1 DRAMATIC MUSIC Captions by Jean Teng. Edited by Tracey Dawson. www.able.co.nz Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Copyright Able 2016 DOLPHIN TRILLS Nearly 500km beyond NZ's southernmost extremity lie the remote, rugged Auckland Islands. There are a number of islands in this archipelago, including Auckland, Enderby, Adams, and Disappointment. DRAMATIC MUSIC SWELLS These are the ancient remains of two 12-million-year-old volcanoes. They form the largest land mass in the subantarctic island chain. The elements dictate everything down here. WIND HOWLS The islands seem desolate and barren. But during the brief southern summer, forests of rata and bizarre megaherbs symbolise the explosion of new life that takes place every year. But during this time of creating life, infants could be at risk of losing theirs. SEA LIONS WAIL Danger on the beaches... (BARKS) ...will force year-long residents to unite. And the sea-floor will erupt in an orgy of violence and cannibalism. FAST-PACED DRAMATIC MUSIC All during a massive gathering of one of the rarest marine mammals on the planet. EERIE MUSIC It's late spring on an early November morning, and this beach on Enderby Island is about to get crowded. NZ sea lions haul out for their annual breeding season. Once common all around mainland NZ, these sea lions now have the same threat ranking as tigers and giant panda. A group of adult males ` all displaying their huge, hairy-maned necks ` have sat on this beach for several weeks, waiting in anticipation for females to appear. SEA LION BARKS (YAWNS) So far the only action has been from the subadult males, nicknamed sammies by researchers who've studied them. (BARKS) These 4- to 5-year-old males are sexually mature, but they've a long way to go before they can challenge for the right to mate. In the meantime, they entertain themselves by harassing each other. SEA LIONS BARK These two massive males have staked their claim as the dominant beach masters. But for the next eight weeks, all adult males have to constantly prove themselves or lose their patch of sand. (BARKS) SLOW, TENSE MUSIC As sea lion males try to contain their raging hormones, all over the Auckland Islands, love is literally in the air, as seabirds return home. LYRICAL PIANO MUSIC BIRDS CALL Auckland Island shags court at their ancestral colony above ancient basalt cliffs. Their bright red wattles and brand new Mohawks indicate they're ready to mate. CURIOUS MUSIC Nest-building is the priority. And the experienced birds know which materials are most effective. This shag is likely a first-timer. And he hasn't quite figured it all out. CURIOUS MUSIC CONTINUES A year-round resident on Enderby Island makes his way ashore. Yellow-eyed penguins are amongst the rarest on the planet, and up to 1400 of them live here. From late November, they have to share their beach. So every approach means running a gauntlet of bored, frustrated and hungry sea lion males. (BARKS) SLOW, TENSE MUSIC SEA LIONS BARK, PENGUIN CALLS SOFT ACOUSTIC MUSIC This morning, a young male is in a rush because back at his nest, his mate has a surprise for him. (CHIRPS) Just five weeks ago, these two penguins were courting. PENGUINS CHIRP And now the female sits on two eggs. The male picks up a gift, which he presents to his mate. PENGUINS CHIRP SHRILLY He then takes over egg duty. UPBEAT MUSIC And now it's his mate's turn to begin her journey back to the sea to hunt. UPBEAT MUSIC CONTINUES It's a 20-minute walk on penguin legs. But nowhere on Enderby Island is far from the sea. The female will swim up to 25km offshore to find her fish and squid meal. DRAMATIC MUSIC In the underwater world here, fish are surprisingly absent from the shallows. The water can be so turbulent, paua shells are sandblasted clean. Canyons and boulders are festooned with simple life forms, from strange sponges to starfish; barnacles the size of a teacup. And the pipefish, specially adapted to blend in with bull kelp. The sandy floor seems lifeless, but tiny burrows pockmark the lunar-like surface,... QUIRKY MUSIC ...each home to a mantis shrimp. These little crustaceans are ambush experts, with claws that strike at high speed. Their prey will never know what hit them. With independently swivelling eyes which miss nothing, the mantis shrimp is a predator to avoid ` FAST-PACED, TENSE MUSIC unless you happen to be much, much bigger. MUSIC INTENSIFIES The giant spider crab can be a metre across from claw tip to claw tip. These crabs are the advance party of a congregation on its way to Waterfall