Episode 3 | 56m 44s | Video has closed captioning.
Follow the team on the water and in the sky as they search for the giant of the sea: the blue whale. Venture inside the whale with Dr. Reidenberg and join Sanjayan on an incredible journey to get up close and personal with these giants of the deep.
Aired: 09/02/15
SANJAYAN: THESE INCREDIBLE IMAGES ARE BEING BROUGHT TO YOU LIVE FROM MONTEREY BAY, CALIFORNIA WE'RE SEEING HUMPBACK WHALES LIVE ON OUR CAMERA, THREE HUMPBACK WHALES ON THE SURFACE.
STEVE: ALL WEEK THE GREATEST GATHERING OF MARINE LIFE ON THE PLANET HAS BEEN BUILDING TO A CLIMAX.
LIZ: AND NOW WE'RE ON THE TRAIL OF ONE OF THE MOST MAGNIFICENT ANIMALS IN THIS WILDLIFE EVENT, THE BLUE WHALE.
SANJAYAN: THIS IS "BIG BLUE LIVE"!
SANJAYAN: GOOD EVENING!
AND WELCOME BACK TO MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY.
IT'S THE FINAL NIGHT OF OUR TIME HERE IN CALIFORNIA, BUT THE ACTION IS JUST KICKING OFF.
CHECK THIS OUT.
RIGHT BEFORE WE CAME ON THE AIR, WE SAW A BLUE WHALE.
LOOK AT THAT.
LIZ: TRAVELING UP FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FROM MEXICO, FROM CENTRAL AMERICA, THAT IS A BLUE WHALE.
VERY CLOSE TO US OFF POINT LOBOS, JUST SOUTHWEST OF THE HEADLAND HERE.
INCREDIBLE IMAGES.
SANJAYAN: THE LARGEST ANIMAL ON THE PLANET, WE HAVE IT HERE WITH US.
WE'LL BE KEEPING TRACK OF IT THROUGHOUT THE SHOW.
OUR BASE IS THE MAGNIFICENT MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM, HOME TO HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS, AND ALMOST AS MANY SCIENTISTS, ALL ON HAND TO GIVE US THE BENEFIT OF THEIR EXPERIENCE!
SO LET'S PLACE THE AQUARIUM ON THE MAP.
WE'RE HERE -- ON THE WEST COAST OF AMERICA, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN LOS ANGELES AND SAN FRANCISCO.
BUT REALLY, WE'RE ON THE EDGE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN, THE LARGEST OCEAN ON THE PLANET.
LIZ: WE'RE HERE BECAUSE THE BAY IS THE DESTINATION FOR A UNIQUE MARINE MIGRATION.
ANIMALS ARE CROSSING THOUSANDS OF MILES OF PACIFIC OCEAN TO -- FROM THE SOUTH, FROM THE WEST, EVEN FROM THE NORTH, TO COME HERE AND JOIN THE FEAST.
WE'RE LOGGING OUR SIGHTINGS AS THE GATHERINGS REACHES ITS PEAK AND TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ALL THESE ANIMALS COME TOGETHER.
SANJAYAN: AT THIS TIME OF YEAR THE BAY REALLY IS LIKE THE SUPER BOWL FOR WILDLIFE.
THERE'S BEEN ALL SORTS OF ACTION, DRAMA AND EMOTION.
JUST YESTERDAY WE HAD THOSE ORCAS, KILLER WHALES, WREAKING COMPLETE HAVOC IN THE BAY.
THIS IS WHAT WE GOT FROM OUR HELICOPTER.
YOU HAVE ORCAS AND DOLPHINS, BUT THEN TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT CAME IN LATE, LATE LAST NIGHT.
ONE OF OUR SPOTTERS ON THE WATER ACTUALLY FILMED THIS.
LIZ: LOOK AT THIS IMAGE.
IT DEFIES BELIEF.
THIS IS THE MOMENT WHEN A KILLER WHALE EMERGES FROM THE DEPTHS, BRINGING WITH IT ONE OF THE ANIMALS IT'S HUNTING, IN THIS CASE A COMMON DOLPHIN.
INCREDIBLE FOOTAGE.
SANJAYAN: I'VE NEVER SEEN AN ORCA UP IN THE AIR THAT HIGH.
LIZ: UPSIDE DOWN AS WELL, IT'S INCREDIBLE.
SANJAYAN: STEVE IS HEADING TO THAT SPOT RIGHT NOW AND WE'LL BE JOINING HIM LATER.
THERE HAVE BEEN DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTS IN THE STORY OF OUR SEA OTTERS -- BIXBY AND HER PUP.
WE'LL HAVE THE VERY LATEST ON THEM IN A LITTLE WHILE.
THESE OTTERS AND A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST WEEK HAVE CERTAINLY GOT YOU TALKING.
THEY'VE GOT US TALKING.
WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF EXPERTS ON HAND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING IN.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING YOU ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL, YOUR FAVORITE BIG BLUE ANIMAL.
LIZ: I KNOW WHAT YOURS IS ALREADY.
WE'VE ONLY BEEN HERE A SHORT TIME BUT WE'VE BEEN UNRAVELING THE SECRETS OF THIS GATHERING AND WITNESSING SOME SPECTACULAR WILDLIFE.
SINCE WE'VE ARRIVED, WE HAVE BEEN UTTERLY AMAZED AT HOW MUCH IS GOING ON IN THE BAY THIS YEAR.
SANJAYAN: THE BAY IS FILLING WITH UP WITH WHALES, DOLPHINS, SEA LIONS AND ALL OF THAT.
SANJAYAN: LOOK AT THAT, ONE OF THEM POPPED UP ALONGSIDE OUR BOAT.
STEVE: WE DID SEE SOME DOLPHINS AND ORCAS INTERACTING, THE ORCAS FLEEING AT TOP SPEED.
>> THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE THE SEA LIONS BY SURPRISE.
LIZ: THE ACTION JUST KEEPS COMING.
SANJAYAN: WHAT AN AMAZING GROUP OF ANIMALS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A BIT OF DISCUSSION AMONGST OUR TEAM ABOUT WHICH IS OUR FAVORITE BIG BLUE ANIMAL.
SO WE THOUGHT WE'D ASK YOU TO SETTLE THE ARGUMENT.
WE HAVE WHITTLED DOWN THE INCREDIBLE CHOICE OF ANIMALS TO JUST THREE, TO MAKE IT EASY.
HUMPBACK WHALE.
GREAT WHITE SHARK.
AND THE CUDDLY SEA OTTER.
LIZ: SO PLEASE, TWEET US YOUR CHOICE.
#HUMPBACKFAN, #WHITESHARKFAN, OR #OTTERFAN.
WE'LL REVEAL THE WINNING ANIMAL AT THE END OF THE SHOW.
I KNOW WHAT MY CHOICE IS -- HUMPBACK.
THIS IS WHERE ALL THE ACTION IS CONCENTRATED.
HALFWAY UP THE BAY, JUST OFFSHORE FROM A PLACE CALLED MOSS LANDING.
RIGHT ABOVE THIS SUBMARINE CANYON.
IT'S TWO MILES DEEP AND COMPARABLE IN SCALE TO THE GRAND CANYON.
SINCE WE'VE ARRIVED, MORE AND MORE ANIMALS HAVE BEEN GATHERING HERE.
HUMPBACKS, COMMON DOLPHINS, ORCAS.
IT'S ALL BEEN KICKING OFF HERE.
AND STEVE IS HEADING INTO THE HEART OF THE ACTION.
STEVE: WE ARE VERY MUCH IN THE HEART OF THE ACTION THERE IS SO MUCH HAPPENING HERE, I'M NOT SURE WHERE TO START.
FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED YARDS IN EVERY SINGLE DIRECTION THERE ARE HUMPBACK WHALES AND THERE ARE ALSO THEIR SMALLER COUSINS OUR CONSTANT COMPANIONS THROUGHOUT THIS TRIP, THE DOLPHINS.
WHETHER THEY'RE PERFORMING ACROBATICS OR RIDING THE OCEAN WAVES, DOLPHINS ARE A FIRM FAVORITE.
THESE HIGHLY INTELLIGENT, SOCIAL ANIMALS GLIDE THROUGH THE WATER, TRAVELING FAST AND FAR IN THEIR QUEST FOR FOOD.
IN GROUPS OFTEN THOUSANDS STRONG, THEY HUNT DOWN SHOALS OF FISH, PICKING OFF THEIR PREY ONE BY ONE.
