To us, winter can appear magical.
The way the snow transforms the landscape
is little short of miraculous.
But for the animals who have to live through it,
winter is a time of incredible challenges.
This is the story of a small group of baby animals
facing some of the harshest conditions on the planet.
Polar bear cubs following their mums
to the ends of the Earth.
Reindeer calves trying to keep up with the herd.
Young otters and Arctic foxes learning to fend for themselves.
Penguin chicks racing to independence.
And baby snow monkeys
who must find their place in the troop to survive.
With the help of their mums...
dads...
and families,
they might just make it through their first year.
These are the snow babies.
Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth.
In winter, there's little daylight
and the temperature may fall to minus 80 degrees centigrade.
But for one remarkable animal, this is home.
The emperor penguin.
Winter fades.
Spring isn't the only new arrival.
He may be tiny, but he has a huge adventure ahead of him.
If he's to survive his first winter,
he must learn to stand on his own two feet by then.
For the moment, though,
he relies completely on his parents.
Or, more precisely, his dad.
This little chap has never met his mum.
Two months before he hatched, in the darkest days of winter,
she set off to get fish for her and her unborn chick.
But right now it's 80 kilometres to the water's edge
and she has a long journey home.
Dad has fed his son what he can, and has little left to offer.
He needs a proper meal...
and soon.
So does Dad.
He hasn't eaten for over 100 days,
and weighs half what he used to.
But he can't leave until Mum comes back.
All they can do is wait...
and hope that nothing has happened to her.
At last, a sight for sore eyes.
It's the mums, returning with fish and squid
for chicks they've never even set eyes on.
It's a warm welcome home.
But with 20,000 penguins all calling out at once,
how will the mums ever find their own families?
Incredibly, even in the uproar,
penguins can recognise the calls of their partners.
She's found them.
Reunited at last.
After two months apart,
the adults spend a tender moment together.
The chick has never seen his mum before, and is a little shy.
For Mum, it's love at first sight.
After months of it being just the two of them,
it's hard for Dad to let go.
It takes a lot of gentle persuasion...
but he's finally ready.
The chick has only a thin down to keep him warm.
Just two minutes on the ice would be enough to kill him.
They have to move fast.
Mission accomplished.
The young chick gets his first full meal,
Mum gets time with her baby,
and Dad can finally go fishing.
Just 80 kilometres to go.
At the other end of the world,
in the high Arctic,
winter is equally harsh.
It engulfs the world like a ghost.
It whips the land without mercy.
But, again, it doesn't last for ever.
Spring reveals new life.
This polar bear cub was born two months ago
and has only just come out of her den beneath the snow.
Mum has been feeding her on rich, fatty milk,
but hasn't had anything to eat herself for almost eight months.
She needs to get them moving,
just as soon as she's sure Baby can keep up.
If she's to make it through her first year,
the cub will have to be continually on the move.
It's the only way to survive in a place where food is hard to come by.
Mum makes it look easy.
Baby's not so sure...
..and needs some gentle reassurance.
But if they're to catch any seals
they'll need to get onto the sea ice before it starts to melt.
And the sooner, the better.
They've got a lot of travelling to do.
Further south, the snow is still thick on the ground.
The nights are still long,
and the temperature well below freezing.
This shivering little reindeer has only just been born...
..yet she has only a few hours to find her feet
and join the rest of the herd.
The reindeer, or caribou,
are on the longest overland migration of any mammal,
searching for tender new grass revealed by the melting snow.
But new-born calves are an easy target for hungry wolves.
Shadowed as they go,
these reindeer may walk more than 4,000 kilometres in a year
and the calves will have to keep up to survive.
But even animals born to run must take a break some time.
When reindeer calves play, they aren't just having fun -
they're getting fit and agile
practising the defensive moves they'll need to survive.
And not a moment too soon.
A white-tailed eagle has got them in its sights.
These enormous birds can easily kill a young calf.
A small group of mums and calves have strayed away from the herd.
A miss.
But the eagle isn't giving up.
A strike.
The eagle succeeds.
It's a harsh lesson for the surviving calves,
but they must stay with the herd.
With one calf less, the herd continues north,
chasing the melting snow.
The thaw is also a busy time for adult Arctic foxes.
Spring brings new mouths to feed.
