1 00:00:32,247 --> 00:00:34,238 In this, the first of an annual event... 2 00:00:34,407 --> 00:00:36,796 the BBC Natural History Unit... 3 00:00:36,967 --> 00:00:40,801 will push back the frontiers of wildlife filming. 4 00:00:40,967 --> 00:00:42,320 In this first programme... 5 00:00:42,487 --> 00:00:45,399 by combining the most up-to-date filming techniques... 6 00:00:45,567 --> 00:00:47,683 with the most recent scientific knowledge... 7 00:00:47,847 --> 00:00:50,202 we will reveal something of the life... 8 00:00:50,367 --> 00:00:54,645 of one of the least known and most awe-inspiring creatures in the ocean. 9 00:00:54,807 --> 00:00:57,958 You may feel you already know something of this animal... 10 00:00:58,127 --> 00:01:03,076 because replicas of it have been the focus of several cinema films. 11 00:01:03,247 --> 00:01:07,126 But the real living animal has only been seldom glimpsed... 12 00:01:07,287 --> 00:01:11,917 and it's only been filmed from inside the protection of underwater cages. 13 00:01:12,087 --> 00:01:15,796 In this film we're going to venture beyond those cages... 14 00:01:15,967 --> 00:01:20,040 to reveal something of the life of the Great White Shark. 15 00:02:56,447 --> 00:03:00,440 The animal glides dreamlike through its watery world... 16 00:03:00,607 --> 00:03:03,121 and into our subconscious. 17 00:03:11,607 --> 00:03:15,520 It's one of the last great predators to roam free on the planet... 18 00:03:15,687 --> 00:03:18,281 a creature of fearful symmetry. 19 00:03:55,247 --> 00:03:58,956 This is the Great White Shark of myth and legend. 20 00:03:59,127 --> 00:04:01,800 No carnivore in the sea or on land... 21 00:04:01,967 --> 00:04:06,199 has the power to strike such deep terror in our souls. 22 00:04:14,567 --> 00:04:18,526 Yet the white shark is not a lone, blood-thirsty killer... 23 00:04:18,687 --> 00:04:23,556 but a selective and skilful hunter with a complex social life. 24 00:04:27,407 --> 00:04:32,242 We are about to follow the shark into its own element, the open ocean... 25 00:04:32,407 --> 00:04:37,276 to reveal its natural behaviour as never before captured on film. 26 00:04:41,687 --> 00:04:46,317 The Great White Shark's range extends through all the world's seas... 27 00:04:46,487 --> 00:04:49,160 but it's often found in cool, temperate waters... 28 00:04:49,327 --> 00:04:51,966 near its favourite feeding grounds. 29 00:04:56,527 --> 00:05:00,566 This is the Cape Coast at the southernmost tip of South Africa... 30 00:05:00,727 --> 00:05:05,676 the convergence of two great oceans, the Indian and the Atlantic. 31 00:05:07,847 --> 00:05:11,635 Known to early navigators as the "Cape of Storms"... 32 00:05:11,807 --> 00:05:13,525 this rugged coastline is dotted... 33 00:05:13,687 --> 00:05:16,918 with the skeletal hulls of shipwrecked vessels. 34 00:05:28,567 --> 00:05:31,445 The Cape Coast swarms with wildlife. 35 00:05:31,607 --> 00:05:36,806 Among the most abundant and lively inhabitants are the Cape fur seals. 36 00:06:02,087 --> 00:06:05,079 It's early Spring, and the seals are here to breed... 37 00:06:05,247 --> 00:06:08,398 on the many small islands along the coast. 38 00:06:12,047 --> 00:06:14,845 In a channel protected from the outside surf... 39 00:06:15,007 --> 00:06:17,680 a large raft of seals congregates. 40 00:06:18,487 --> 00:06:22,639 Here in these sheltered waters occurs a primeval contest. 41 00:06:24,127 --> 00:06:26,800 The destinies of the seal and the Great White Shark... 42 00:06:26,967 --> 00:06:29,356 have evolved together for millions of years... 43 00:06:29,527 --> 00:06:33,406 an intricate partnership of hunted and hunter. 44 00:06:40,447 --> 00:06:42,199 Like the lion and the antelope... 45 00:06:42,367 --> 00:06:44,244 the shark and the seal co-exist... 46 00:06:44,407 --> 00:06:48,366 in a relationship both harmonious and violent. 47 00:07:43,167 --> 00:07:44,919 This small pup was lucky... 48 00:07:45,087 --> 00:07:49,000 possibly because the shark had already eaten its fill. 49 00:07:49,727 --> 00:07:53,606 On Dyer Island the Cape fur seals breed all at the same time... 50 00:07:53,767 --> 00:07:56,201 and produce such a large number of offspring... 51 00:07:56,367 --> 00:07:58,835 that many will escape the white shark. 