THEY MIGHT BE VORACIOUS HUNTERS BUT THEY DECEMBER PLAY A WIDE RANGE OF EMOTIONS AND COMMUNICATE THROUGH CLICKS AND WHISTLES.
FROM THE EXCITEMENT OF BOW RIDING TO THE SPECTACLE OF A SUPERPOD, THESE PLAYFUL CHARACTERS CAPTIVATE US AND THEY'RE HERE TO JOIN THE FEAST.
TO MY MIND, EVERY SINGLE DITHAT YOU SEE A DOLPHIN IS AUTOMATICALLY A GOOD DAY SYSTEM OF THE ENTIRE TIME WE'VE BEEN HERE IN THE NATIONAL MARINE SANG WARE HAS BEEN PRETTY SPECIAL.
-- SANCTUARY HAS BEEN PRETTY SPECIAL.
I'M ABOUT TO SHOW YOU WHY, UP IN THE FRONT OF OUR BOW RIGHT NOW IS A VAST POD OF COMMON DOLPHINS AND THEY'VE BEEN WITH US THROUGH THE ENTIRETY OF OUR EXPERIENCE HERE IN MONTEREY BAY.
THEY'RE IN GREAT NUMBERS HERE.
THIS IS WHAT'S KNOWN AS A SUPERPOD.
SO NOT JUST HUNDREDS BUT POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS HERE.
AND THEY ARE DANCING IN FRONT OF THE BOW OF OUR BOAT.
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE MOVING AT SPEED, THEY'LL COME IN ALONGSIDE YOU AND DO WHAT IS KNOWN AS BOW WAVE RIDING.
RIGHT NOW THEY GOT PURPOSE, A DEFINITIVE DIRECTION THEY'RE HEADING IN.
THEY'VE FOUND FOOD.
BECAUSE THIS GIVES US OUR BEST CHANCE AT SEING THE CACOPHONY OF FEEDING BEHAVIOR THAT WE REALLY, REALLY WANT TO SHOW YOU ON BIG BLUE LIVE.
THE ONLY TIME WE'VE BEEN HERE AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN DOLL FENS WAS YESTERDAY.
AND THAT WAS FOR VERY GOOD REASON.
ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAD AN UNEXPECTED APPEARANCE OF THE LARGEST SPECIES OF DOLPHIN ON THE PLANET, THE ORCA.
FOUR ORCA CRUISED INTO THIS AREA AND -- INTO THE AREA HERE AT MOSS LANDING AND OUT OTHERS WERE UNAWARE OF THEIR PRESENCE.
THEY HAD NO IDEA THIS SLIGHTLY SINISTER PREDATOR WAS ON THE EDGE OF THEIR FEEDING.
WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE ORCA CAME TOGETHER, FROM HAVING FILMED THEM MANY TIMES IN THE PAST, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN ACOUSTICALLY COMMUNICATING UNDER WATER THEN SUDDENLY THEY WOULD HAVE GONE SILENT, GONE INTO STEALTH MODE.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT IS A TRULY EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT.
HAVE A LOOK AT THIS.
STEVE: SO THAT SINGLE ORCA WAS TOSSING A COMMON DOLPHIN FULLY OUT OF THE WATER USING ITS SNOUT.
A MALE COMMON DOLPHIN CAN BE TWICE AS MUCH IN WEIGHT AS I AM.
TO THROW ONE OUT OF THE WATER LIKE THAT IS QUITE A FEAT.
LET'S SEE IT AGAIN SLOWED DOWN TO TRULY GET A SENSE OF HOW EXTRAORDINARY IT IS.
I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT PROBABLY THOSE ORCA WOULD ALREADY HAVE INCAPACITATED AT LEAST, IF NOT DROWNED AND KILLED THAT DOLPHIN BEFORE THAT LAST, FINAL DISPLAY.
SOMETIMES I'VE SEEN THEM LEAPING AND BREACHING ON TOP OF THEIR PLAY, EVEN SLAPPING THEM OUT OF THE WATER USING THEIR TAIL.
WHATEVER, THIS BAY WAS TRANSFORMED INTO A BATTLEFIELD.
THE COMMON DOLPHIN SCATTERED, WENT OFF AT A TREMENDOUS PACE IN EVERY SINGLE DIRECTION TO GET AWAY FROM THE ORCA.
THEN THE ORCA CAME TOGETHER.
THEY FED ON THE RE-- REMAINS OF THE DOLPHIN.
WHAT WAS EXTRAORDINARY THEN WAS THE FACT THAT THE HUMPBACK WHALES CAME TOGETHER TO DRIVE THE ORCA AWAY.
IT WAS LIKE SEING A HERD OF BISON DRIVING WOLVES AWAY, TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR OWN BY -- BY GETTING RID OF THAT SUPERIOR PREDATOR.
IN THIS AREA, ORCA HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO FEED ON GRAY WHALES.
HUMPBACKS ARE RARELY AT RISK.
NO DOUBT THEY MANAGED TO GET THEIR MEAL THOUGH.
THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DRAMATIC SPECTACLE BUT ONLY ONE OF THE MANY GREAT DRAMAS WE HAVE SEEN PLAYED OUT RIGHT HERE IN THIS SECTION OF MONTEREY BAY.
I HAVE TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO NANCY BLACK WHO MANAGED TO CALL IN AND FILM THIS EXTRAORDINARY DISPLAY AND SHE ALSO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE OF MY GREAT MOMENTS OF THE SERIES, ABOUT WHICH A LOT MORE LATER ON.
SO THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON RIGHT HERE.
WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN BRING YOU SOME OF IT LIVE LATER IN THE SHOW.
SANJAYAN: WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY OF AN OTTER, BIXBY, AND HER LITTLE GIRL PUP.
LIFE FOR A PUP IS NOT EASY.
WE LEARNED THAT THE PUP WAS GROWING FAST.
EVEN AT FIVE AND SIX WEEKS OLD, THIS IS A TOUGH LIFE.
TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED.
OUT IN THE KELP FOR BIXBY AND HER PUP, THINGS ARE GOING WELL.
THE PUP HAS LOST SOME OF HER NEWBORN FLUFF AND OUR SCIENTISTS CAN NOW SEE SHE'S A GIRL.
IN THE SHORT TIME WE'VE KNOWN HER, SHE'S PUT ON A THIRD OF HER BODY WEIGHT.
HER STRENGTH AND COORDINATION ARE IMPROVING.
AND SHE'S INCREASINGLY CURIOUS ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND HER.
BUT HER PLAYFULNESS ISN'T ALWAYS APPRECIATED BY THE NEIGHBORS.
SHE STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO.
SHE'LL TRIPLE IN SIZE IN THE NEXT YEAR.
HER DENSE FLUFF WILL BE REPLACED BY A THICK COAT OF HAIR.
HER PAWS WILL DOUBLE IN SIZE.
AND IN JUST FIVE MONTHS, SHE'LL BECOME STRONG ENOUGH TO GO IT ALONE.
JUST LIKE THESE OTHER OTTERS.
BUT FOR NOW, BIXBY'S PUP STAYS CLOSE TO MOM, MAKING THE DAILY COMMUTE ALONG THE COAST TO THE HARBOR IN SEARCH OF HER FAVORITE FOOD, CLAMS.
EVERY TRIP IS A RISK.
WE SAW THEM ATTACKED BY TWO UNIDENTIFIED OTTERS.
BIXBY'S PUP WAS TAKEN HOSTAGE UNTIL THE ATTACKERS GOT WHAT THEY WANTED, BIXBY'S FOOD.
THEN THIS HAPPENED.
AGAIN, TWO STRANGERS APPROACH.
THEY'RE PROBABLY AFTER FOOD AGAIN.
BUT BIXBY'S PUP IS NOT SUCH A BABY ANYMORE.
SHE'S STRONGER.
AND NOW SHE CAN DIVE DEEPER BELOW THE SURFACE AWAY FROM DANGER.
OUT OF HARM'S WAY, BIXBY AND HER PUP ENJOY A FEAST OF CLAMS.
FOR OUR OTTER FAMILY, SURVIVAL IS A DAILY STRUGGLE.
BUT BIXBY AND HER PUP LOOK LIKE THEY'RE WINNING.
I'VE GOT KARL WITH ME WHO WORKS WITH THE OTTERS AT THE AQUARIUM.