Inlet, south of Enderby Island. They are gathering for the same reasons as those on land. It's time to breed. TENSE MUSIC SWELLS TRANQUIL MUSIC It's a mystery how long these crabs can live. But the oldest ones are identified by relatively clean shells. Males have marched here from the deep ocean, where no seaweed grows. Those which wear ornate headdresses are likely females, which live in shallow water. In spite of their fearsome appearance, the giant spider crab's claws are capable of the most delicate touch,... such as removing a growth from an eye. This female is close to releasing eggs she has carried since the last breeding season. Tenderly, her lethal claws explore her eggs, and she can pick out those that are diseased or infertile. As always in nature, nothing is wasted. (CRUNCHES SOFTLY) WIND BLOWS, BIRDS CALL Up in the rata forest, two much larger eggs are being inspected with equal tenderness. GENTLE MUSIC The yellow-eyed penguin chicks have begun their journey to the outside world. Their mother has hunted well. But now she must navigate the wall of teeth waiting on the beach. SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC Suddenly, the male sea lions are distracted. SEA LIONS ROAR The first female sea lion makes her way to shore,... MUSIC CONTINUES ...and a mob of males attack. SEA LIONS ROAR AND GROWL You might only drive short distances to work each day. You might not drive your car to work at all. You might park securely at work. Or these days, everybody travels to you. Maybe you only do school runs. Or you work from home, so drive mostly on the weekend. At Youi, we get that everyone's not the same, so we tailor your insurance premium to how you use or don't use your car. Call: Or go to youi.co.nz today. 1 On the beach at Enderby Island, one of the first females has arrived. SEA LIONS ROAR And the beach masters mob her. GROWLING, ROARING But another female is close behind, which provides a diversion. So the first female can sprint to safety. More and more females arrive. They've all been hunting at sea for months. But now their biological clocks have compelled them to return to where they were born. Soon the beach is crowded. And the dominant males stake their claims as to which females will be guarded on their patch of sand. (BARKS) Now it's time for this years pups to be born. Soon after delivering their pups, the females will be ready to mate again. BIRD SQUAWKS Watched by a hungry skua, this female appears to be in trouble. SEA LION CALLS Her pup is delivered, but it's stuck in the membrane. If it can't get free, it will suffocate. UNSETTLING MUSIC MUSIC BECOMES GENTLE Finally, mother and pup get to bond. PUP TRILLS In this moment, the pair memorise each others smell and sounds to help them find each other in the increasing numbers of the colony. BIRD CALLS In the rata forest above the beach, the first chick is almost out of its egg. CHICK CHIRPS And the second won't be far behind. (CHITTERS) (SINGS) This new dad has no food left in his belly to share with newly hatched chicks. (SINGS) And his mate is overdue from her fishing trip. SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC Down on the beach, the Enderby yellow-eyed penguins fine-tune their navigation through the crowded colony. SEA LIONS BARK Sea lions have been known to pick off penguins that are too slow ` or just unlucky. This penguin could've lost its leg to a shark. Or it could've been a hungry sea lion. Despite his disability, this penguin is a survivor. Today, fortune decrees the yellow-eyed penguin female will feed her offspring for the first time. LIGHT-HEARTED MUSIC As the returning parent inspects the nest, her mate serenades her with the greeting ritual. (CHITTERS, SINGS) (TRILLS) She takes her place on top of the hatching chicks. And now it's the male's turn to go to sea. Penguins always take the same route from the nest. And today... there's an obstacle in his path. CLATTERING No match for this creature of habit. QUIRKY MUSIC Yellow-eyed penguins are not generally social, but at this time of year there's good reason to gather. SEA LIONS ROAR With hundreds of sea lions now on the beach, the neighbours form a walking bus to navigate the minefield of teeth. TENSE MUSIC BUILDS SEA LIONS HUFF AND CALL QUIRKY, TENSE MUSIC (TRILLS) WIND HOWLS, BIRDS CALL To the west of Auckland Island, the cliffs of Disappointment Island are speckled with thousands of nesting white-capped mollymawks. All these birds are commencing the courtship rituals they're famous for as they prepare for their