52 00:07:59,007 --> 00:08:02,283 But the shark is not the main agent of death for the seal. 53 00:08:02,447 --> 00:08:06,645 Disease, starvation, and other causes also take a heavy toll. 54 00:08:12,487 --> 00:08:15,320 One of the most crucial lessons a pup must learn... 55 00:08:15,487 --> 00:08:17,284 is how to survive in the sea... 56 00:08:17,447 --> 00:08:21,360 and sometimes his first lesson catches him off guard. 57 00:08:38,167 --> 00:08:40,806 Suddenly the pup is surrounded by adults... 58 00:08:40,967 --> 00:08:43,879 in the middle of a large seal raft. 59 00:08:48,327 --> 00:08:51,603 The seals keep tightly together close to the shoreline... 60 00:08:51,767 --> 00:08:54,645 and stay away from the open waters of the channel. 61 00:08:54,807 --> 00:08:58,197 The raft is a highly effective system of communal defence... 62 00:08:58,367 --> 00:09:01,165 not unlike gazelles seeking protection from a cheetah... 63 00:09:01,327 --> 00:09:03,795 by grazing in a large herd. 64 00:09:07,527 --> 00:09:12,282 But the inexperienced pup strays away from the safety of the raft. 65 00:10:04,767 --> 00:10:08,442 The white shark is the largest predatory fish in the sea. 66 00:10:08,607 --> 00:10:11,405 Even at birth, it's 3 to 5 feet long. 67 00:10:11,567 --> 00:10:15,526 These sharks hunting in the channel are 8 to 1 4 feet in length... 68 00:10:15,687 --> 00:10:20,681 and weigh hundreds of pounds. Amazingly, they are still juveniles. 69 00:10:21,607 --> 00:10:23,802 These young sharks have a diverse diet... 70 00:10:23,967 --> 00:10:27,926 that includes fish, squid and even other sharks. 71 00:10:28,087 --> 00:10:31,238 At this time of year there's no richer hunting ground... 72 00:10:31,407 --> 00:10:33,238 than Dyer Island. 73 00:11:26,287 --> 00:11:28,881 These high school students from Cape Town... 74 00:11:29,047 --> 00:11:31,607 are developing a new attitude towards sharks... 75 00:11:31,767 --> 00:11:34,759 as a result of a special educational programme... 76 00:11:34,927 --> 00:11:38,124 sponsored by the White Shark Research Unit. 77 00:11:43,727 --> 00:11:45,285 The line has no hook... 78 00:11:45,447 --> 00:11:49,042 so the shark decides whether it stays around or not. 79 00:12:05,007 --> 00:12:07,441 South Africa was the first country in the world... 80 00:12:07,607 --> 00:12:11,725 to fully realise the importance of the white shark as a top predator... 81 00:12:11,887 --> 00:12:15,436 and the first to declare it a protected species. 82 00:12:27,007 --> 00:12:29,282 But it wasn't always this way. 83 00:12:31,767 --> 00:12:33,883 Not long ago white sharks were hunted... 84 00:12:34,047 --> 00:12:36,561 like the big cats of Africa, as trophies. 85 00:12:36,887 --> 00:12:40,038 The only good shark, according to the prevailing attitude... 86 00:12:40,207 --> 00:12:41,640 was a dead shark. 87 00:12:48,487 --> 00:12:51,285 To vanquish the most feared monster in the sea... 88 00:12:51,447 --> 00:12:54,917 Carcharodon Carcharias, the jagged-tooth-one... 89 00:12:55,087 --> 00:12:58,079 was proof of masculinity. The bigger the monster... 90 00:12:58,247 --> 00:13:01,523 the bigger the psychological kick from killing it. 91 00:13:03,207 --> 00:13:08,156 During this period, the largest sharks were virtually fished out. 92 00:13:17,047 --> 00:13:20,596 Only when dead and without water to support its immense bulk... 93 00:13:20,767 --> 00:13:23,327 does the white shark look so grotesque. 94 00:13:30,087 --> 00:13:32,840 The living white shark in its own natural element... 95 00:13:33,007 --> 00:13:35,316 is a different matter entirely. 96 00:13:35,487 --> 00:13:39,162 A majestic creature of ideal hydrodynamic design... 97 00:13:39,327 --> 00:13:42,319 it glides through the sea with minimum effort... 98 00:13:42,487 --> 00:13:44,284 and perfect grace. 99 00:13:51,567 --> 00:13:53,637 Once worshipped by early cultures... 100 00:13:53,807 --> 00:13:56,526 the shark's form has become an archetypal image... 101 00:13:56,687 --> 00:13:59,759 of the raw primal power of nature. 102 00:14:04,367 --> 00:14:07,916 Today in South Africa white sharks are still hunted... 103 00:14:08,087 --> 00:14:10,760 but not for lifeless trophies. 104 00:14:11,007 --> 00:14:13,680 Craig Ferreria of the White Shark Research Unit... 105 00:14:13,847 --> 00:14:19,001 assists scientists studying the white shark population along this coast. 106 00:14:19,167 --> 00:14:23,285 With him is Greg Marshall of the National Geographic Society. 107 00:14:23,447 --> 00:14:27,122 It's quite simple. It's a widely used procedure... 