WE'VE GOT EYES ON BIXBY AND HER PUP.
YOU KNOW IT'S BIXBY HOW?
KARL: SHE HAS COLORED FLIPPER TAGS THAT VISUALRY -- VISUALLY IDENTIFY AND WE HAVE A TRACKER ON HER.
SANJAYAN: WHAT ARE THE PUP'S CHANCE OF SURVIVAL?
KARL: THE PUP IS FIVE WEEKS OLD BUT THERE'S STILL A LONG DEPENDENCY.
SHE STAYS WITH MOM UNTIL SHE'S FIVE OR SEX MONTHS OLD TO HAVE LARGE ENOUGH AND HAVE THE SURVIVAL SKILLS TO SURVIVE.
SANJAYAN: IT'S A TOUGH LIFE FOR BABY SEA OTTERS.
YOU TAKE CARE OF BABY SEA OTTERS IN THE AQUARIUM AND SURROGATE MOMS WHO TAKE CARE OF THEM UNTIL THEY'RE READY TO GO INTO THE WILD.
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF SURVIVAL OF THOSE ORPHANS?
KARL: WE'VE BEEN CONDUCTING A LONG-TERM POST-RELEASE STUDY MONITORING THAT.
THERE BASICALLY IS NOT A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SURVIVAL RATE OR THE REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS OF THE SURROGATE REARED COMPARED TO WILD COUNTERPARTS.
SANJAYAN: SO THE ORPHANS DO ALMOST AS WELL AS THE WILD ONES.
KARL: THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FINDING.
SANJAYAN: WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE AQUARIUM?
KARL: NOW THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SUR FWAT REARED, IT GIVES US A A CHANCE TO USE THE SURROGATE REARED TO STUDY ASPECTS OF THE WILD POPULATION WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO.
SANJAYAN: IT'S AMAZING TO THINK THAT CALIFORNIA SEA OTTERS WERE HUNTED TO THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION, DOWN TO 30, 40, 50 ANIMALS.
AND THE STORY, THE COMEBACK STORY IS ONE OF THE GREATEST COMEBACK STORIES IN CONSERVATION HISTORY.
LIZ: WE'RE ON HOPKINS BEACH RIGHT NEXT TO THE AQUARIUM.
THIS IS THE VERY SPOT OF WHERE THE RECOVERY OF MONTEREY BAY BEGAN.
WITH ME IS STEPHEN PALUMBI.
I'VE BEEN READING YOUR STORY, WHAT WAS THE TIPPING POINT FOR -- FOR THIS BAY?
STEPHEN: 100 YEARS AGO, THE WHALES WERE GONE, THE SEALS WERE GONE, THE OTTERS WERE GONE, THE ABALONE WERE GONE.
THEN THE SARDINE INDUSTRY STARTED AND THEY WERE SOON GONE.
THE WATER WAS POLLUTED.
AND THAT WAS REALLY -- THE BAY LOOKED TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
LIZ: WE TOOK EVERYTHING OUT OF THE WAY.
WE STARTED WITH THE OTTER AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE WE COULD FIND TO SELL.
STEPHEN: AND THAT WAS THE BUSINESS MODEL.
FIND SOMETHING TO SELL DO, THAT, REPEAT, REPEAT.
LIZ: AT THAT POINT THE BAY WAS VIRTUALLY DEAD.
ONE WOMAN MOVED MOUNTAINS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN AFTER SHE WAS GONE, AT SOME POINT MONTEREY BAY WOULD GET A CHANCE TO RECOVER.
TELL ME ABOUT JULIA PLATT.
STEPHEN: JULIA PLATT WAS AN AMAZING WOMAN.
SHE HAD A PH.D.
IN MARINE BIOLOGY.
SHE CAME TO PACIFIC GROVE AND COULDN'T GET A JOB TEACHING UNIVERSITY.
SHE SETTLED IN HERE AND EVENTUALLY BECAME MAYOR.
WHILE SHE WAS MAYOR SHE DID SOMETHING NO OTHER MAYOR HAD EVER DONE.
SHE PROTECTED A CHUNK OF THE OCEAN.
SHE PROTECTED THIS AREA, THE HOPKINS MARINE LIFE REFUGE.
THAT WAS THE TIPPING POINT OF BRINGING PEOPLE AND THE OCEAN TOGETHER.
LIZ: WHAT WOULD THIS PLACE LOOK LIKE HAD JULIA NOT PROTECTED THIS LITTLE HAVEN?
STEPHEN: IN 1963, THE OTTERS CAME BACK HERE TO JULIA'S PRESERVE.
THE KELP FOREST BLOOMED.
THE WHALES CAME BAG, THE SEA BIRDS CAME ACT AND ALL OF THAT REALLY WAS SORT OF SPARKED BY THIS IDEA THAT, ALL RIGHT, WE ALL HAVE THIS OCEAN, IT'S ALL OURS, WE CAN PROTECT IT AND WE MAN CAKE -- AND WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
LIZ: IT'S THE MOST AMAZING STORY OF RECOVERY I'VE COME ACROSS.
JULIA PLATT WAS A FORMIDABLE WOMAN, A HERO OF MINE.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE COME HERE TO SHOW YOU THE RESULTS OF THAT RECOVERY, POSSIBLY THE BIGGEST GATHERING IN 200 YEARS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND STEVE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
STEVE: I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
THE TRICK IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE FOOD.
IS THE REASON THAT THIS PLACE IS SO SPECIAL AND THAT EVERYTHING IS FOCUSING ON HERE IS MOST EASILY APPRECIATED FROM THE AIR.
BECAUSE YOU GET A SENSE OF THE VAST SLICKS OF FISH THAT ARE HERE.
MOST OF IT -- WE GET KRILL AND SOMETIMES SARDINES AND HERRING AND MACKEREL.
THOSE SLICKS OF WHAT LOOK LIKE OIL AT THE MEETING OF TWO WATER CURRENTS ARE FISH, AND FISH IN VAST NUMBERS.
THE ANIMALS HERE ARE COMING TOGETHER, FOCUSING ON THIS PARTICULAR POINT BECAUSE OF THE TOPOGRAPHY.
THE UNDER WATER GEOGRAPHY OF THIS REGION.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT I'M CLOSE TO COAST, I'M OVER A SUBMARINE CANYON THAT'S AS DEEP AS THE GRAND CANYON.
TO GET YOU A SENSE OF HOW SPECIAL THIS PLACE IS, WE HAVE THIS MAP, IT SHOWS THE DEEP, DEEP CANYON, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE NOW.
THE UPWELLING OF NUTRIENTS HERE IS CAUSING A BLOOM OF FOOD SO HUGE, IT'S PRETTY MUCH TAKING UP THE WHOLE SCREEN THAT SHOULD BE WHITE IF THERE WASN'T MUCH THERE.
IT'S BLUE BECAUSE OF ALL THE FOOD.
SO LET'S SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FRONT OF THE BOAT.
WE HAVE WHALES DIVING.
AND THOSE GLOSSY, SLICK, VELVETY SHEENS AT THE SURFACE THERE BEHIND ME ARE WHERE ONE, TWO, THREE HUMPBACK WHALES HAVE JUST DROPPED DOWN INTO THE WATER.
THEY ARE RIGHT NOW CIRCLING BELOW US IN SEARCH OF FOOD.
MORE COMING IN FROM THE OTHER SIDE.
BIG BLUE IS ALMOST LIKE CANNON BLASTS, ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.
ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR.
I'M GUESSING THE FOOD AREA IS GOING TO BE IN FRONT OF ME SOMEWHERE HERE.
I'M REALLY, REALLY HOPING THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN LIVE ON AIR.
IT IS ONE OF THE GRANDEST SPECTACLES IN THE WHOLE NATURAL WORLD.
WHAT'S REALLY SURPRISED US SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE, IS QUITE HOW ACTIVE THE HUNTING OF THESE HUMPBACK WHALES HAS BEEN.
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE WATCHING THE WHALES HUNT IT'S ALMOST LIKE SEING THE ORCA AT WORK.
THEY ARE SO EXCITED SO VIGOROUS, SO DECISIVE IN THEIR HUNTS.
THEY'RE TRAVELING AT SURPRISING SPEED FOR AN ANIMAL OF THIS SIZE.
WE'RE ABOUT TO GET A FLY-BY ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE BOW FROM AN ECHELON, AN AR MAW DA OF HUMPBACKS.
