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tv   Nightline  ABC  December 30, 2017 12:37am-1:07am PST

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this is "nightline." >> tonight, swimming with killers. we're on a journey to the coast of norway with an adventurer determined to expose the majesty of orcas to the world. and a former killer whale trainer getting the chance of a lifetime. >> we're ready to go swimming. >> why these predators are now at risk. ♪ despacito >> it was the song of the summer, song of the fall, nominated for song of the year. on look back with luis and his video costar, a former miss universe, how their viral sensation began as a love letter to women and their homeland. >> when i saw the video, everybody's dancing, everybody's so happy. and that's what you see.
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>> but first the "nightline 5." ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> any object, any surface. if you've got a life, you've got a swiffer. >> num here's your receipt. have a nice day! thank you. ♪ ♪ start the car! start the car! start the car! start the car! the ikea winter sale. wooooooo! get up to 50% off select items.
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now through january 10th. ikea. really? really? really? really? really? see zero in a whole new way. get zero down, zero deposit, zero first month's payment, and zero due at signing on select volkswagen models. now with the people first warranty. good evening. thank you for joining us. tonight we join an adventurer on a journey to the freezing waters of norway coming face-to-face with wild killer whales.
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they're apex predator, now the ones being hunted. can the work of this modern-day viking turn the tide? here's abc's gloria riviera with "another look." >> reporter: when you see them here, the limitless expanses of the blue oceans, it's hard to think of them like this. confined to tanks. >> they belong in the wild. >> reporter: at least that's the hope of marine biologist and adventurer andreas hyda and his crew as they set out on a journey to the edge of the map to come face-to-face with orca whales in a way few will ever see them. diving into arctic waters, risking life and limb to swim with the killer whales. >> our motivation for being out there is to show the orcas and whales in their natural elements to us and everyone that sees them. it's very obvious that these animals does not belong in captivity. >> reporter: even though these mighty beasts are the apex predators of the sea, they are
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the ones at risk. >> firestorm tonight over a proposal to ban a very popular attraction at seaworld. >> the company is launching a big pr blitz, attacking the credibility of a stinging documentary that explores the death of a seaworld trainer -- >> reporter: it was four years ago, "black fish" made waves for aquatic theme parks. highlighting when the filmmaker claims are the cruel realities of killer whale capture. >> the whole hunt was over, there were three dead whales in the net. >> reporter: underscoring the risk the trainers face when they dive into the tanks for performances. >> he said, there's been an accident and a trainer was killed. >> reporter: the backlash against one-time staples like seaworld -- >> boycott seaworld! >> reporter: almost immediately tangible. >> i look at the beautiful ocean and wish the whales confined at seaworld had freedom. >> reporter: orca whale breeding programs by and large ended in the u.s. whale shows as we knew them
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permanently canceled. but now asian markets are getting into the act. >> has the effect of "blackfish" caught on globally, in asia? >> we are making rapid progress in the west, whereas they are going backwards. >> reporter: china has developed a booming appetite for aquatic entertainment with over 40 sites across the country, and more under construction. premier parks have already angered conservationists with their beluga whale shows. recently the company began acquiring orcas captured from russian seas. the live captures are allegedly transported by truck to china where there are no federal animal welfare laws regulating their care. >> these are the ones that actually hunt and kill other dolphins, seals, sea lions, et cetera. when they get caught and put in a tank, they know how to hunt. i'm very concerned about the safety of these trainers. >> reporter: chinese state media releasing the first videos of
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the orca whales earlier this year. >> it started with nine at one facility. we know there's four in a second facility. the concern is that if the two facilities are successful, there's going to be another one that's going to be i want an orca, i want three orcas, i want nine orcas, who knows. >> reporter: video and social media, a crucial tool for activists like dr. rose. >> we are doing everything we can to reach as many people as possible. these viral videos are getting literally birdseye views that we've never had of these animals before. >> they are on the top of the food chain, and they are incredibly smart. you can see that by being in the water with them. as a storyteller, we want to share this. >> reporter: dubbed the modern-day viking, andreas' trek to find the killer whales is not easy. >> we sail for seven to nine days along the norwegian coast, covering two-thirds of it. >> reporter: it takes over a week to reach a town in northern