108 00:14:27,287 --> 00:14:29,676 except we're not going to hook the shark. 109 00:14:29,847 --> 00:14:32,600 We're going to wait for him to come and bang it in. 110 00:14:32,767 --> 00:14:36,555 Shark takes off, the tag will come loose... 111 00:14:36,727 --> 00:14:39,719 take the pole away and that'll be left in the animal. 112 00:14:40,567 --> 00:14:43,525 Now they wait for a shark to come to the bait. 113 00:14:43,687 --> 00:14:47,316 The belief that white sharks attack anything resembling food... 114 00:14:47,487 --> 00:14:48,920 turns out to be a myth. 115 00:14:49,087 --> 00:14:53,444 In reality the white shark is often suspicious and even timid. 116 00:14:54,167 --> 00:14:58,080 Craig's task is to lure the shark as close to the boat as possible... 117 00:14:58,247 --> 00:15:01,398 and plant the tag just below the dorsal fin. 118 00:15:01,567 --> 00:15:02,682 Coming back... 119 00:15:03,087 --> 00:15:04,964 Coming back... Just get him. 120 00:15:09,247 --> 00:15:11,841 Each shark reacts differently to the bait. 121 00:15:12,007 --> 00:15:15,204 While some are shy, others are very aggressive. 122 00:15:15,367 --> 00:15:19,121 This pugnacious individual sneaks in and snatches the bait. 123 00:15:19,287 --> 00:15:22,643 It's not willing to give it up without a tug of war. 124 00:15:24,247 --> 00:15:26,078 Alright, OK. 125 00:15:26,727 --> 00:15:29,480 OK, OK. Pull him slowly, slowly. 126 00:15:30,327 --> 00:15:33,603 Hang on. She's got a tag. Pull the boat away. 127 00:15:33,767 --> 00:15:36,201 -What number is it? -What is it, AD...? 128 00:15:36,367 --> 00:15:38,403 -Looks like ADI to me. -ADI. 129 00:15:41,287 --> 00:15:43,676 This shark was tagged a few weeks ago. 130 00:15:43,847 --> 00:15:46,566 Its return will provide valuable information... 131 00:15:46,727 --> 00:15:48,922 on its movement since last seen. 132 00:15:49,087 --> 00:15:52,397 But most white sharks are tagged and are never seen again... 133 00:15:52,567 --> 00:15:55,081 confirming their nomadic habits. 134 00:16:00,127 --> 00:16:03,881 Here comes another shark. This one has no tag. 135 00:16:12,167 --> 00:16:14,806 Nice and easy. OK, here's your chance. 136 00:16:17,727 --> 00:16:19,524 Nice. OK, beauty. 137 00:16:21,087 --> 00:16:23,362 Despite the taggings, we still don't know... 138 00:16:23,527 --> 00:16:26,644 how many sharks are out there or where they go. 139 00:16:28,167 --> 00:16:30,237 To try to find out where they go... 140 00:16:30,407 --> 00:16:33,319 Greg Marshall will attempt something never done before... 141 00:16:33,487 --> 00:16:37,958 attach a video camera called a "crittercam" to a white shark. 142 00:16:41,087 --> 00:16:43,920 It's always nerve-wracking to make a deployment. 143 00:16:44,087 --> 00:16:48,160 Lots of things are possible. It's an incredibly powerful animal. 144 00:16:48,327 --> 00:16:52,081 As a result it can do damage to the camera if it wanted to. 145 00:16:55,407 --> 00:16:57,204 We don't know enough about its behaviour. 146 00:16:57,367 --> 00:16:59,756 In a couple of cases the shark came... 147 00:16:59,927 --> 00:17:01,918 and rammed against the boat. 148 00:17:13,287 --> 00:17:15,676 The Great White Shark is the animal... 149 00:17:15,847 --> 00:17:18,839 that is in some way in our subconscious. 150 00:17:19,007 --> 00:17:22,317 We know that this is an animal that could take us out. 151 00:17:22,487 --> 00:17:27,163 We're curious, we're fascinated, we're terrified of that possibility. 152 00:17:29,647 --> 00:17:33,720 I would rather face my terror and try to understand. 153 00:17:33,927 --> 00:17:35,645 I want to know this beast. 154 00:17:40,967 --> 00:17:43,083 If Greg's unique camera works... 155 00:17:43,247 --> 00:17:46,205 it will allow us to travel into the white shark's world... 156 00:17:46,367 --> 00:17:48,323 for the very first time. 157 00:18:02,007 --> 00:18:05,238 When the shark swam away I saw the camera take... 158 00:18:05,407 --> 00:18:08,638 and start to fly behind the animal as it's supposed to... 159 00:18:08,807 --> 00:18:11,799 and fly in the right orientation as she moved away. 160 00:18:11,967 --> 00:18:14,686 It was very exciting, a great feeling. 161 00:18:20,527 --> 00:18:23,280 And now we take an incredible ride. 162 00:18:23,447 --> 00:18:25,881 The shark patrols just below the surface... 163 00:18:26,047 --> 00:18:30,165 then veers towards the bottom in a long, purposeful descent. 