LOOK AT THAT -- AN ARMADA OF HUMPBACKS.
LOOK AT THAT.
ONE DIVES, ANOTHER ONE AT THE SURFACE, IT'S PHENOMENAL HOW MUCH IS GOING ON HERE.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE ANIMALS COULD WEIGH AS MUCH AS 40 TONS AND BE TAKING IN 1.4 TONS OF FOOD EVERY DAY.
SEEING THEM HERE IN THESE NUMBERS, IT IS THE MOST VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF QUITE HOW MUCH FOOD THERE MUST BE HERE IN THE BAY.
TO BE ABLE TO FEED THIS MANY MIGHTY MOUTHS, THE AMOUNT OF FISH, THE AMOUNT OF KRILL THAT'S HERE, HAS TO BE SIMPLY EXTRAORDINARY.
LOOK AT THIS.
IF YOU'RE THINKING THAT THIS LOOKS LIKE A FLEET OF GIANT SUBMARINES, YOU'D BE RIGHT.
THE FIRST DESIGNERS OF SUBMARINES LOOKED AT THE SHAPE OF THESE GREAT WHALES AND THEY USED THEM AS THEIR INSPIRATION.
BUT FOR BUILDING SUBMARINES.
23 MILLION YEARS OF EVOLUTION HAS CREATED SOMETHING SO PERFECTLY HYDRODYNAMIC AS THIS, WHY CHANGE IT?
THE FLUMES GO UP, THE WHALE DIVES DOWN, DROPPING DOWN TO FEED.
IT IS A FORMIDABLE SIGHT.
THAT EXPULSION OF AIR AS THEY COME TO THE SURFACE BREATHING, EVERY ONE OF THESE WHALES IS SO EFFICIENT AT THE SURFACE THAT -- THEY EXCHANGE AS MUCH AS 80% OF THE AIR IN THEIR LUNGS.
WE HUMAN BEINGS WILL ONLY DO ABOUT 15%.
AND LOOK AT THAT ANOTHER ONE.
THAT CLASSIC HUMPBACK SHAPE AS THEY COME TO THE SURFACE.
AND DROPPING DOWN INTO THE WATER.
TRULY, TRULY EXTRAORDINARY.
LET'S HOPE WE CAN SHOW YOU EVEN MORE THROUGHOUT THE SHOW.
LIZ: I'M SURE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO STEVE.
SO MUCH FEEDING ACTIVITY GOING ON IN THE BAY.
LOTS OF FISH.
NOT SO MUCH KRILL IN THAT PART OF THE BAY YET WHERE STEVE.
IS WE MIGHT HAVE TO SEND AARON OFF TO ANOTHER LOCATION.
THERE IS STILL ONE ANIMAL MISSING FROM THIS INCREDIBLE FEAST, THE BIGGEST ANIMAL TO EVER HAVE LIVED ON THIS PLANET.
LIZ: THE BLUE WHALE.
AT 100 FEET LONG, THEY CAN BE THE SAME LENGTH AS A 737.
AND CAN WEIGH IN AT AN INCREDIBLE 200 TONS.
THEIR IMPRESSIVE 25-FOOT WIDE FLUKE POWERS THEM ACROSS THE OCEANS OF THE WORLD.
THEY CAN SWIM AT A TOP SPEED OF 30 MILES PER HOUR.
THESE ANIMALS NEED A LOT OF FUEL.
A BLUE WHALE CAN OPEN ITS MOUTH SO WIDE THE VOLUME OF WATER IT GULPS IS BIGGER THAN THE VOLUME OF THE WHALE ITSELF, ALLOWING IT TO DEVOUR FOUR TONS OF KRILL A DAY.
DESPITE THEIR SIZE, THEY CAN BE HARD TO FIND.
THEY'RE CONSTANTLY ON THE MOVE IN SEARCH OF FOOD.
THE BLUE WHALE IS TRULY THE GREATEST WONDER OF THE BIG BLUE.
OUR FAVORITE WHALE EXPERT, KATE SPENCER, IS BACK WITH US.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
THE BLUE WHALE, ONE OF THE MOST ENIGMATIC, IF NOT THE MOST ENIGMATIC VISITOR TO MONTEREY BAY.
HOW ARE THEY DOING GLOBALLY?
NUMBERS WISE?
KATE: THEY'RE A SMALL FRACTION OF THEIR PRE-WHALING NUMBERS.
THERE ARE PROBABLY 8,000 TO 10,000 IN THE WORLD.
THAT'S NOWHERE CLOSE TO WHAT THEY USED TO BE, ABOUT 5% OF ORIGINAL NUMBERS.
LIZ: WE GOT THIS FOOTAGE OF A MOTHER AND CALF SOUTH OF HERE TWO WEEKS AGO.
THEY'RE MAKING THEIR WAY UP THE COAST PHYSICAL LOWING THE KRILL.
WHY IS THEIR DIET LIMITED TO KRILL?
KATE: IT'S NOT LIMITED TO KRILL, THEY'LL EAT THOSE RED CRABS TOO.
KRILL ARE TINY BUT IF YOU GET ENOUGH, IT'S LOTS OF TINY LITTLE THINGS THAT ADD UP TO A LOT.
AND KRILL IS PLENTIFUL HERE ON THE CALIFORNIA COAST, IT'S A GREAT FOOD SOURCE.
LIZ: IT MIGHT BE SMALL IN COMPARISON TO THE WHALE BUT A LOT OF IT DOES THE JOB.
HOPEFULLY MORE AND MORE BLUE WHALES ARE MAKING THEIR WAY UP THE COAST.
WE JUST FOUND OUT THERE WAS A BLUE WHALE SPOTTED NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE, JUST SOUTH OF THE OPENING OF MONTEREY BAY AND OUR HELICOPTER, CAPTAIN AARON AND MARK ON THE CAMERAS IS ON ITS WAY TO THAT LOCATION.
I CAN'T QUITE BELIEVE WHAT'S GOING ON LIVE NOW ON TELEVISION.
WE DIDN'T THINK WE'D GET A BLUE WHALE LIVE.
WE DEPLOYED AS MUCH HELP AS WE COULD BUT TO GET A BLUE WHALE LIVE ON TELEVISION IS SOMETHING.
EVERYTHING CROSSED THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT BEFORE THE END OF THE SHOW.
SANJAYAN HAS FALLEN IN LOVE WITH HIS OTTERS.
HE IS BOBBING UP AND DOWN ON THE BOAT.
THIS TIME HE'S CHECKING OUT VISITORS OF THE -- OF THE WINGED VARIETY.
SANJAYAN: WE'VE GOT ALL THESE BIRDS AND MANY OF THEM ARE MIGRANTS.
OF ALL THE MIGRANTS THAT COME HERE, THERE'S NONE OTHER THAT BEATS THE RECORDS THAN THIS BIRD, THE SHEARWATER.
IT'S CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF SCIENTISTS.
THEY PUT TRACKING DEVICES ON THE BIRDS AND THAT ALLOWED THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR MIGRATION LOOKS LIKE.
THEY BEAT EVERYONE, THEY COME ALL THE WAY FROM NEW ZEALAND AND END UP HERE.
OF ALL THE MIGRANTS COMING TO MONTEREY BAY, THE MOST UNLIKELY MUST BE THE SOOTY SHEARWATERS.
THIS APRIL, THEY EMERGED FROM THEIR NEST BURROWS, READY TO EMBARK ON A MIND BOGGLING MIGRATION.
SATELLITE TAGGING HAS REVEALED THEIR STUNNING ODYSSEY.
THEIR BROAD WINGS ALLOW THEM TO GLIDE OVER THE OPEN OCEAN FOR 400 MILES A DAY, PUSHED BY THE TRADE WINDS THEY FIRST HEAD EAST TOWARD SOUTH AMERICA.
BUT THEN, THE EQUATORIAL WINDS SWEEP THEM WESTWARDS TOWARD ASIA, THEN ARCING ACROSS THE NORTH PACIFIC.
BEFORE FINALLY REACHING THEIR DESTINATION, MONTEREY BAY.
AT THE END OF -- AT THE END OF A 39,000 JOURNEY.
IN ITS LIFETIME, THE AVERAGE SOOTY SHEARWATER COVERS 1.25 MILLION MILE THE EQUIVALENT OF FLYING TO THE MOON AND BACK, THREE TIMES.
ISN'T THAT AN UNBELIEVABLE JOURNEY?
