Wildlife
On the menu
Curiosity can be a risky business around the world's largest land carnivore.
When it comes to members of the bear family, aggression is often greatly exaggerated - except in the case of polar bears. They are one of the few predators on Earth that will actively hunt humans for food, so film crews need to have their wits about them if they're to witness the softer side of the arctic's supreme predator.
Wary walruses
The walruses must be wary of the large numbers of polar bears gathering on the beaches.
The walruses must be wary of the large numbers of polar bears gathering on the beaches.
First day out
As the weather warms, polar bears emerge from their winter dens.
As the weather warms, polar bears emerge from their winter dens.
Bleak future
Polar bear cubs are more affected by the increase in melting sea ice than the adults.
Polar bear cubs are more affected by the increase in melting sea ice than the adults.
Polar bear darting
David Attenborough joins a team in Svalbard to give a polar bear a health check.
David Attenborough joins a team in Svalbard to give a polar bear a health check.
Vegetarian bears
Polar bears can't afford to be picky eaters during the summer months.
Polar bears can't afford to be picky eaters during the summer months.
Ice rub
Ice absorbs water like a towel, perfect for a wet polar bear.
Ice absorbs water like a towel, perfect for a wet polar bear.
Swimming lessons
Polar bear cubs are reluctant swimmers at first.
Polar bear cubs are reluctant swimmers at first.
Naughty corner
Playful cubs make hunting a real challenge.
Playful cubs make hunting a real challenge.
New family
A mother and three young cubs emerge at the first sign of spring.
A mother and three young cubs emerge at the first sign of spring.
Coming out
After months inside a cramped den, a mother and cubs emerge to face the world.
After months inside a cramped den, a mother and cubs emerge to face the world.
Swimming polar bears
As the polar ice melts, polar bears are forced into the water to get to land.
As the polar ice melts, polar bears are forced into the water to get to land.
Searching for a mate
Intimate moments for a polar bear and his mate.
Intimate moments for a polar bear and his mate.
Bear alert
Ringed seals become ultra-wary when polar bears haul out on to the ice.
Ringed seals become ultra-wary when polar bears haul out on to the ice.
Polar bear life
Winter life in the frozen Arctic for the world's largest carnivore.
The polar bear is the largest living land carnivore, with adult males growing up to 2.6 metres in length.
Searching for seals
After a five month fast, a polar bear mother must eat to ensure her cubs' milk supply.
After a five month fast, a polar bear mother must eat to ensure her cubs' milk supply.
Polar bear airlift
A hungry polar bear is helicoptered out of a Canadian town after wandering in for food.
After wandering into town on its way back to hunt on the sea ice of Hudson Bay, a hungry polar bear is helicoptered a safe distance away from the Canadian settlement of Churchill.
Clever Polar Bear Stalks Seal
A polar bear cleverly creeps up on an unsuspecting seal.
Gripping footage showing an intelligent polar bear carefully stalking a seal in the hope of making it his next meal.
Wild Polar Bears Playing Football!
The wild polar bears of Svalbard play football!
The polar bears of Svalbard take a break from their meal to have a game of football with the snowball cam!
Bear whiteout
Extreme blizzards are no problem for a polar bear.
Extreme blizzards are no problem for a polar bear.
Caring, sharing bears
Good seal hunting amongst the brash ice brings polar bears together.
Good seal hunting amongst the brash ice brings polar bears together.
Bare bones
Deep in the bowels of a cave lies evidence that polar bears once roamed the Scottish Highlands.
Deep in the bowels of a cave lies evidence that polar bears once roamed the Scottish Highlands.
Grass-eating polar bears
The polar bears of Hudson Bay wait for the sea ice to return.
As the polar bears of Hudson Bay wait for the sea ice to return, the Frozen PLanet crew catch some surprising behaviour on film.
Polar bear walrus hunt
Male polar bears take on ever more deadly adversaries as their hunting fields diminish.
It took two years and three shoots to bag new perspectives on the obviously high-risk hunting strategies of polar bears. The effort paid off when this desperately hungry male polar bear, followed on his epic swim in search of food, was observed trying to predate fully grown adult walruses. Usually they would go after cubs, but increasingly desperate polar conditions are pushing them to ever more ambitious attacks.
Polar bear cubs
Filmed emerging from their den two years before, the cubs are now independent.
Situated in the middle of the highest density of polar bears anywhere, the crew's base hut was an unfortunate focus of attention for hungry males. At a more comfortable distance from the subject, the long lens capability of the HD heligimbal camera system allowed incredible scope for continuous transition between close up and wide shots without disturbing the bears.
Polar bear swim
Climate change forces hungry males to strike out ever further into the sea.
With no ground access for the camera crew on the breaking ice, the HD heligimbal aerial camera system really came into its own. The powerful HJ40 lens allows fantastic close ups from high above, pulling out to grand scale wide shots that illustrate the huge distances covered by the bear. Filming from so far above, the bear is wholly undisturbed.
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