164 00:18:30,327 --> 00:18:33,876 She spends most of her time near the surface or at the bottom... 165 00:18:34,047 --> 00:18:35,605 but not in between. 166 00:18:40,047 --> 00:18:43,164 The high dorsal fin is surprisingly flexible... 167 00:18:43,327 --> 00:18:48,242 and, like the keel of a boat, serves to stabilise and prevent roll. 168 00:18:53,367 --> 00:18:54,720 She reaches the bottom. 169 00:18:54,887 --> 00:18:58,675 The greyish-black hide on her back provides excellent camouflage... 170 00:18:58,847 --> 00:19:01,236 as she cruises along the seafloor. 171 00:19:01,407 --> 00:19:04,956 The crittercam can show us exactly where the shark likes to hunt... 172 00:19:05,127 --> 00:19:07,118 and when it makes an attack. 173 00:19:13,367 --> 00:19:18,157 There, suddenly a fish appears. The shark takes off after it. 174 00:19:25,207 --> 00:19:29,200 The crittercam has a bumpy ride as she strikes out again. 175 00:19:34,447 --> 00:19:39,237 Here she's clearly fed, a piece of her meal dangles from her mouth. 176 00:19:46,927 --> 00:19:49,282 We catch a glimpse of another white shark. 177 00:19:49,447 --> 00:19:53,281 Great Whites may not be the lone rogues we once thought they were. 178 00:19:53,447 --> 00:19:57,759 In the hunting channel at Dyer Island they appear to move in groups. 179 00:20:01,167 --> 00:20:04,921 Another shark passes by, and she veers towards it. 180 00:20:05,087 --> 00:20:10,081 The crittercam may be revealing social interaction among the sharks. 181 00:20:12,927 --> 00:20:15,725 The camera has a link that dissolves in seawater. 182 00:20:15,887 --> 00:20:18,845 After two hours the camera should pop off. 183 00:20:19,647 --> 00:20:21,444 But anything can happen. 184 00:20:29,167 --> 00:20:31,158 The shark encounters another shark... 185 00:20:31,327 --> 00:20:35,002 and the camera is dislodged and floats to the surface. 186 00:20:43,967 --> 00:20:46,686 The shark, ever curious, circles... 187 00:20:46,847 --> 00:20:51,523 and inspects the alien object that had hitched a ride on her back. 188 00:20:56,807 --> 00:21:00,482 Floating on the surface, crittercam emits a signal... 189 00:21:00,647 --> 00:21:04,925 so that Greg Marshall can find it and retrieve the valuable videotape. 190 00:21:05,087 --> 00:21:07,681 -It's got to be along this line. -OK. 191 00:21:09,407 --> 00:21:11,557 I think that's it right there. 192 00:21:12,767 --> 00:21:13,995 As a remote video... 193 00:21:14,167 --> 00:21:17,125 crittercam records images without human intrusion... 194 00:21:17,287 --> 00:21:21,519 and allows us to experience events that we wouldn't ordinarily see. 195 00:21:21,687 --> 00:21:24,121 It may lead to a more complete understanding... 196 00:21:24,287 --> 00:21:26,243 of the Great White's behaviour. 197 00:21:26,407 --> 00:21:28,602 -Got it. -OK. Man! 198 00:21:30,567 --> 00:21:31,682 Pretty baby. 199 00:21:38,527 --> 00:21:41,280 Other new remote technology would reveal... 200 00:21:41,447 --> 00:21:44,041 the relationship of white shark and seals... 201 00:21:44,207 --> 00:21:48,519 is more fascinating and complicated than previously imagined. 202 00:22:01,367 --> 00:22:03,835 Back on Dyer Island, it's February... 203 00:22:04,007 --> 00:22:08,239 and there are no more young pups to make easy meals for the sharks. 204 00:22:08,407 --> 00:22:11,160 The sharks must now hunt adult seals... 205 00:22:11,327 --> 00:22:15,240 and they are incredibly swift, agile and alert. 206 00:22:16,087 --> 00:22:21,241 Here the shark can't use stealth, a bolder strategy is called for. 207 00:22:23,007 --> 00:22:25,441 It cruises in plain sight. 208 00:22:27,527 --> 00:22:30,405 The seals respond by porpoising. 209 00:22:35,327 --> 00:22:39,002 Like birds mobbing an enemy or gazelles following a cheetah... 210 00:22:39,167 --> 00:22:42,443 the seals swim behind the shark. Why? 211 00:22:42,607 --> 00:22:45,440 Perhaps to keep watch on the enemy, distract it... 212 00:22:45,607 --> 00:22:48,485 or simply to discover whether it's hungry. 213 00:22:49,007 --> 00:22:52,716 The trick is to avoid becoming a meal in the process. 214 00:23:24,007 --> 00:23:28,205 The white shark's strategy in the game is to appear uninterested... 215 00:23:28,367 --> 00:23:31,006 but it's always looking for a straggler. 216 00:23:32,287 --> 00:23:35,757 Their behaviour resembles an old children's game: 217 00:23:37,007 --> 00:23:39,965 What time is it, Mr. Wolf? Three o'clock. 