By the time winter comes around,
these cubs must be all grown up and completely independent
so they have a lot of learning to do.
And, as we all know, youngsters learn faster when it's fun.
The cubs are still too young to hunt for themselves,
but they've seen their parents catching rodents under the snow
and are already honing their skills.
It's Mum.
But she's come back without any food.
It's still early in the year and there's little for her to catch.
Mum isn't about to give up, though.
She heads back out to try again.
Until they can hunt and scavenge for themselves,
all the cubs can do is wait and hope.
In the polar regions, winters are long and harsh
and spring is slow to arrive.
The same is true here, in the mountains of Japan,
where winter is a brutal affair.
There is little greenery and few plants to eat.
But when spring finally comes,
life returns quickly.
A troop of macaques makes the most of the sunshine.
It's the perfect time to welcome a new addition to the family.
It's a baby boy.
This tiny monkey will need all the warmth, protection and milk
his devoted mum can offer.
Surrounded by greenery,
it's hard to believe that Japanese macaques
are also known as snow monkeys.
Yet, in only six months' time,
this baby monkey will be in a world of white.
If he's to make it through his first winter,
he too has a lot of learning to do.
Not just about feeding himself,
but also about fitting in.
Snow monkey troops have a very strict pecking order.
A queen-like female rules the roost.
Below her, a whole cast of class-conscious males
decides who gets into the gang...
..and who doesn't.
Probably best just to stick with Mum.
Polar bear cubs must also stay close to their mums.
It's the only way a cub is ever going to learn how to hunt.
Ringed seals make their dens in the sea ice.
But polar bears have the best sense of smell of any mammal.
Unfortunately for her,
ringed seals flee at the first hint of danger.
Only 2% of polar bear hunts are successful,
so Mum will just have to keep trying.
At least, Baby has seen how it's done,
though she might need a little more practice.
Mum's not giving up.
Seals make their dens in the ice,
so the rising temperatures mean that they will soon be gone.
Despite her growing hunger,
Mum still makes time to play with her baby.
But the clock is ticking.
As the sea ice gradually melts, the seals will head out to sea.
They have to keep moving, searching for their prey.
The cub keeps up as best she can,
but polar bears might walk as much 55 kilometres in a day
and that's tough on a cub's tender little paws.
The cub takes a rest to soothe them.
But there's no time to waste.
It's time to get moving again.
In the Antarctic, spring is slower to take hold.
But the penguin chicks are growing fast.
And no wonder - in four months' time,
this chick will be heading off to the open ocean.
In the meantime, there's some local exploring to do.
As far as Mum's concerned, a little independence is no bad thing.
Still, better follow him, just in case.
At the first sign of mischief,
he's dragged back by the scruff of the neck.
But this little chap has a will of his own.
In the beginning, it's brilliant.
It's his first slice of freedom, and it tastes great.
The trouble is that he's in a colony of 80,000 penguins.
Everyone looks pretty much the same.
The result is inevitable.
He's completely lost.
It's the moment every toddler dreads.
All he wants is to find his mum.
But this mum belongs to someone else.
Oh, dear.
Some of the other females have lost their babies,
and their maternal instincts are so overwhelming
they'll steal any stray baby they see.
Suddenly, he's running for his life.
It's chaos and very frightening.
He's on his last legs...
..when Mum comes to the rescue.
The chick has learned his lesson about leaving his mother's side.
Though he might have preferred a slightly more dignified exit.
In the mountains of Japan, baby snow monkeys are still busy
trying to find their place in the pecking order.
Being the youngest in the troop can be tough
when all the older kids have already worked out who their mates are.
But if this monkey doesn't make friends,
he could be in real trouble when winter comes round.
An older baby comes over to investigate...
..and a friendship begins.
Soon, everyone wants to say hi.
It's official - he's part of the gang.
The snow monkeys are the only one to live to hang out in gangs
So do the emperor penguins
This little chick is not old enough to look after himself
while mum and dad go fishing
He's made a lot of friends.
And he and his mates look out for each other...
..most of the time.
There's the odd disagreement, of course.
Though it's usually quickly forgotten.
Mum and Dad are now both working full-time
just to keep their baby fed.
Even with the ice melting and the sea getting closer,
it's still a two-week round trip to catch food.
The adults have no choice.