I'VE BEEN TO THAT ISLAND.
THESE BIRDS GO 39,000 MILES ON THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY.
SHEARWATERS ARE CALLED TUBE NOSES.
THEY HAVE INCREDIBLE SENSE OF SMELL WHICH IS HOW THEY FIND THEIR FOOD.
THEY BASICALLY SMELL THEIR WAY ACROSS THE OCEAN AND TAKE THESE TRADE WINDS TO BRING THEM ALL THE WAY UP HERE.
NOW WHILE THEY'RE HERE, WHEN THEY'RE HUNTING FOR FOOD, THEY DON'T JUST SWIM DOWN TO WHERE THE FOOD.
IS THEY ACTUALLY DIVE DOWN AND FLY THEIR WAY DOWN TO THEIR FOOD.
THEY CAN FLY DOWN INTO THE WATER AS DEEP AS 220 FEET.
THAT'S PRETTY DEEP.
THAT'S WHERE SEALS AND SEA LIONS AND WHALES ARE HUNTING.
THEY'RE COMPETING FOR THOSE ANIMALS FOR ANCHOVIES AND THEY SHOW UP HERE IN THE MILLIONS.
THAT'S HOW MANY OF THESE SHEARWATERS THERE ARE.
THEY'RE ONLY HERE FOR A FEW MONTHS THISM STAY HERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO FATTEN UP.
THEY NEED TO BUILD UP THEIR ENERGY.
THEY PUT ON 40% OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT IN JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND NOW THEY'RE JUST ABOUT GETTING READY TO LEAVE.
BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER THEY'VE GONE ON THEIR WAY BACK TO THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.
LIZ: THANK YOU, SANJAYAN.
THOSE CLEARWATERS -- SHEARWATERS FLYING THROUGH THE WATER, BEAUTIFUL SHOT.
NOW BACK TO THE BLUE WHALE.
THIS SUMMER, THE FIRST SIGHTING UP HERE IN MONTEREY CAME ON THE 13TH OF JUNE.
SO WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
IN APRIL WE JOINED RENOWNED WHALE EXPERT MARK CARWARDINE AT ONE OF THEIR OVERWINTERING GROUNDS.
THEY USUALLY HANG AROUND HERE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL THE CAVS ARE BIG ENOUGH TO MY GRATE NORTH THIS YEAR, THE WHALES LEFT EARLY.
MARK HEADED UP HERE ALONG THE WEST COAST OF THE BAJA PENINSULA TO TRY TO CATCH UP WITH THEM.
MARK: YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE DEAD EASY TO FIND THE BIGGEST ANIMAL ON THE PLANET.
BUT WE'VE SPENCHT ALL DAY LOOKING AND HAVEN'T SEEN A THING.
IT'S QUITE SQUIRRELY TODAY.
THERE'S A LOT OF WAVES, WHITE CAPS, WE JUST CAN'T FIND THEM.
OH, LOOK.
THERE IS ONE.
[LAUGHTER] THERE IT IS.
HEAD COMING UP.
LOOK AT THAT.
THIS IS QUITE A SMALL BLUE WHALE THIS ONE.
SMALL BY BLUE WHALE STANDARDS.
THAT'S RIDICULOUS TO SAY.
PROBABLY 40 FEET LONG.
LIZ.
BUT AFTER THIS TANTALIZING ENCOUNTER, THE YOUNG WHALE QUICKLY RETURNS TO THE DEEP.
WHAT MIGHT THIS WHALE BE UP TO?
AFTER A FEW HOURS SEARCHING, MARK FINDS A CLUE.
MARK: WE WERE JUST MAKING OUR WAY UP THE PACIFIC COAST HERE AND CAME ACROSS THIS HUGE FLOCK OF SEA BIRDS.
THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY FEEDING ON SOME SORT OF PREY AT OR CLOSE TO THE SURFACE.
OK.
SO WHAT WE'VE GOT ARE PELLAGIC RED CRABS, THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FAVORITE FOODS OF BLUE WHALES.
THIS IS THE SORT OF PLACE THAT WOULD MAKE A BLUE WHALE VERY HAPPY INDEED.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN UP AND DOWN THIS COAST SO MANY TIMES.
WE'RE JUST SURROUNDED BY SWARMS AND SWARMS OF THESE RED CRABS.
LIZ: THIS IS THE REASON THE WHALES ARE HERE.
AND NEXT MORNING, HE GETS CONFIRMATION.
MARK: THERE YOU ARE.
THAT'S A BLUE WHALE.
YOU CAN TELL IT'S A BLUE WHALE EVEN BEFORE IT'S COME UP TO THE SURFACE.
IT'S ABOUT TO BLOW NOW.
YES.
WONDERFUL.
YOU CAN SEE JUST BY THE TURQUOISE COLOR UNDER THE SURFACE, AS IT RISES, THAT IT'S A BLUE WHALE.
NO OTHER WHALE LOOKS LIKE THAT.
I CAN SEE IT COMING UP HERE.
THERE WE ARE.
NICE BLOW.
BEEN TIMING THIS DIVE, IT'S DOWN FOR 14 MINUTES ALTOGETHER WHICH SUGGESTS IT'S FEEDING.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO THIS WHALE, WE'RE GETTING VERY CLOSE TO THE U.S. BORDER, ABOUT TO LEAVE MEXICO.
WE'LL WISH IT WELL AND LET IT GO ON ITS WAY NORTH AND HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, WE'LL SEE IT AGAIN LATER ON IN THE YEAR.
SANJAYAN: WHAT AN INCREDIBLE ENCOUNTER.
LET'S CHECK IN WITH AARON -- OUR CHOPPER PILOT.
HAS HE GOT SOMETHING FOR US?
AARON: WE'RE LOOKING FOR BLUES AND WE'RE NOT ABLE TO SEE ANY AT THE MOMENT.
WE'LL STAY OVERHEAD AND SEE IF WE CAN GET ONE.
WE HAD ONE EARLIER.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE CYCLES OF IT DIVING AND COMING TO THE SURFACE.
WHEN IT COMES UP, WE'LL BE HERE OVERHEAD READY TO BRING IT TO YOU.
SANJAYAN: THANKS AARON.
THEY HAVE A CYCLE, 20 MINUTES DOWN, 20 MINUTES UP.
KATE SPENCER IS HERE.
LOTS OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT THESE BLUE WHALE, YOU'RE EXCITED, I'M EXCITED.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, ONE FROM FACEBOOK.
CHARLIE THOMAS ASKS, DOES BLUE WHALE HAVE ANY NATURAL PREDATORS?
KATE: KILLER WHALES.
THAT NAME COMES FROM KILLER OF WHALES.
KILLER WHALES OVER TIME HAVE BEEN OBSERVED GOING AFTER THE CAVS OR YOUNG OF ALL THE WHALE SPECIES.
THEY COULD TAKE DOWN A BLUE WHALE CALF.
SANJAYAN: ROGER CASTLE ASKS, I HOPE TO SEE A BLUE WHALE THIS WEEK, HOW MANY ARE LEFT?
KATE: WORLDWIDE, 8,000 TO 10,000.
WE HOPE THEIR NUMBERS WILL GO UP BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME.
THEY REPRODUCE SLOWLY.
BUT THE BIGGEST POPULATION IS AROUND MONTEREY BAY, AROUND 2,000 HERE.
SANJAYAN: A BIG BLUE WHALE IS STILL A RARE SIGHT, RIGHT?
KATE: DEPENDS ON THE KRILL.
SOMETIMES WE CAN GET TO THEM EASILY.
SOMETIMES THEY'RE OFFSHORE.
SANJAYAN: WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE BIG BLUE ANIMAL.
YOU CAN CHANGE THE WAY OUR FILM GOES.
WE'LL SHOW YOU A SHORT FILM OF WHATEVER SPECIES COMES OUT ON TOP.
WHICHEVER ONE WINS.
NOW, STEVE IS ALWAYS AMONGST WHALES AND DOLPHINS, CHASING ALL THESE GIANT SHOALS OF FISH.
THAT'S HOW HE FINDS THEM.
IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT HAPPENS BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE WATER, LIZ HAS GONE INSIDE THE AQUARIUM TO FIND OUT.