218 00:23:42,167 --> 00:23:45,603 What time is it now, Mr. Wolf? Four o'clock. 219 00:23:47,287 --> 00:23:51,246 What time is it now, Mr. Wolf? It's suppertime! 220 00:24:15,367 --> 00:24:18,677 The mortally injured seal floats to the surface. 221 00:24:20,447 --> 00:24:22,563 The shark returns immediately. 222 00:24:25,687 --> 00:24:27,962 The vigorous side to side thrashing... 223 00:24:28,127 --> 00:24:29,958 powers the saw-edged teeth... 224 00:24:30,127 --> 00:24:34,484 and enables the shark to devour the carcass bite by bite. 225 00:24:57,607 --> 00:25:01,759 Here the shark has coped with an elaborate communal defence. 226 00:25:01,927 --> 00:25:03,155 But in another ocean... 227 00:25:03,327 --> 00:25:07,206 the shark has to deal with a different defensive strategy. 228 00:25:08,367 --> 00:25:11,564 The northern elephant seal keeps close to the bottom... 229 00:25:11,727 --> 00:25:15,481 using stealth to avoid becoming prey to a shark. 230 00:25:18,287 --> 00:25:21,836 When he surfaces, he's most vulnerable to attack. 231 00:25:24,527 --> 00:25:26,563 He's looking for a place to haul out... 232 00:25:26,727 --> 00:25:29,480 but this sea lion rock won't do. 233 00:25:51,927 --> 00:25:54,122 The elephant seal is not yet mature... 234 00:25:54,287 --> 00:25:56,278 he's only two to three years old. 235 00:25:56,447 --> 00:25:59,644 He's managed to survive the hazards of life at sea. 236 00:25:59,807 --> 00:26:02,196 Now he joins other young elephant seals... 237 00:26:02,367 --> 00:26:05,359 who migrate every autumn to these shores. 238 00:26:17,607 --> 00:26:19,598 We're at the Farallons... 239 00:26:19,927 --> 00:26:22,885 an isolated cluster of islands in the Pacific Ocean... 240 00:26:23,047 --> 00:26:27,086 27 miles off the coast of San Francisco, California. 241 00:26:29,647 --> 00:26:33,401 At this time of the year the white sharks are here too. 242 00:26:33,567 --> 00:26:36,240 These are big ones, mature adults... 243 00:26:36,407 --> 00:26:38,762 they haven't been fished out here. 244 00:26:39,247 --> 00:26:43,604 The sharks encircle the islands, hidden in the depths waiting. 245 00:26:49,007 --> 00:26:52,124 The Farallon Islands are a National Wildlife Refuge... 246 00:26:52,287 --> 00:26:55,245 run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 247 00:26:55,407 --> 00:27:00,276 Off California, both seal and white shark are protected by law. 248 00:27:05,167 --> 00:27:08,637 Peter Pyle, a biologist for the Point Reyes Bird Observatory... 249 00:27:08,807 --> 00:27:10,559 manages this refuge. 250 00:27:11,647 --> 00:27:15,322 Our study is unique in that we don't bait. 251 00:27:15,487 --> 00:27:18,638 We don't put any blood or bait in the water. 252 00:27:18,807 --> 00:27:21,321 Therefore, everything we see on the shark... 253 00:27:21,487 --> 00:27:25,366 is what they're doing on their own in a natural setting. 254 00:27:25,527 --> 00:27:29,759 I've probably seen a couple of hundred shark attacks by now. 255 00:27:55,447 --> 00:27:59,281 Shark attack off Indian Head, large pool of blood. Are you there? 256 00:27:59,447 --> 00:28:03,122 -Yes. Indian Head? -Looks pretty good. Are you ready? 257 00:28:03,287 --> 00:28:05,243 I'll be in the boat in a few minutes. 258 00:28:05,407 --> 00:28:09,082 -Karen, are you there? -Yes. I'll be there in a minute. 259 00:28:32,727 --> 00:28:35,924 -Are you ready, Pete? -Yes. Is everything set here? 260 00:28:36,087 --> 00:28:37,486 -All set? -Yes. 261 00:28:37,647 --> 00:28:39,478 -OK. -Ready? 262 00:28:40,527 --> 00:28:42,040 -Going up? -Going up. 263 00:28:49,807 --> 00:28:53,436 -So where is it? -It's on the side, in the lee. 264 00:28:53,607 --> 00:28:57,486 Scot Anderson is the principal white shark biologist here. 265 00:28:57,647 --> 00:29:01,322 He and Peter race to arrive before the attack is over. 266 00:29:01,487 --> 00:29:02,681 Thanks Karen. 267 00:29:09,127 --> 00:29:12,915 It still looks like we got a floater, off Indian Head. 268 00:29:15,087 --> 00:29:18,682 -Better get out there quick. -We'll be there in a minute. 269 00:29:19,247 --> 00:29:24,275 What's the direction? OK, I got the birds now, we're on it. 270 00:29:40,487 --> 00:29:42,682 The sea is stained bright crimson... 271 00:29:42,847 --> 00:29:45,805 with oxygen-rich elephant seal blood. 