summer of love. MAJESTIC MUSIC In the Enderby highlands, a southern royal albatross couple tenderly begins their process. They've been apart for almost a year, cruising the Southern Ocean, and will have returned here, probably within an hour of each other, to begin this familiar dance again. ALBATROSSES SQUAWK, CHATTER A short distance away, juvenile males also practise the intricacies of courtship... ALBATROSSES SQUAWK, CHATTER ...on each other. SQUAWKING, CHATTERING CONTINUES This behaviour is known as a gam. It's a rehearsal, but also designed to make a favourable impression on any female in the area. SQUAWKING, CHATTERING CONTINUES Each sky call, bill clap, head shake and wing stretch is loaded with hope. But gamming's as good as it gets for these boys ` for now. RELAXED GUITAR MUSIC WIND WHISTLES Nearby, young Auckland Island giant petrels have their own version of a gam routine. PETRELS SQUAWK, CROAK When it's time to move on, a 2m wingspan can be a liability. But these birds are expert at the cramped runway taxi. SEA LIONS ROAR, BIRDS SQUAWK Down on Enderby beach, the bull sea lions are increasingly impatient as the females continue to deliver their pups. Urged on by surging hormones, this huge beach master will not wait any longer. The mother of the pup which nearly suffocated at birth calls her to infant. SEA LION BARKS But there's nothing she can do to shift a 400kg mountain of flesh. SQUEALING, BULL SEA LION PANTS 1 On an Enderby Island beach,... SEA LION BARKS ...a sea lion pup is trapped beneath 400kg of bull sea lion. DRAMATIC MUSIC BULL SEA LION PANTS It's the beach master's urge to mate which saves the pup's life. This pup has survived suffocation and crushing, all in his first three days of life. His mother allows him to suckle, and harmony is restored. GENTLE MUSIC The rules of each beach master's harem dictate that he can hold up to 25 females on his patch of sand. DRAMATIC MUSIC But rules are made to be broken. BULLS HISS, GROWL EMOTIVE STRING MUSIC Survival on the sea-floor around the Auckland Islands is all about blending in. This is truly the kingdom of crustaceans. And each species has its own strategy to stay hidden ` some with more success than others. The apex crab species, however, has little need for invisibility down here, especially with numbers multiplying by the hour, stirring the sea-floor into a sand soup. Males and females have different dining habits. She digs deep for any organic detritus,... using sensory feet to inspect holes in the sand. This is far from ideal for the mantis shrimp, which is sometimes evicted from its home. JAUNTY MUSIC Males prefer food straight from the shell, and often choose to dine privately. But he is not alone. Munida are a type of squat lobster. They're a small but annoying fact of life for a giant spider crab and gather like gulls around a fish-and-chip parcel. But their role as cleaners on the sea-floor is indispensable. WATER LAPS Up on the beach, the big male sea lions go about their duties with diligence. The sammies are bored. And as with many youngsters, this means trouble. One larrikin targets a beach master on the job,... while another sammy finds himself in the middle of one of the harems... SEA LIONS HUFF, ROAR ...and attempts to charge his way out. JAUNTY MUSIC And then there's the 'chase a female into the water' game. Once underwater, gender discrimination is forgotten as both males and females have chases, races and games of peek-a-boo. Bubble battles are popular with males as practice for when they will take their turn dominating on the beach. BIRDSONG All around Auckland and Enderby Islands, new parents nurture their offspring and provide the necessities of life. CHIRPING, SQUAWKING Up in the rata forest, nourished by daily top-ups, the yellow-eyed penguin chicks are fattening up. CHICKS CHIRP It's a simple yet unrelenting process. BIRDS CALL, SEA LIONS HUFF On the beach, some females are still giving birth. Labour usually lasts around an hour. And this is a textbook delivery. As the new mum begins to bond with her infant, one of her neighbours appears very interested. She then does something extraordinary. (SQUEALS) (BARKS) 1 In one of the harems on Enderby beach, a female sea lion has inexplicably stolen a newborn pup from its mother. (SQUEALS) (BARKS) DRAMATIC MUSIC The kidnapper blocks the mother from contact with the newborn. And then the kidnapper's own pup is caught up in the chaos. Both females are now totally confused. The beach master arrives and gives the wronged female a nip on her face. BARKING, GROWLING