LIZ: WHAT UNDERPINS THE EPICENTER OF THIS GATHERING THAT STEVE IS IN AMONGST IS THIS -- OILY FISH LIKE SARDINES AND ANCHOVIES, FULL OF FAT AND PROTEIN THAT OUR ANIMALS ARE DESPERATE TO FEED ON.
THIS OPEN SEA EXHIBIT AT THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM IS A GREAT WAY TO SEE HOW FISH BEHAVE UNDERWATER.
THEY OFTEN ZOOM AWAY.
SOMETIMES THE SHOALS CAN BE SPREAD OUT.
IN THE BAY THEY CAN BE AS WIDE AS FOUR MILES AND AS DEEP AS 100 FEAT.
EVERY NOW AND THEN THEY'LL BREAK OFF INTO DENSER, TIGHTER, BAIT BALLS.
EITHER WHEN A TUNA OR SEA LION OR DOLPHIN IS APPROACHING THEM.
NOW IT'S EFFECTIVE ANTI-PREDATOR STRATEGY WORKS AGAINST SEA LIONS AND KOHL FINS AND TUNA WHO ARE TRYING TO PICK OFF INDIVIDUAL FISH.
BUT ACTUALLY WHEN THEY GET INTO DENSER BAIT BALLS, THEY PRETTY MUCH PRODUCE A VERY EASY, NIFTY MOUTHFUL FOR THE HUMPBACKS.
IN FACT THESE 28,000 FISH WOULD BE GONE IN ABOUT TWO TO THREE HUMPBACK GULPS.
HOW DO THE HUMPBACKS ZONE IN ON THE FISH AND FEED ON THEM?
STEVE SHOULD BE FINDING OUT.
STEVE: THERE'S AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF FEED HERE FOR SURE.
ANCHOVIES HAVE BEEN SWEPT IN AND HUMPBACKS ARE FOLLOWING THEM.
IT'S HARD TO ESTIMATE HOW MANY THERE ARE, THERE COULD BE 0 HUMPBACKS CLOSE TO ME RIGHT NOW.
SO MUCH SO THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO GET A BIG SOAKING FROM THE BLAST FROM THEIR BREATH AS THEY COME TO THE SURFACE.
LOOK AT THIS.
I MEAN, OUR BOAT IS IN NEUTRAL, WE ARE JUST SITTING HERE AND THE WHALES ARE CRUISING RIGHT PAST US, TOTALLY OBLIFFS TO -- OBLIVIOUS TO OUR PRESENCE.
I CAN SEE A DARK SHAPE BENEATH US NOW.
LOOK AT THAT.
ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
OH MY GOODNESS.
I'VE JUST HEARD THAT WE HAVE, OUR HELICOPTER TO THE SOUTH OF US NOW, HAS JUST SPOTTED A BLUE WHALE LIVE.
THIS IS INCREDIBLE.
ABSOLUTELY SENSATIONAL.
BIG BLUE LIVE IS THE FIRST SERIES EVER TO CAPTURE ONE OF THESE ANIMALS LIVE ON CAMERA.
THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN REALTIME TO THE SOUTH OF US.
NOT ONLY ARE WE SURROUNDED BY HUMPBACK WHALE BUS THE LARGEST ANIMAL THAT IS EVER KNOWN TO HAVE LIVED IS IN THE BAY, IT IS RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY SPECIAL MOMENT FOR EVERYONE HERE IN MONTEREY.
EVERYONE THAT'S BEEN PART OF THIS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY.
TO SEE THIS WORK, TO SEE THIS ENVIRONMENT TRIUMPHING TO THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS ANIMAL HERE IN THE BAY NOW IN REALTIME IS JUST EXTRAORDINARY.
THESE ANIMALS, THE LARGEST ONE THAT'S EVER BEEN SEEN, A FEMALE AT 34 METERS LONG AND OVER 200 TONS IN WEIGHT WHICH MAKES HER LARGER THAN ANY OF THE KNOWN DINOSAURS.
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE SIGHT.
YOU CAN TELL THEM INSTANTLY FROM THE SURFACE BECAUSE, I KNOW IT SOUNDS OBVIOUS, BUT THEY ARE TRULY BLUE.
THE UNDERSIDE IS KIND OF YELLOW IN COLOR BUT THEY ARE MASSIVE, MASSIVE SPOUT THERE, A GREAT BREATH.
THAT BREATH IS LIKE A GEYSER, IT WILL GO AS MUCH AS NINE METERS OR 30 FEET UP IN THE AIR.
THAT SPRAY CAN BE SEEN FROM MILES AWAY THIS ANIMAL IS SO SPECIAL AND SO ICONIC BECAUSE WE SO NEARLY LOST IT.
IN THE DAYS OF COMMERCIAL WHALING AROUND 99% OF THEIR NUMBERS WERE TAKEN.
THEY WERE KILLED.
THERE WERE NO MORE THAN A COUPLE THOUSAND ANIMALS LEFT.
IT WAS THOUGHT IT WAS POSSIBLE WE COULD LOSE THE BIG WHALE FROM OUR PLANET AND IN JUST A FEW DECADES, WE'VE GONE TO THE LEVEL WHERE WE CAN THINK ABOUT SEEING ONE LIVE IN REALTIME.
THIS IS EXTRAORDINARY.
GUY, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL THINGS I'VE EVER SEEN.
HOW ABOUT THAT LIZ: STEVE, WE ARE ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO HAVE GOTTEN THAT ON THE SHOW LIVE FOR YOU.
NOW THE BLUE WHALE AGAIN.
AND IT'S NOT COMING UP THAT OFTEN.
WHICH BASICALLY MEANS IT'S DIVING TO QUITE SOME DEPTH TO FEED ON THE KRILL, AND SO IT MIGHT BE ABOUT, OOH, ANYTHING BETWEEN 11 MINUTES AND 20 MINUTES BEFORE WE SEE IT AGAIN.
WE'LL OBVIOUSLY KEEP AARON ON TOP OF THAT PARTICULAR PATCH OF OCEAN.
HOW UTTERLY EXCITING WAS THAT.
AND YOU KNOW, DESPITE AARON BEING A LEGEND RIGHT NOW IN FINDING IT FOR US, BLUE WHALES ARE NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT TO FIND AND BECAUSE OF THAT, VERY LITTLE INFORMATION HAS ACTUALLY BEEN GATHERED ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR.
BUT ONE TEAM OF SCIENTISTS IS TRYING TO CHANGE THAT.
THEY HAVE SPECIAL PERMISSION TO GET CLOSE TO THE WHALES SO THAT THEY CAN CARRY OUT THEIR VITAL RESEARCH.
I GOT THE CHANCE TO JOIN THEM OFF THE COAST OF L.A.
I'VE JOINED A VESSEL CARRYING THE GREATEST MINDS IN BLUE WHALE RESEARCH OUR MISSION IS TO CAREFULLY APPROACH AND THEN PLACE A NEW TYPE OF TAG ON ONE OF THESE ELOUIS I MARINE MAMMALS.
-- ON ONE OF THESE ELUSIVE MARINE MA'AMALS.
THERE IT IS -- MA MALLS.
-- MAMMALS.
THERE IT IS.
THERE IT IS.
YOU CAN GET THIS.
BUT THESE WHALES CAN EASILY SLIP OUT OF REACH.
YOU COULD JUST SEE IT STREAMING THROUGH THE WATER.
THIS IS VITAL RESEARCH SO WE HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT.
THE WHALES -- THE WHALE'S WELL BEING IS ALWAYS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE RESEARCHERS' MINDS SO THEY KNOW WHEN TO STOP TRYING.
IN THIS VAST OCEAN, BLUE WHALES ONLY SURFACE BRIEFLY EVERY -- EVERY 11 MINUTES OR SO TO BREATHE.
SO THE TEAM HAVE A TINY WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO SECURE THE TAGS.
LOOK AT THAT.
THAT TAG IS MEASURING ALL SORTS OF PARAMETERS.
IT'S MEASURING TEMPERATURE, PRESSURE, THE ORIENTATION OF THE WHALE.
IT'S GORGEOUS.
THE CALM YET EXCITED ANTICIPATION OF WHERE THIS BLUE WHALE IS GOING TO REAPPEAR.
WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO MOVE, YOU'VE GOT TO MOVE.
YOU CAN DO THIS, YOU CAN DO THIS.
LOOK AT IT.
LOOK AT IT.
SO SORRY.
UTTERLY ELECTRIFYING.
TO SEE THAT MAGNIFICENCE SO CLOSE.
