♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ announcer: funding for presentation of this program is provided by... woman: two retiring executives turn their focus to greyhounds,

giving these former race dogs a real chance to win. a raymond james financial advisor gets to know you, your purpose, and the way you give back. life well planned. announcer: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. announcer: and now, "bbc news" (blowing) victoria: delving into the lives of antarctica's giants. chris: there's two animals. yup. victoria: that is pretty amazing to be able to see them under the water... hello beautiful. (blowing) chris: humpback whales come 8,500 kilometers here to feed.

victoria: the antarctic peninsula, a brutal and fragile place, is a hotspot for marine wildlife. victoria: perfect fluke! chris: it kinda looks like play. it's just wild. victoria: but this place is changing... the climate is shifting in the antarctic peninsula faster than anywhere else in antarctica. we're with a team of wildlife scientists who are trying to find out how some of the biggest animals in these waters are responding. chris: some populations around the world are getting skinny because they're not getting enough to eat because of climate change impacts. juvie's coming up on the left, mom's pooping! victoria: we'll discover secrets that are hidden in the bodies of these huge marine mammals. sarah: liquid gold! victoria: and why scientists need to be here to protect this vast, icy wilderness.

♪ ♪ (explosion) victoria: today, the archive footage looks shocking. it shows our brutal history with antarctica's whales. film narrator: very soon, the giant carcasses are made ready to yield our store of sperm oil and other products so vital to our post-war needs. victoria: some were driven to the brink of extinction by commercial whaling during the 20th century. film narrator: the small whalers bring their catches to the mother ship, through this slipway in her stern, will be drawn the many monsters she hopes to catch. victoria: that was banned 40 years ago. but research is now uncovering new threats to the future of these animals. that's why scientists make the long journey across the notoriously rough southern ocean to antarctica. sarah: woke up to my nightstand crashing across the room. because we'd hit, apparently, a 12-meter wave. i've never been in waves like that before. victoria: sarah is one of the wildlife biologists

that we're traveling with. to reduce the impact and the expense of their research trip, she and the team are hitching a lift on a tourist ship. sarah: the science and the tourists want to go to the same places, where there are these hotspots of biodiversity or animals, and so we're going to the same places and get to do science at the same time. victoria: we can see our first ice berg, that means antarctica is getting very close now. when we reach the peninsula, the waters calm and antarctica reveals itself. the coldest continent on earth. a vast ice sheet that holds more than half the world's fresh water. hundreds of species depend on these cold, rich seas. ♪ ♪

for the scientists on board, this is where the hard work begins. the researchers we're following has special permits to study antarctic whales up close. chris: let's do it. victoria: but first they have to find them. natalia: i heard something, but... victoria: natalia botero acosta has spent more than a decade studying humpback whales. natalia: i think it started swimming, it was like lifting a peck. victoria: her work stretches from tropical waters of colombia, where the whales breed. to the end of their 8,000 kilometer migration, antarctica. how is working in antarctica for somebody from the tropics... natalia: it's fascinating. but i do get cold. a lot. sarah: there's, there's. ohh! victoria: when we spot a whale, natalia reaches for a surprising piece of scientific equipment. tell me about the crossbow, is that, is that a weapon, nat? natalia: no, it's not a weapon by any means, it's a tool. it's a scientific tool. we use it to collect, uh, you know blubber and skin samples.

it goes with these bolts, modified too. at the very end of this, we screw a tip, maybe three centimeter tip. and then inside it's like three barbs that hold the tissue, but this, this barrier sort of, like prevents the bolt from going inside further and then bounces back into the water. victoria: and this is how you get a tissue biopsy from a wild humpback whale. the tube on the end of the arrow takes just a tiny nick out of the animal's body. natalia: the sample is you know, three centimeters, something like that, for an animal, obviously, you know, 16 meters long, so it's essentially a mosquito bite. (bow pops) victoria: well it clearly doesn't bother them very much because they're hanging around the boat. nat just got a sample from mum, is that right? natalia: we got a sample from mum, yeah. victoria: she's still just surfacing, she's right here. natalia: you know, it's extremely important for us to get these samples. they're so informative, there's so much that we can do...

