Clips
-
Humpback whales in Hawaii
Perhaps the most dramatic behaviour we were to film for the Ocean Giants series was the competitive mating groups of humpback whales. We teamed up with the Hawaii Whale Research Foundation and, with the help of head scientist Dr Dan R. Salden, our underwater cameraman, Didier Noirot, was granted unique access to the mating whales close up. Dodging tail swipes and charging forty ton bulls, how did Didier fare?
Watch Didier Noirot filming a humpback whale fight
We were granted access to film the whales under the authority of National Marine Fisheries Service Permit No. 5871767-01.
Image taken by Ellen Husain -
Southern Right Whales in Patagonia
Having survived the battling humpback giants, Didier went on to film the intimate mating antics of a far larger Ocean Giant - the colossal southern right whale in Patagonia, Argentina.
Watch Didier capturing intimate moments of the Southern right whale
He joined The Right Whale Program, the longest continuous study of whales of its kind, and worked alongside its Scientific Director, Dr Marianno Sironi, who is studying their mating behaviours. And they are extreme. These whales boast giant genitalia - the bulls have a pair of testicles weighing over a ton! Rather than aggressive these whales are super-friendly, a problem in itself when you are eight hundred times smaller and at risk from being crushed.
Image taken by Corinne Lelong -
Killer Whales in Monterey Bay, California
Doug Allan joined top killer whale scientist John Durban in Monterey Bay, California, to try and record the impact of killer whales on migrating grey whale calves. Filming during their research, they were able to tag the killer whales just as they made their kill.
Watch killer whales being tagged
Filming was authorized by the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, permit 782-1719-09.
Image taken by Mark Brownlow -
Blue whale feeding, Mexico
The largest creature in the ocean feeds almost exclusively on one of the smallest - krill. In one massive gulp a blue whale can filter through its own body weight in water.
See how a blue whale feeds
Image taken by Doc White
Credits
- Executive Producer
- Sara Ford
- Series Producer
- Mark Brownlow
- Series Producer
- Phil Chapman
- Narrator
- Stephen Fry