STILL NO TAG DEPLOYED.
SIGHTINGS OF BLUE WHALES ARE RARE SO I TRANSFER TO A SPOTTING VESSEL TO PROVIDE ANOTHER PAIR OF EYES.
AND THE SCIENTISTS CARRY ON TRYING.
THIS TIME, THEY GET IT.
THE DATA COLLECTED FROM THIS TAG WILL PROVIDE RESEARCHERS WITH A GREATER INSIGHT BOO THE LIVES OF THESE OCEAN GIANTS.
-- INSIGHT INTO THE LIVES OF THESE OCEAN GIANTS.
ONE OF THE MOST THRILLING PROJECTS I HAVE EVER HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO ACCOMPANY AND WORK ON.
JOHN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
THIS IS ONE OF THE TAGS YOU'VE BEEN USING ON THAT PROJECT?
JOHN: YES, IT'S ONE OF ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT DESIGNS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF INFORMATION THIS ONE HAS CAMERAS AND RECORDS ALL SORTS OF DATA ON THE WHALE'S UNDERWATER MOVEMENT.
LIZ: WHAT I FOUND FASCINATING WAS YOU HAVE TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT THE SUCTION CUP.
JOHN: PEOPLE ARE AMAZED SUCTION CUPS CAN BE USED FOR THE WHALE.
BUT THE WHALE'S SKIN SLOUGHS.
SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PROPER SUCTION CUP DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND THAT.
LIZ: WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION HAVE BEEN YOU BEEN GAINING.
JOHN: FOR SO LONG WE ONLY SAW WHAT THE WHALE DID AT THE SURFACE.
THIS IS OUR EYE INTO THE UNDER WATER WORLD OF WHALES.
SOME OF THESE WHALES ARE DIVING DEEP, A THOUSAND FEET OR MORE TO CATCH KRILL OR FEEDING AT THE SURFACE.
THEY'RE ABLE TO MOVE IN THESE INTERESTING WAYS TO GO AFTER THE KRILL.
LIZ: AND CAMERAS ARE CAPTURING NEVER BEFORE SEEN FOOTAGE OF THE WHALE FEEDING.
LOOK AT THE LUCKY KRILL ESCAPING FROM ITS MOUTH.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
HOW ACROBATIC CAN BLUE WHALES BE?
WE KNOW HUMPBACKS HAVE THE MOST DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES FOR FEEDING, CAN BLUE WHALES BE INNOVATIVE AS WELL IN JOHN: MORE THAN WE THOUGHT.
THEY'RE SO BIG AND GRACEFUL IN THEIR MOVEMENTS BUT THEY'RE ABLE TO ROLL OVER AND GO THROUGH QUITE A FEW CONTORTIONS.
THEY CAN LOOK ALMOST LIKE A SNAKE THE WAY THEY MOVE IN THE WATER TO MANEUVER, TO GET AT THESE CONCENTRATED PATCHES OF KRILL.
LIZ: DESPITER THAT SIZE, BEING 150 TONS IN WEIGHT, IT'S EXTRAORDINARY.
IT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT SHIP STRIKES ARE THE BIGGEST THREAT TO BLUE WHALES NOW.
HOW BAD IS THE PROBLEM?
JOHN: THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DISCOVER.
SO MANY WHEN THEY'RE HIT DIE AND SINK AND DISAPPEAR.
SO WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT THESE TAGS ARE GIVING US A UNIQUE INSIGHT.
LIZ: HOW MUCH CAN THIS HELP?
HOW MANY SOLUTIONS CAN YOU FIND TO HELP REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SHIP STRIKES PER YEAR?
JOHN: WE'VE USED TAGS TO PUT ON WHALES IN SHIPPING LANES, THE AREAS WHERE WE FIND WHALES RIGHT IN SOME OF THE BUSIEST SHIP TRAFFIC AREAS IN THE WORLD INCLUDING HERE OFF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
AND THESE TAGS SHOW US WHAT THOSE WHALES ARE DOING AND ALSO HOW DO THEY REACT TO SHIPS?
ARE THEY ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY AT ALL?
ARE THEY HEARING THE SOUND OF SHIPS AND RESPONDING TO THAT?
THAT GIVES US INSIGHT INTO WHETHER SLOWING A SHIP DOWN WOULD BE EFFECTIVE OR IF WE HAVE TO SEPARATE THE SHIPS AND WHALES COMPLETELY.
LIZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOW NOGE ACCOMPANY YOU.
PLEASE CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK, I KNOW YOU WILL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE KNOW BLUE WHALES ARE CAPABLE OF DIVING TO GREAT DEPTHS BUT HOW ARE THEIR BODIES ADAPTED FOR THAT?
JOYRIDENBERG EXPLAINS.
-- JOY REIDENBERG EXPLAINS.
JOY: BLUE WHALES CAN DIVE TO EXTREME DEPTHS.
HERE IS WHERE THE HEART WOULD BE, OCCUPYING A HUGE AMOUNT OF THIS SPACE.
ON EITHER SIDE OIST, RUNNING ALONG EITHER SIDE OF THE BACKBONE IS WHERE THE LUNGS WOULD BE.
AS THE ANIMAL DIVE THE VOLUME IN THE LUNGS WOULD COLLAPSE UNDER PRESSURE.
THESE RIBS HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO BEND BACKWARDS.
THEY DO SO BY ROTATING AT THESE JOINTS.
THE HEART IS ALSO ADAPTING, AS THE ANIMAL DIVES DOWN, IT NEEDS TO SLOW ITS METABOLISM SO IT DOESN'T BURN SO MUCH ENERGY.
THE HEART RATE WILL DROP DRAMATICALLY.
THESE ARE WAYS THE WHALES ADAPT TO DIVING REALLY DEEP.
THEY USE THIS INCREDIBLY MASSIVE TAIL TO POWER THEM.
IT'S GOT MUSCLES BOTH ABOVE IT AND BELOW IT AND IT PUMPS THE TAIL IN AN UP AND DOWN FASHION.
ACTUALLY IT'S A REMNANT OF WHEN THESE ANIMALS USED TO BE LAND ANIMALS BECAUSE THE SPINE MOVES UP AND DOWN LIKE A GALLOPING ANIMAL'S SPINE MOVES UP AND DOWN.
YOU CAN SEE EVIDENCE OF THEIR LAND ANCESTRY WHEN YOU LOOK HERE AND SEE THEIR HIPBONES.
THOSE HIPBONES USED TO SUPPORT LEGS ONCE UPON A TIME.
THE TAIL ONLY HAS BONE RIGHT DOWN THE MIDLINE OF IT.
THE TWO PHALANGES ON EITHER SIDE ARE CALLED FLUKES AND THEY'RE MADE OF STIFF CONNECTIVE TISSUE.
THAT'S THE PADDLE THAT PUSHES THE WATER.
TO FUEL THAT HUGE BODY WITH TONS OF FOOD, HOW DO THEY DO IT?
THEY USE THESE INCREDIBLE JAWS.
NOTICE THE FRONT OF THE JAWS HERE.
THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER.
THAT MEANS THE WHALE CAN ACTUALLY SEPARATE THE JAWS PRETTY WIDE AND RIGHT BACK HERE, IT FORMS A JOINT WITH THIS PART OF THE SKULL.
WHEN THEY'RE FEEDING -- THEY SEPARATE THAT JOINT SO MUCH SO THAT THE BACK OF THE JAW CAN DROP DOWN AND TO THE SIDE AND THAT ALLOWS THEM TO ENGULF A HUGE VOLUME OF FOOD AND WATER.
UNDERNEATH THIS MASSIVE RIB CAGE IS WHERE THE WHALE HAS SHOVELED IN FOOD AND WATER.
BUT NOW HE NEEDS TO GET RID OF THE WATER SO IT CONTRACTS THE THROAT.
THE WATER IS SQUEEZED OUT AND THEN IT LICKS THE FOOD OFF THE BAILING AND SWALLOWS IT, THAT GIVES IT ENOUGH ENERGY TO GET TO THE NEXT REFUELING STATION.
SANJAYAN: THEY'RE LIKE TRY DENT SUB MA EEN -- SUBMARINES, THAT'S WHAT MAKES THEM HARD TO FIND.
THEY SPEND 80% OF THEIR TIME UNDER WATER THIS HELICOPTER IS UP THERE, BUT THE WHALE IS STILL UNDERWATER.