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norway near the whales' freezing feeding grounds. >> most of the year these orcas are out in open water where it's very difficult to follow them. >> reporter: andreas captains a sailboat. he invites an unlikely crew mate, floridian and former orca trainer jess cope. for her this trip has a personal meeting. >> i have a picture of me at 6 years old sitting on shamu. fast forward 20 years later. i've got a video of me doing the whale show at the miami aquarium. doing a show like that, it's not about the people clapping and the audience. it really is about the relationship that you have with these animals that you've built over so many years. >> shame, shame, shame on you! >> reporter: she says ones "blackfish" was released, things started to change. >> it was a very sad and disheartening experience to have
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all of a sudden our career be negatively viewed. >> reporter: eventually jess transitioned careers and miami sea convey seaquarium stopped orca shows. she couldn't pass up an opportunity to swim with orcas again. >> heading to the airport, bye, florida! >> reporter: she sets off to norway. >> just landed in oslo. i'm so excited. it looks very cold outside. >> reporter: and boards the "barba." >> home sweet home. >> reporter: from there they set off into the freezing waters. they must endure subzero temperatures. navigate through snowstorms and polar nights. >> some of the worst sailing is when you get caught in bad weather. >> reporter: deal with cramped conditions below deck. >> hello! >> reporter: the matter of actually finding the whales. >> two boats, two fishing vessels. no whales yet. >> reporter: but eventually --
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they see their black fins over the waves. >> i've never seen anything so beautiful in my life. >> once we see whales, we approach them gently. sometimes we just hang around for hours. and then at some point they will start coming up to the boat once they are relaxed and calm. >> i was so excited. i was like, let's go, let's go! >> reporter: it's finally time to suit up. >> we're ready to go swimming. >> reporter: even though these animals are fierce hunters, they have only wet suits for protection. >> they're exceptionally powerful, they could kill you in a second. they choose not to. >> reporter: they dive in. and come face-to-face with the mighty orcas. >> it was just really incredible to see them there in their natural habitat. i got like so close.
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>> guiding the human elements to a documentary. people are to a greater extent able to identify themselves with the story that's being told. >> reporter: putting them one step closer to achieving their goal, raising awareness for the well-being of these gentle giants in the wild. and for jess, giving her a new outlet for the calling she felt all those years ago. >> it sparked back up that enthusiasm to continue to work with marine mammals, continuing to grow that passion, that i can hopefully share with other people all over the world. >> reporter: for "nightline," i'm gloria riviera. ♪ despacito >> next, luis on creating his hit song "despacito" and what he loves about the justin bieber collaboration. afi sure had a lot on my mind. my 30-year marriage...
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"despacito" has transformed luis fonsi to an international superstar. he opens up about the song being an ode to his homeland and what he thinks of the justin bieber collaboration. here's my coanchor juju chang. ♪ >> reporter: the inescapable song of the year, dominating the charts, infecting our brains with its undeniably catchy hook. ♪ despacito >> reporter: reaching number one on billboard's top 100, and staying there for 16 weeks.
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this song reaching number one in 47 countries. >> despacito! >> reporter: from the latin grammys to the american music awards. >> despacito! >> reporter: now nominated in three categories for the upcoming 2018 grammys. >> i'm very proud that a spanish song was nominated for song of the year, record of the year, huge categories, two of the biggest categories. >> reporter: if it wins it will be the first spanish song ever to win best song of the year. yet outside the latin music world most people had never heard of luis fonsi. you're a 20-year overnight success. >> yeah, that's exactly it. >> does it feel fresh? >> it does. that's the exciting thing, it feels like this is my first album, like i'm new to the game. >> reporter: fonsi is no stranger to seductive, chart-topping hits.