272 00:29:47,167 --> 00:29:50,284 The seal was killed in a massive first hit. 273 00:29:50,447 --> 00:29:53,359 For some reason the shark has vanished... 274 00:29:53,727 --> 00:29:55,160 but it'll be back. 275 00:30:45,127 --> 00:30:48,836 The shark is immense, the size of a mini-bus. 276 00:30:49,007 --> 00:30:51,760 It dwarfs the 1 4-foot boat. 277 00:31:19,767 --> 00:31:24,557 The kill provides food for others. A ravenous petrel shares the feast. 278 00:31:30,727 --> 00:31:35,039 This is a 400 pound seal, and it takes a while to finish it. 279 00:31:35,207 --> 00:31:39,485 The shark consumes its prey methodically, piece by piece. 280 00:31:39,647 --> 00:31:40,921 Powerful tail beats... 281 00:31:41,087 --> 00:31:44,124 assist the sawing action of the two-tonne shark. 282 00:32:29,847 --> 00:32:32,441 Scot and Peter try to keep up with the shark... 283 00:32:32,607 --> 00:32:35,519 to observe the details of the feeding process. 284 00:32:35,687 --> 00:32:37,484 They must move as close as possible... 285 00:32:37,647 --> 00:32:40,719 without actually getting in the shark's way. 286 00:33:00,087 --> 00:33:01,679 She's going to hit us. 287 00:33:01,847 --> 00:33:05,078 -Where? I can't see... -She's coming to hit us. 288 00:33:18,127 --> 00:33:20,322 Give her room, this is a big shark. 289 00:33:20,487 --> 00:33:22,876 Go in Peter, she's about take it. 290 00:33:25,567 --> 00:33:29,003 Pretty wild, that was great! 291 00:33:43,407 --> 00:33:46,763 Now, there are two Great Whites circling below. 292 00:33:46,927 --> 00:33:50,920 In the only study of white sharks in their natural, undisturbed state... 293 00:33:51,087 --> 00:33:56,002 Scot and Peter take photographs of each shark involved in the kill. 294 00:33:57,487 --> 00:33:59,000 She's underneath you. 295 00:34:01,007 --> 00:34:04,158 That's a big one isn't it? She's eighteen. 296 00:34:07,407 --> 00:34:09,443 The sharks are here for the food... 297 00:34:09,607 --> 00:34:12,246 but are interested in anything on the surface. 298 00:34:12,407 --> 00:34:16,366 They often bump the researchers' boat or mouth the motor. 299 00:34:16,887 --> 00:34:21,722 Whether from hunger, aggression, or simple curiosity, no one knows. 300 00:34:40,087 --> 00:34:45,081 Previously it was thought that there is only one shark at each carcass. 301 00:34:49,207 --> 00:34:51,482 But we've since discovered there are more; 302 00:34:51,647 --> 00:34:55,799 from three to five sharks arrive to investigate the kill. 303 00:34:56,327 --> 00:34:58,283 There is no feeding frenzy... 304 00:34:58,447 --> 00:35:02,281 the carcass is approached in a cautious and controlled manner. 305 00:35:02,447 --> 00:35:04,517 Access to the food may be determined... 306 00:35:04,687 --> 00:35:07,679 by a series of visual displays and postures. 307 00:35:07,847 --> 00:35:10,520 The white shark has a body language of its own... 308 00:35:10,687 --> 00:35:13,485 which we're only beginning to recognise. 309 00:35:35,567 --> 00:35:38,206 Two sharks swim side by side. 310 00:35:38,367 --> 00:35:41,882 With the pectoral fins held down, mouth slightly agape... 311 00:35:42,047 --> 00:35:44,515 the sharks move closer to each other... 312 00:35:44,687 --> 00:35:46,643 until one gives way. 313 00:36:08,687 --> 00:36:12,521 Size seems to be the determining factor in dominance. 314 00:36:12,687 --> 00:36:15,804 The larger sharks control the scene. 315 00:36:24,767 --> 00:36:29,557 A shark approaches the carcass hunched in full display posture. 316 00:36:31,607 --> 00:36:34,246 A larger shark rises up from below. 317 00:36:37,847 --> 00:36:41,522 The first one arches its body and quickly gives way. 318 00:36:41,687 --> 00:36:45,839 The bigger shark has established its right to feed first. 319 00:37:21,367 --> 00:37:23,881 Now, the feeding is finally over... 320 00:37:24,047 --> 00:37:27,676 and the sharks go back down to resume stalking. 321 00:37:28,207 --> 00:37:32,200 The countershading of their hide, dark above, light below... 322 00:37:32,367 --> 00:37:35,518 makes them almost impossible to spot from above. 323 00:37:35,687 --> 00:37:39,202 The shark may spend from two weeks to a month stalking... 324 00:37:39,367 --> 00:37:42,245 waiting for the opportunity that makes it worthwhile... 325 00:37:42,407 --> 00:37:45,444 to return each year to the same hunting ground. 326 00:37:45,607 --> 00:37:48,599 The shark's strategy is to cruise along the bottom... 