WE'RE GOING TO STEVE AND SEE IF HE HAS ANY BETTER LUCK.
STEVE: THE TIME WE'VE SPENT HERE HAS BEEN SPECIAL.
ANY TIME YOU SEE A WHALE OR DOLPHIN, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT BE HUMBLED BY THE EXPERIENCE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT DEEPLY AFFECTS YOU.
AND YET ALMOST EVERY SINGLE MINUTE THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE HAD AT LEAST ONE WHALE AROUND US.
I JUST HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL SEE THIS AND WILL WANT TO COME TO MONTEREY BAY THEMSELVES, WANT TO EXPERIENCE THIS THEMSELVES.
BECAUSE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO WANT TO DO MORE TO SAVE IT.
THIS PLACE HAS BEEN SUCH A SUCCESS THIS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY IS DOWN TO THE WILL AND DETERMINATION OF PEOPLE WHO LOVE NATURE LIKE THIS.
AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, SEEING SIGHTS LIKE THIS SEEING INCREDIBLE SPECTACLES ON SUCH A SCALE AND WITH SUCH INTENSITY, THERE ARE VERY, VERY FEW PLACES ON THE PLANET WHERE YOU CAN SEE THIS.
AND I THINK THAT REALLY EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN MONTEREY BAY, EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN CALIFORNIA, EVERYONE IN AMERICA, SHOULD BE INTENSELY PROUD OF WHAT'S BEEN ACHIEVED HERE.
BECAUSE THIS REALLY IS A PLACE THAT'S ONE OF A KIND.
AND I FOR ONE AM NEVER, EVER GOING TO FORGET BEING HERE.
LOOK AT THIS.
SPRAY IS GOING OFF INTO THE DISTANCE IN EVERY SINGLE DIRECTION.
HONESTLY THIS REALLY IS THE BIG BLUE AT ITS VERY, VERY BEST.
LIZ.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, STEVE.
TRULY GLORIOUS IMAGES FROM THE VERY HEART OF THE GATHERING.
ONE FINAL CHECK WITH OUR HELICAM, HAS THE WHALE SURFACED?
HOW DEEP IS IT FEEDING AT THE MOMENT FOR IT NOT TO HAVE COME BACK UP TO THE SURFACE?
OH, IT'S TANTALIZING.
WE'LL KEEP TABS ON THE HE WILLI CAM UNTIL THE END -- ON THE HELICAM UNTIL THE END OF THE SHOW.
SANJAYAN: IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING WEEK.
MANY OF THE ANIMALS WE'VE MET HERE IN MONTEREY BAY WILL BE MOVING ON.
THE WHALES WILL BE HEADED SOUTH.
THE GREAT BHITE SHARKS WILL BE HEADING INTO THE DEEP PACIFIC OCEAN AND THE ELEPHANT SEALS WILL BE HEADED NORTH.
SO IT'S REALLY BEEN THE BEST TIME TO WATCH THEM.
LIZ: IT HAS.
I CAN'T QUITE BELIEVE HOW GREAT IT'S BEEN, THAT'S FOR SURE.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU BEFORE WE LEAVE.
JOHN, MIKE WANTS TO KNOW HOW LONG CAN A BLUE WHALE STAY DOWN AT TEPT?
AND IT IS DOWN AT DEPTH AT THE MOMENT.
JOHN: WELL, LONGEST TENDS TO BE IN THE 15 TO 20 MINUTES.
THEY'VE DIVE UP TO 1,000 FEET DEEP, 00 METERS.
SMALL COMPARED TO SOME WHALES LIKE THAT GO TO 3,000 FEET BUT STILL IMPRESSIVE.
LIZ.
THESE ARE SHOTS WE GOT LIVE.
THIS PARTICULAR WHALE IS FEEDING AT SOME DEPTH.
JOHN: YES.
WHEN HAY GO DOWN AND HAVE TO MAKE THE TRANSIT DOWN TO THE PREY, THEY WANT TO STAY DOWN THERE AS LONG AS THEY CAN.
LIZ: GRAB AS MUCH KRILL AND RED CRAB AS THEY CAN.
SANJAYAN: THIS QUESTION FOR STEVE.
IS THERE ANY OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM IN THE BAY?
ANYTHING IN OVERABUNDANCE?
STEVE: WE DO HAVE PROBLEMS -- PROBLEMS LIKE THAT.
BLOOMS OF JELLY PHISH HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY.
THAT'S A SIGN OF THE OCEAN OUT BALANCE.
BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN THE LAST FEW DAYS IS THE NORMAL OCEAN IS EXUBERANTLY FULL OF LIFE.
THAT'S A LOT OF ANIMALS DOING THEIR REGULAR JOB OUT IN THIS INCREDIBLE OCEAN.
LIDS: AND RAMSEY, AGED 8.
HOLD ON, WE'VE GOT THE BLUE WHALE AGAIN.
A LIVE IMAGE OF THE WHALE, IT'S RE-EMERGED.
KATE, TALK US THROUGH A BLUE WHALE LIVE FOR US.
WHAT TO YOU MAKE OF THIS INDIVIDUAL?
KATE: IT'S AN ADULT, I SUPPOSE.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S GOT THAT LIGHT GRAYISH, SLIGHTLY BLUE COLORATION THAT MAKES IT GLOW UNDERWATER BEFORE IT COMES TO THE SURFACE.
IT'S ABOUT TO BLOW, YOU'LL SEE IT.
LIZ: AMAZING HOW THAT MOTTLED GRAY COLOR LOOKS SO TURQUOISE UNDER THE WATER.
WE'RE OUT OF TIME.
THERE'S THAT BEAUTIFUL BREATH.
SANJAYAN: THAT'S AMAZING.
WHAT A WONDERFUL, AMAZING PLACE.
SO MANY CHARISMATIC CREATURES.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE?
TIME TO REVEAL THE WINNER OF OUR POLL.
LIZ: AND THE WINNER OF THE THREE WE GAVE YOU, I COULD HAVE TOLD YOU THAT, THAT'S YOUR FAVORITE, THE OTTER.
I LIKED THE HUMPBACK BUT NOW THAT WE'VE SEEN THE BLUE, THAT'S MY FAVORITE.
>> FROM THE MOMENT OUR CAMERAS WERE ROLLING WHO COULD RESIST THE SEA OTTER?
THE SHOCKING KIDNAP OF BIXBY'S PUP, THEN THE RECOVERY OF ORPHAN 696 AT THE AQUARIUM.
THE SEA OTTER IS NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE.
ITS RETURN SPARKED THE REVIVAL OF THE BAY AND ALL OF ITS WONDERFUL WILDLIFE.
IT'S REALLY NO SURPRISE THAT IT'S THE SEA OTTER THAT'S CAPTURED EVERYONE'S HEART.
SANJAYAN: THAT'S THE END OF OUR SERIES AND THE END OF OUR TIME IN MONTEREY BAY.
BUT WE HAVE A BLUE WHALE.
I'M DOING MY BLUE WHALE DANCE.
WHAT A PLACE.
WE'VE BROUGHT YOU A BLUE WHALE LIVE ON CAMERA.
THIS PLACE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE GREATEST COMEBACK IN CONSERVATION HISTORY.
LIZ AND I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
IF IT CAN HAPPEN HERE, IT COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE.
LIZ: WHAT STRUCK ME, HOW ASTOUNDING A HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM CAN BE.
IT'S A BREATHTAKING SIGHT TO WITNESS, INCLUDING WHEN THERE'S A BLUE WHALE LIVE ON TELEVISION.
WHAT'S ALSO STRUCK ME IS THE DEDICATION AND PASSION OF THE SCIENTISTS WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH.
NOT ONLY ARE THEY HELPING TAOS UNDERSTAND THIS REMARKABLE PLACE, THEY'VE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR TAOS BRING IT ALL TO YOU.
THIS IS WHAT WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE LIVING ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER CAN LOOK LIKE.
SANJAYAN: A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE MONTEREY AQUARIUM AND MONTEREY BAY SANG WARE FOR BRINGING THIS EVENT.
PLEASE JOIN US, YOU ALL HAVE MADE THIS SHOW.
IF YOU LIKE WILDLIFE, GO WATCH PBS.
LIZ: TAKE CARE AND GOOD NIGHT.
THANK YOU.
>> "BIG BLUE LIVE" WAS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE ANN RAY CHARITABLE TRUST AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
PBS LEARNING MEDIA
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