Frozen Planet II
Finding a mate and hunting for food is a constant battle in Antarctica…
Sunday, 8pm, BBC1 Factual
We head to Antarctica to discover how bird life is adapting – for instance, fishingindustry practices mean male Antipodean wandering albatrosses are choosing same-sex relationships. We also see how climate change is causing ice to melt rapidly, nearly wiping out chinstrap penguins. Meanwhile, killer whales have honed their hunting techniques and leopard seals are after penguins as food.
Antipodean wandering albatrosses have one of the most-elaborate courtships of all birds, and in this week’s Frozen Planet II, we see them desperately seeking love in Antarctica.
We’ll see a male albatross pull out all the stops to impress an unlikely partner – another male. This is because the fishing industry is wiping out so many females that males are now turning to samesex relationships.
‘A same-sex relationship may not bring any survival advantage but it’s apparently preferable to life alone,’ says Sir David Attenborough, who narrates the series.
Fight for life
Once again, this episode showcases how climate change is affecting the continent’s wildlife, and includes the sight of chinstrap penguins succumbing to hyperthermia. We also revisit killer whales and witness how they’re being forced to tackle more ferocious prey because their favourite Weddell seals are being pushed further on to the ice, and we see desperate king penguins take to the waters despite the presence of numerous hungry leopard seals in order to feed their chicks.
‘They will return in a month to once again face death everywhere,’ says Sir David. ‘It is surely one of the greatest challenges faced by any parent. ‘Antarctica is losing the one element that defines it – ice. That’s having a serious effect on the animals that live on its coast.’