
we have been unlucky with fog,
903
01:16:13,277 --> 01:16:16,238
we have been unlucky
with too much wind, storms, everything.
904
01:16:16,697 --> 01:16:18,282
Today, everything comes together,
905
01:16:18,365 --> 01:16:20,951
and we found a family
with one cub of the year.
906
01:16:21,034 --> 01:16:23,870
We just spent about two hours with her
in beautiful light,
907
01:16:23,954 --> 01:16:26,623
in beautiful ice, perfect conditions.
908
01:16:26,707 --> 01:16:29,710
And that's just the way
wildlife filming works, you know?
909
01:16:30,002 --> 01:16:31,920
You have a lot of things against you,
910
01:16:32,004 --> 01:16:34,590
and, one day, everything
just happens to come together.
911
01:16:35,340 --> 01:16:39,553
NARRATOR: It's a perfect end to filming
for the Disneynature team.
912
01:16:44,891 --> 01:16:50,564
STEINMANN: The experience of filming
the bears have changed my life,
913
01:16:50,814 --> 01:16:54,234
and they have changed my life
to the better.
914
01:16:55,527 --> 01:17:01,491
What is so magical about it is you get
the opportunity at this day and age
915
01:17:01,575 --> 01:17:04,411
to capture something that
people have never seen before.
916
01:17:20,677 --> 01:17:24,931
NARRATOR: But having seen and experienced
Svalbard's changes,
917
01:17:25,015 --> 01:17:30,145
it's impossible not to wonder what
the future holds for this young family.
918
01:17:31,355 --> 01:17:34,107
SOKGSETH: My biggest concern
for Arctic species,
919
01:17:34,232 --> 01:17:36,902
in the future, in Svalbard,
920
01:17:36,985 --> 01:17:42,532
is that they will not manage to adapt
fast enough to the climate changes,
921
01:17:42,616 --> 01:17:44,201
which are very rapid.
922
01:17:48,622 --> 01:17:51,625
STEINMANN: When you see this,
you really ask yourself,
923
01:17:51,708 --> 01:17:58,173
"How can we allow this to happen,
that we lose this indescribable beauty?"
924
01:18:04,888 --> 01:18:08,141
If there is a time coming
where these bears
925
01:18:08,225 --> 01:18:13,188
don't roam the Arctic anymore,
I think we lose so much.
926
01:18:18,193 --> 01:18:22,823
All it needs now is a commitment,
and we can turn it around.
927
01:18:24,366 --> 01:18:27,661
And the time for that commitment
is right now.