Their chicks have some serious growing to do
if they're to leave home before next winter.
But, even in summer, the weather can turn in an instant.
In an Antarctic blizzard,
temperatures can quickly fall to minus 67 degrees Fahrenheit.
The chicks' only chance of survival is to huddle together for warmth.
The cold, though, is only part of the problem.
They've lost the rest of the colony.
They have two choices.
They can stay together and hope that they are found,
or they can break the huddle, search for the remaining adults,
and risk freezing to death.
Young and afraid, they decide to risk it.
But they could be heading in completely the wrong direction.
In the end, luck is on their side.
Even at the height of the blizzard,
there's still a column of adults bringing fish back from the sea.
The chicks are led home like a party of lost schoolchildren.
Back with the colony, they form a creche once more.
But nothing beats snuggling up to Mum.
Hanging out with your mates is all very well
but mums are definitely better.
This is boom time for the reindeer.
The little calves are feeding for themselves now.
Though they'll still drink mum's milk when they get a chance.
But danger is never far away.
The wolves have decided to strike.
Their strategy is fear.
Panic the reindeer,
and the calves will fall behind or get separated from the herd.
In the chaos, anxious mums call desperately for their babies.
Most of the calves are lucky.
This one was separated but survived.
Now she just needs to find Mum.
But while there may be safety in numbers,
it's also easier to get lost.
THEY CALL TO EACH OTHER
Found at last, and desperate for Mum's reassurance.
Others may not have been so fortunate.
But at least this little one is safe and back with the herd.
At the peak of the Arctic summer, the sun never sets.
This constant warmth and energy
triggers an incredible burst of life.
Millions of seabirds flock to the cold, rich seas now freed from ice.
Humpback whales arrive for a spectacular feast
of shrimp-like krill.
The fox cubs get their share of the feast - an adult seabird.
They're already displaying signs of independence, fighting over food.
As adults, they will live largely alone,
and it's quickly becoming every pup for himself.
High above them, guillemots race to feed their hungry chicks
while summer lasts.
Only three weeks old, it's time for the young birds
to take their first flight into the unknown.
And they only get one shot to reach the safety of the sea,
with mum following anxiously behind.
For many, it's a perfect - if bumpy - landing.
But not all of them succeed.
A botched first flight delivers easy pickings for a mother fox.
Wily Mum stores her catch for harder times ahead.
In the Arctic, it pays to be prepared.
The summer thaw in the Antarctic has melted much of the ice...
..and this penguin colony is now on the verge of being washed away.
It's make or break time for the chicks.
They've started growing their waterproof adult feathers
and their parents have stopped feeding them.
It's time to take to the water, whether they like it or not.
Eventually, after much hesitation,
they summon their courage and take the plunge.
Swimming is a wonderful discovery.
At last, they're almost the same size as the adults...
..and a perfect meal for a leopard seal.
Having barely wet their beaks, they shoot back on to the ice.
It's been a harsh introduction to the reality of life at sea.
But they can't stay here for ever - they have to start fishing.
It's time for another deep breath.
This time, they swim straight out to the open ocean
and off to independence.
High summer in the Arctic and there's little ice left.
It's the hardest time of year for hungry polar bears.
There are still a few seals, but not enough ice to hunt them on.
There's only one thing for it.
Polar bears are superb swimmers
and can easily swim 30 miles in a day.
Mum is perfectly at home under water.
but seals can swim faster and deeper.
It's time to admit defeat and head for dry land.
Eventually the days close in.
Summer slowly fades.
A chill comes to the mountains of Japan.
Mothers and babies must cuddle together for warmth.
Autumn is finally here.
As they make the most of the dwindling grass,
the reindeer calves also grow thicker coats.
The fox cubs' coats are not just getting thicker,
they're also getting paler to match the coming snow.
They'll be leaving home soon to face their first winter alone.
As a result, their play is much more like real hunting now.
And playing with their food is positively encouraged.
When you're having fun,
it's easy to think that the good times will last for ever.
But there's no mistaking the change in the air.
Further north, these polar bears have swum back to shore.
Until the sea freezes over again, there's little for them to eat.
What is Mum up to?
Actually, desperation is setting in.
She must forage for what she can.
A bit of seaweed hardly helps with the hunger.