327 00:37:48,767 --> 00:37:51,122 watching for silhouettes above. 328 00:37:56,647 --> 00:38:00,322 Sea lions in a group are difficult to target and catch. 329 00:38:00,487 --> 00:38:03,160 The shark prefers a single target. 330 00:38:33,007 --> 00:38:35,077 Scot Anderson studies the sharks... 331 00:38:35,247 --> 00:38:38,205 in the same way as whales have been studied. 332 00:38:38,367 --> 00:38:42,121 He attempts to get photos to identify individuals. 333 00:38:43,087 --> 00:38:44,964 First lures the shark up... 334 00:38:45,127 --> 00:38:48,005 using a shape that resembles an elephant seal. 335 00:38:48,167 --> 00:38:51,000 A surfboard seems to work as well as anything. 336 00:39:04,807 --> 00:39:06,763 This is what Scot is after: 337 00:39:09,847 --> 00:39:12,441 photos of the dorsal fin and tail. 338 00:39:19,567 --> 00:39:24,277 These are the kind of bites that we see on objects that we put out... 339 00:39:24,447 --> 00:39:26,358 a surfboard in this case. 340 00:39:26,527 --> 00:39:31,123 And you can see the upper teeth lay down a crescent shaped bite... 341 00:39:31,287 --> 00:39:35,565 and they cut away flesh and take away a piece of the animal... 342 00:39:35,727 --> 00:39:40,357 whereas the bottom teeth are much sharper in a point... 343 00:39:40,567 --> 00:39:42,444 and actually pin the prey. 344 00:39:43,767 --> 00:39:46,201 So the two sets of jaws working together... 345 00:39:46,367 --> 00:39:49,484 are very effective at removing large pieces of flesh. 346 00:39:49,647 --> 00:39:52,639 You can see here each set of teeth. 347 00:39:52,927 --> 00:39:55,919 The shark's actually missing one tooth here. 348 00:39:56,247 --> 00:39:58,841 They can bite clear through something like this... 349 00:39:59,007 --> 00:40:03,558 but probably, when they get it in their mouth they sense it's not... 350 00:40:03,727 --> 00:40:06,958 a seal or sea-lion which they're used to eating. 351 00:40:07,127 --> 00:40:10,961 It's much harder and they probably let go as soon as they feel it. 352 00:40:11,127 --> 00:40:13,960 This is just a shark feeling the board. 353 00:40:16,287 --> 00:40:21,202 The next challenge for Scot involves getting photos of the entire shark. 354 00:40:26,327 --> 00:40:30,115 The video board has a video camera in a housing... 355 00:40:30,287 --> 00:40:33,723 that's durable enough to withstand an attack... 356 00:40:33,887 --> 00:40:35,764 and also remain floating. 357 00:40:38,727 --> 00:40:40,479 Scot's decoy works. 358 00:40:40,727 --> 00:40:45,084 These were the first films of Great Whites underwater in California. 359 00:40:53,727 --> 00:40:57,481 Only rarely do they actually attack the surfboard. 360 00:40:58,327 --> 00:41:02,559 This inquisitive shark uses its potentially lethal jaws... 361 00:41:02,727 --> 00:41:05,480 to gently explore the surfboard. 362 00:41:18,767 --> 00:41:21,042 Scars and differing coloration... 363 00:41:21,207 --> 00:41:23,926 are clearly visible on these close views. 364 00:41:24,087 --> 00:41:26,157 Scot will use these views... 365 00:41:26,327 --> 00:41:29,797 to assist him in identifying individual sharks. 366 00:41:30,247 --> 00:41:33,000 The scars on the bodies of the Farallon sharks... 367 00:41:33,167 --> 00:41:36,318 provide more clues to their social rituals. 368 00:41:38,047 --> 00:41:41,596 The postures and displays used to avoid direct combat... 369 00:41:41,767 --> 00:41:43,883 do not always prevent contact. 370 00:41:44,047 --> 00:41:45,719 These big female sharks... 371 00:41:45,887 --> 00:41:49,118 have what appear to be combat or mating scars. 372 00:41:49,727 --> 00:41:52,400 White sharks have never been observed mating... 373 00:41:52,567 --> 00:41:55,001 but it's likely their sexual behaviour... 374 00:41:55,167 --> 00:41:57,362 is turbulent, to say the least. 375 00:42:05,447 --> 00:42:09,281 One big question is: Are the same sharks coming back each year? 376 00:42:09,447 --> 00:42:11,756 Everybody thought the sharks out here... 377 00:42:11,927 --> 00:42:14,725 were the same sharks, but nobody had any evidence. 378 00:42:14,887 --> 00:42:17,720 It's different, I went through this. 379 00:42:18,487 --> 00:42:20,523 Exactly, it is different. 380 00:42:20,687 --> 00:42:24,441 It's either on the other side, or it's further forward... 381 00:42:24,607 --> 00:42:27,644 Scot and Peter sift through the available evidence... 382 00:42:27,807 --> 00:42:31,038 to attempt to catalogue all the individual Great Whites... 