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a latin grammy award-winning singer known for ballads like this. ♪ >> reporter: but it was "despacito" that helped him reach an international audience, including none other than justin bieber, who says after dancing to the song in a colombian nightclub, he wanted in. ♪ despacito >> we had a full-on english translation. and vocals recorded in english. and we thought he was just going to do an english version. but no, he took the time to learn it in spanish. ♪ >> people are impressed with bieber's spanish. >> i was impressed. >> it's legit? >> it is very good. >> reporter: fonsi says it it's a dream come true that started with a simple rhyme. >> i wake up one morning and have this melody and word in my head. ♪ despacito i had the rhyme, puerto rico, which is where i'm from. and ibandito. that afternoon i had a writing
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session with a great friend. ♪ >> reporter: erika ender is a latin grammy award winner herself. >> i grab my guitar and play it for her. we started making the whole thing from scratch. building the whole melody. >> four hours later we had "despacito." ♪ >> we knew that it had to be urban fusion in a certain way because that's what's going on right now. >> reporter: that's where rapper daddy yankee came in. ♪ >> then i tell him, why don't we talk about a man that is trying to get to a woman in a very nice way. because this genre is normally very aggressive with women. and i think this song, it's very respectful. ♪ >> reporter: the video's director, carlos peres, says fonsi had a simple yet poignant idea for the video. >> almost like a day in a life inside the culture of puerto rico. ♪ we're talking about who the lead could possibly be. we all knew that it had to be
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someone that felt credible in the environment and above and beyond all really was a true representative of the beauty if the caribbean. >> reporter: if showcasing puerto rico's beauty was the goal, zuleka rivera was the answer. >> they said, i want you to feel the music. i just want you to be here. just walk from here to there. and just feel the music. whatever you feel about the song, just do it. so pretty much i was freestyling. >> miss puerto rico! >> reporter: that's her back in 2006 being crowned miss universe, bringing home the win for puerto rico. the dress she wore in that video a nod to her pageant dress. >> when i saw the video it's like, everybody's having a great time. everybody's dancing. everybody's so happy. and that's what you see in puerto rico.
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>> reporter: turns out the single most-watched youtube video of all-time was all shot in one day. and edited here in this small studio in miami. >> this is where it happened. >> reporter: the finished product? ♪ despacito >> this field like a love song to puerto rico. >> it's a very sensual song. but i think the star of the show is puerto rico. it's such a special place. and it's an inspiration behind my music. >> reporter: fonsi who lives in miami was recently named tourism ambassador for his beloved puerto rico. his song being used to lure visitors who are needed now more than ever. >> we begin with that monster hurricane gaining strength in the atlantic -- >> reporter: first hit by category 5 irma. then ravaged by maria. months later, the lingering devastation still a daily reminder of the storm's force. >> la perla, where we shot the video, where you see those beautiful colorful houses, is completely devastated.
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i've been back twice there. the houses have no roof, people had to move out, you know. it was just -- still no electricity, no running water. >> reporter: officials say 56 people have died as a result of the hurricane. but that number now being questioned, thought to be over 1,000. ♪ with not enough help coming from the outside, fonsi has joined forces with "hamilton" creator lin-manuel miranda to raise millions in relief. >> we're willing to drop everything to help. use the resources that we have, the connections that we have, to raise money to bring people together. >> reporter: as the island continues to recover, that "despacito" music video serving as a time capsule of what once stood there. >> we might not understand every lyric, you might not know what despacito means, you just want to sing to it, sing along to it and move, and that's good enough for me. >> reporter: for "nightline" i'm juju chang in new york. ♪ despacito
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>> our thanks to juju. we'll be right back. feel the power of thenew power...smax. ...to fight back theraflu's powerful new formula to defeat 7 cold and flu symptoms... fast. so you can play on. theraflu expressmax. new power.
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ikea. really? really? really? really? really? see zero in a whole new way. get zero down, zero deposit, zero first month's payment, and zero due at signing on select volkswagen models. now with the people first warranty.
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♪ ♪ start the car! start the car! the ikea winter sale. wooooooo! get up to 50% off select items. now through january 10th. ikea. ♪
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♪ it has been a joy and a privilege to bring you "nightline" this year. we can't wait to see you again in 2018. as we leave you tonight, we take a moment to acknowledge the many people our "nightline" family who make this broadcast possible. for all of us, happy new year, america.
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[ splash ] [ horn sounds ] dang! ok, i gotta run. hey, wait, there's something i need to tell you- dang.

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