It's more like a vitamin supplement than a meal,
but it's better than nothing.
While Mum hunts in the water,
baby grabs the chance to hunt on land.
Just a little bit more practice.
Her baby is still getting milk
but it's been months since Mum last ate a proper meal.
And these bones from a beached whale were picked clean years ago.
All they can do
is wait for the sea to freeze over.
When winter comes, it makes a dramatic entrance...
..arriving with a force
that the snow babies have never experienced before.
The youngsters have learned all they can.
For most of them,
it's time to face the greatest challenge of their lives.
With the change in season, the reindeer turn south.
1,000 freezing miles now separate the calves
from the lush southern pastures.
At last, the first shock is over.
The world is transformed.
In Japan, this year's babies are seeing snow for the first time.
At first, they're just curious.
Then they get creative.
Snow monkeys are quick learners,
and this young monkey has found
a wonderful way of entertaining himself.
Making snowballs.
The only problem is it keeps rolling away.
Or maybe that's the point.
After all, why else would he take it to the top of the hill again?
For this particular troop of macaques,
making snowballs has become part of their unique culture.
By copying the others,
this little monkey is doing his best to stay part of the gang.
When you're young, snow is fun and extremely exciting.
But the sense of fun doesn't always last.
Snow monkeys are the most northerly monkeys on earth
and face winter temperatures that are well below freezing.
There's nowhere to shelter...
..and food is hard to come by.
But snow monkeys are nothing if not resourceful.
They'll eat berries, leaves, fruit, nuts and insects.
And, when there's no food on the ground,
they'll try the water.
And that includes the babies.
Small crustaceans are hiding under the rocks,
and this baby snow monkey has been taught by his mum how to find them.
It's fiddly work and the water is freezing...
..but beggars can't be choosers.
With their thick coats,
adult snow monkeys are well equipped to deal with the wind and the snow.
The babies aren't so lucky.
Without some respite, this baby could be in real trouble.
As winter deepens, even the sea freezes.
The surface turns to icy slush.
Gradually, the ice merges into flat plates.
Eventually, after much toing and froing,
the plates lock together...
..and the sea becomes land again.
At last, the Arctic is just how polar bears like it.
They are back on solid ice,
and seals are back at the top of the menu.
Hunting day and night,
this mum has been making up for lost time.
Ringed seals are abundant
and the ice is no longer melting underfoot.
Mum is having a field day,
and so too is her little cub.
With their bellies full, they take a well-earned rest.
It's 12 degrees Fahrenheit below...
..and just how they like it.
And what about the fox cubs?
They're all grown up and living on their own now.
Their winter coat gives them the best insulation of any mammal
and excellent camouflage in the snow.
This cub is now a master at hunting rodents scurrying beneath the snow.
But some of the best food is served frozen.
Whether killed by illness, or by the cold,
this adult reindeer will keep for a long, long time.
The cub's mum and dad would be proud of him.
The reindeer calves are also independent of their mums.
Heading south, they are keeping one step ahead of the weather...
..ensuring the snow is still shallow enough to move through
and find food in.
Arctic wolves may still be shadowing them
but the calves are bigger and faster now
and no longer easy prey.
The young reindeer still have an epic journey ahead of them,
but the future is definitely looking brighter.
But the reindeer aren't the only ones on an epic journey.
Having left the ice at the height of the summer,
they've journeyed well beyond the Antarctic Circle.
At over a metre long,
the young penguins are now the same size as their parents,
and they can dive to depths of over 500 metres on a single breath.
They are, at last, the essence of freedom.
But life doesn't look quite so easy for the Japanese macaques.
In their volcanic mountains,
the snow monkeys are living up to their name.
The weather has taken a turn for the worse.
But they have a secret.
Heated by the volcano, it's an enormous hot tub.
For a little monkey, it doesn't get better than this.
Surrounded by family and friends,
all his efforts to get in with the rest of the troop
have finally paid off.
He hasn't been left out in the cold.
But there's someone who deserves some special attention.
She's seen him through the toughest times.
She's nursed him, protected him, and taught him everything he knows.
Because of her, his future is looking good.
Thanks, Mum.
Thanks to everything they've learned along the way,
all our snow babies have made it through
the most difficult time of their young lives...
..with a little help from family and friends.
Subtitles by funnykiddy and LATINO