383 00:42:31,207 --> 00:42:33,767 that come to the Farallons each Autumn. 384 00:42:33,927 --> 00:42:37,397 Videos, stills, and sightings are all examined. 385 00:42:37,647 --> 00:42:40,605 Some suggest that hunting seals and sea lions... 386 00:42:40,767 --> 00:42:42,485 can be dangerous for the shark. 387 00:42:42,647 --> 00:42:47,243 -It could be from a seal or sea lion. -It doesn't look like a shark bite. 388 00:42:47,407 --> 00:42:50,717 -Four teeth... -2 on the bottom and 2 on the top... 389 00:42:50,887 --> 00:42:53,447 which would be the two main canines. 390 00:42:55,127 --> 00:43:00,076 Over seven years of study, up to 40 individuals have been identified. 391 00:43:00,687 --> 00:43:04,123 The researchers now know some of these returning sharks well... 392 00:43:04,287 --> 00:43:06,437 and have even become fond of them. 393 00:43:06,607 --> 00:43:10,486 One of these is a massive, 18-footer named "Stumpy"... 394 00:43:10,647 --> 00:43:14,037 so-called because the tip of her tail is missing. 395 00:43:16,847 --> 00:43:19,805 We don't know where Stumpy is during most of the year... 396 00:43:19,967 --> 00:43:23,880 but we know she shows up every Autumn at the Farallons. 397 00:43:24,047 --> 00:43:28,006 What's more, she appears to come to the same spot to hunt. 398 00:43:32,367 --> 00:43:34,403 How do you know Stumpy is here? 399 00:43:34,567 --> 00:43:37,798 You set the board out, and she lets you know. 400 00:43:44,847 --> 00:43:49,477 This is how a Great White kills an elephant seal in the first hit. 401 00:44:03,727 --> 00:44:06,321 In one precise torpedo-like blow... 402 00:44:06,487 --> 00:44:08,921 the shark hits the prey from below. 403 00:44:09,087 --> 00:44:11,920 The impact of the first lightning strike... 404 00:44:12,087 --> 00:44:14,203 may incapacitate the seal. 405 00:44:14,367 --> 00:44:16,164 This strategy saves energy... 406 00:44:16,327 --> 00:44:19,637 and may minimise the risk of injury to the shark. 407 00:44:23,047 --> 00:44:24,275 In the Farallons... 408 00:44:24,447 --> 00:44:28,520 no shark is more successful at this strategy than Stumpy. 409 00:44:30,047 --> 00:44:32,561 She's the only animal we've recognised... 410 00:44:32,727 --> 00:44:35,719 taking three different seals in one year. 411 00:44:35,887 --> 00:44:39,596 That's amazing when you think it's been calculated... 412 00:44:39,767 --> 00:44:43,396 one seal should last a shark up to 3 months. 413 00:44:44,047 --> 00:44:46,322 She must be building up a lot of fat. 414 00:44:46,487 --> 00:44:49,479 We suppose that's because she goes down and breeds... 415 00:44:49,647 --> 00:44:53,606 and probably doesn't eat much during the time she's giving birth. 416 00:44:58,287 --> 00:45:01,802 Great White Sharks are the ultimate predators. 417 00:45:01,967 --> 00:45:03,844 Highly complex and adaptive... 418 00:45:04,007 --> 00:45:07,158 they vary their strategies to suit different situations... 419 00:45:07,327 --> 00:45:10,763 and to outwit exceptionally agile prey. 420 00:45:18,927 --> 00:45:21,919 Of all the great predators on the planet... 421 00:45:22,087 --> 00:45:27,081 white sharks are the only ones that cannot be caged or tamed. 422 00:45:28,527 --> 00:45:31,519 As images of fierce uncontrolled nature... 423 00:45:31,687 --> 00:45:36,158 they are imprinted indelibly upon our collective consciousness. 424 00:45:43,047 --> 00:45:47,802 "Jaws" and a lot of other movies instilled this belief in humans... 425 00:45:47,967 --> 00:45:50,481 that white sharks were killing machines... 426 00:45:50,647 --> 00:45:55,277 that wanted to jump into boats or grab humans and eat them. 427 00:45:55,967 --> 00:45:59,642 We've learned that this is really not the case at all. 428 00:45:59,807 --> 00:46:03,038 They're primarily interested in elephant seals. 429 00:46:15,967 --> 00:46:18,800 As the animal behind the myth is revealed... 430 00:46:18,967 --> 00:46:23,245 the great white shark remains no less formidable as a predator. 431 00:46:23,407 --> 00:46:26,240 Its fearful symmetry is not diminished. 432 00:46:29,047 --> 00:46:33,165 Perhaps we need to know that it still survives out there. 433 00:46:49,647 --> 00:46:52,241 Like the tiger in the forests of the night... 434 00:46:52,407 --> 00:46:56,161 the white shark is the essence of wildness. 435 00:46:58,607 --> 00:47:01,599 What time is it now, Mr. Wolf?