Life in the Snow Page #4

Over time, this could

make the bison ill.

But, right now,

this is the lifeline they need.

Knowing every secret

in the landscape

can make all the difference

to surviving in the snow.

And some animals take using thermal

springs to a whole new level.

In these heated pools,

Japanese macaques take refuge from

the freezing winter temperatures.

The water

is a steamy 41 degrees Celsius.

It's not just

a chance to keep warm, though,

it's also an opportunity

for the group to socialise.

But this spa is exclusive.

Only the elite of macaque society

are permitted entry.

The rest are left on the sidelines

to look for other distractions.

Even the less privileged monkeys

are lucky,

compared to those animals

that live in the coldest

and most extreme place

on the planet.

On the day like this

in the mountains,

the temperature is about

minus 1, minus 2.

On a different day

with a bit of wind chill,

you're talking about

minus 20, minus 30.

But, if you want it colder

than that,

if you want the coldest ever

recorded temperature,

you have to go to Antarctica.

Recorded by satellite in 2010,

the temperature hit a mind-blowing

minus 94.7 degrees Celsius.

The average temperature at the

South Pole is minus 50 degrees.

Winds have been known

to reach nearly 200mph.

Much of the land is surrounded

by permanent sea ice.

Which means the animals that live

here have developed some of the most

amazing survival strategies

in the natural world.

Harsh as it is up top, in the water,

temperatures remain about

minus 2 degrees all year round.

This eerily beautiful world

is where Weddell seals

spend much of their lives.

They live closer to the South Pole

than any other mammal.

Feeding on fish underneath the ice.

Surely this is a potential problem

for an air breathing mammal?

Well, there are some natural holes,

cracks and openings

in the constantly moving sea ice.

And that's where the seals'

remarkable adaptations come in.

They can hold their breath

for over an hour,

swimming far and wide

in search of the next air hole.

They've also developed

a kind of sonar.

Listening to the minute differences

in the echoes

from this peculiar call,

they can detect gaps in the ice.

But, most amazing of all is how they

stop a hole from freezing over

in these sub-zero temperatures.

Weddell seals have large, strong,

and protruding teeth.

They use them to rasp away

at the ice.

It takes extraordinary effort,

but it keeps their precious

breathing holes open.

Going to these lengths

is the only way to survive

in extreme places like this.

Our final group of animals

can face up to the elements

like no other -

the Antarctic penguins.

Under their skin, penguins

have a thick layer of blubber

to keep them warm.

And it gives them

that distinctive rotund shape.

To save time and energy, they take

advantage of the ice to get about.

Even their waddle

is energy efficient.

And, on top of all of this is

their most fortifying of features -

feathers.

Penguins may not be able to fly,

but they do have a lot of feathers,

and it's thought that penguins

have more insulating feathers

than any other bird,

and I've got some here.

Just look at them.

These are from an emperor penguin,

a species that has to endure

bitterly cold Antarctic conditions,

and it is a masterpiece.

At the base, it's incredibly

downy and fluffy.

The quill part is stiff,

the end is slick.

This is the waterproof part.

And on the bird,

these feathers interlock.

The outside is waterproof.

It creates a waterproof seal

and underneath is an air void,

full of these downy feathers.

This is an incredibly sophisticated

form of insulation.

When it comes to a life in the snow,

the emperor penguin

really does deserve its name.

They're able to live further south

than any other penguin.

For three months each year,

the males remain out on the ice

whilst their partners go fishing.

They face temperatures of minus 50

and winds that can exceed 100mph,

all to achieve

one extraordinary thing.

In a place with no shelter,

no materials to build a nest,

and where everything

is frozen solid,

he is responsible for

bringing up the next generation.

Balanced on his feet, the closest

part of his body to the ice,

he's protecting

his most precious possession,

an egg.

In a specially adapted pouch,

the egg is kept

at 38 degrees above freezing.

But it's not just about keeping his

egg warm and off the frozen ground.

To survive,

the penguins must stick together.

They move in and out of formation

with the other expectant

fathers to keep warm.

Then, one magical day,

the hard work pays off,

and he receives the ultimate gift.

A brand-new baby penguin...

..to show off proudly when

Mum returns home from fishing.

Whether a parent or a baby,

nature's winter wonderlands

are demanding places to live.

Yet, as we've seen,

our animals are more than up to it.

They've come up with

extraordinary ways to survive,

and even thrive.

For me, these animals are some of

the most impressive on our planet.

They've overcome every challenge

to each lead

a remarkable life in the snow.

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