And the pups are well and truly mixed up. The new mum knows this one isn't hers. (GROANS) Finally she recognises the scent of her infant. SOFT PIANO MUSIC And the baby can suckle for the first time. In the next-door harem, the females appear relaxed as their male keeps a close eye on them. TENSE MUSIC But something is up. It's as if a secret signal is being passed around. Females must feed regularly to provide milk for their pups. But the beach masters blockade any attempts to go to sea. These females, however, have a plan. TENSE MUSIC BIRDSONG PEACEFUL MUSIC It's high summer now in the Auckland Islands, with daytime temperatures reaching 15 degrees Celsius. Pups hang out in a creche while parents take time out. Other adults still find time for precious bonding moments, which ensures their chicks have the best care. The yellow-eyed penguin chicks are now so big their dad has difficulties keeping them cosy. Both parents used to lie on top of the chicks to protect them. Now he has a new technique. UNSETTLING MUSIC (CAWS) Down on the beach, a female sea lion appears injured. Her wounds have bled out, and she's dying. (MOANS) Great white sharks patrol just offshore, attracted by the activity at this time of year. It's thought they swim from Stewart Island down to subantarctic waters. UNSETTLING MUSIC CONTINUES One in five sea lion females return from hunting with the unmistakable marks of attack. Many of these horrific wounds will heal. But some won't survive the trauma inflicted by the giant predators. DRAMATIC MUSIC Night falls on Enderby Island. And as the beach becomes silent, the waters offshore come alive. Numbers of the giant spider crabs have reached a tipping point. And now, as if responding to an invisible signal, crabs pile on top of each other. It's a scene out of nightmares. One of the most mysterious rituals in the animal kingdom is about to begin. 1 It's early morning in Waterfall Inlet. And the climax of the giant spider crabs' annual migration has arrived. SLOW, TENSE MUSIC After weeks of walking, feeding and sparring, the crabs form mounds under the kelp beds, where they will moult. In the mounds, they are protected from predators while their soft bodies are exposed. TENSE, ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC But there's more to this ritual. Once the mature females lose their shells, they are ready to mate. The biggest males don't moult any more, so they gather, waiting for the females to leave the mounds. FAST-PACED TENSE MUSIC The sea-floor erupts in a frenzy of sex and violence. One female is wounded. The scent of her flesh fills the water. So her potential mate begins to eat her alive. SINISTER MUSIC Others join the orgy of cannibalism,... while the huge male drags his female away to a more private spot, where he can eat her in peace. RELAXING MUSIC Summer draws to a close in this subantarctic wilderness. This year's youngsters grow more independent by the day, well equipped now to survive their first year. (CHIRPS) On Enderby beach, the harems break up. Soon the males will drift away back to sea to hunt. But the females still have the task of encouraging their pups out of their piles... and into the water to learn to swim. WATER SPLASHES In a shallow, muddy pool above the beach, the first taste of life as a marine mammal begins. One pup is unsure. He's the one who survived suffocation and crushing in his first days of life. He must learn this lesson or risk being left behind. LIGHT-HEARTED MUSIC Up in the rata forest, two fat yellow-eyed penguin chicks are now big enough to be left alone... as their parents embark on a journey their chicks will soon have to learn. Yellow-eyed penguins are believed to target fish on the ocean floor. But today, a rare phenomenon unfolds in sunlit surface waters. A school of baitfish materialises. And penguins start to herd them into a classic bait ball. This is the first time yellow-eyed penguins have ever been filmed hunting collectively. In these sparse fishing grounds, it seems the penguins have learned to take advantage of any opportunity which provides extra food. BIRDS CALL WAVES CRASH GENTLY On the beach, a mother patiently tries to coax her reluctant pup into the water. SOFT PIANO MUSIC She demonstrates what fun this can be. But he's still uncertain. Finally, she takes him on to a rock platform. The kelp looks solid, and his confidence grows. TRIUMPHANT MUSIC Now it's only a mater of time before this young Auckland Islander will join his tribe in the subantarctic waters of this big blue backyard.