victoria: in that tiny piece of tissue. natalia: in that tiny piece of tissue. it used to be that the only way to sort of like, get information like that was with a dead animal. victoria: that's what we came for. one of the things the researchers can tell with this small nugget of tissue is if a female humpback is pregnant. natalia: so the pregnancy is super valuable, because it's sort of like a direct way for us to see if the population is actually growing and to tell the impact of, for example, climate change. that information is critical to then develop, you know, conservation plans and actions. in years when we have low sea ice, then the following year, you have lower pregnancy rates. and that's as good as it gets in like, you know, getting to know the environment and getting to know the effects of all these conservation threats on the animals. (bow pops) victoria: natalia has got the precious sample, so just gotta pop that in the bag, and that goes back to the ship, right? natalia: yes, into the freezer and there you go, until we go back to california.

victoria: working from a tourist boat means the team can reach and work in several sites around the antarctic peninsula. but it also means, they have to improvise. this is a tourist vessel, so it's not necessarily kitted out for scientific experiments, this isn't a lab, um, it's a store room. there's lots of stuff in here, kit bags, and... there's costumes even for some of the staff but it has become a laboratory for processing of these very precious samples of whale tissue. natalia: blubber. the like pinky, whiteish tissue. hormones accumulate there. and then the skin, which is the black tissue. ooh, that's a good one! sarah: that's a beautiful one. victoria: why is that a beautiful one? i mean it looks like... natalia: this is a, a good chunk of blubber. and that's very valuable. like, that means that you can probably do the hormone analysis maybe even a couple of times. like, in a couple extractions. victoria: analyzing this blubber will reveal chemical clues about the health of the animal. the tiny piece of skin provides a genetic profile

for each whale the team studies. whatever isn't needed for analysis will be cryopreserved, kept in very cold storage indefinitely. so then that's for... just for future analysis. natalia: future projects, and like, collaborations... yeah, it's, it's... the more you do with the samples, it's so hard to get them, especially here in antarctica, that you know, so it's, it's just better practice. sarah: and new technologies, too, as things develop. so, samples can be used in the future for things we can't even predict. natalia: right, right. exactly. victoria: for now, the researchers have reserved space for their samples in an old freezer. woman: good morning folks. it's around 6:15 am. crew: heading on 1-7-3. woman: it's 4 degrees celsius, or it's 39 degrees fahrenheit. now with fairly low winds.

victoria: every day working here is precious, an opportunity to gather data in one of the richest, most productive parts of the southern ocean. chris: everybody good? victoria: and during this research trip, the team will have just four days in the peninsula. chris: let's go. so, we are going to go that way... victoria: chris johnson is from the world wildlife fund. chris: we were gonna go this way, now we're gonna go that way. so we're a kinda mixed up right now. let's take a peek. we're gonna go take a peek, that way. victoria: he's the charity's global lead on whale conservation. as we search, the weather closes in. chris: one of the best ways that we can find humpback whales in these conditions, when it's foggy and it's snowy, is actually listening. so we'll turn off the zodiac engine, close our eyes, and just listen for the blows. (whale call) we'll hear big blows of humpback whales and

you can hear them for quite a far distance, so even though you can hear them it may take a while to find them. (blowing) ready? victoria: there's another piece of kit to help in the search. (drone motor revs) chris: we're looking, using the drone. it's kind of our eyes in the sky to help us look for whales. and we can get, basically, photos and videos of it. flying above it. victoria: using drones has transformed scientists' ability to observe these marine mammals. chris: we have these ocean giants all around us... ...their pectoral find are so white. it's really easy to follow them in this water. victoria: this is much more than a beautiful aerial view. the team uses the drone to work out the humpbacks' weight, from the length and width of their bodies. chris: we're measuring how fat it's becoming over the season. and that's really important because they're storing enough energy to make the long migration back to their

breeding ground in the eastern tropical pacific, and that's over 8,500 kilometers, so they've got to bulk up. some populations around the world are getting skinny, because they're not getting enough to eat, because of climate change impacts. victoria: one recent 20-year study of humpbacks in the north pacific showed that the population had declined because of a shortage of food that was linked to rising temperatures. it's why scientists monitor the whales here, what's happening to these hungry marine mammals is a signal of what's happening in the whole ocean ecosystem. chris: climate change, uh, from fisheries bycatch, to vessel strikes and underwater noise pollution, it's all adding up, longterm, in terms of poor health. and that's what we're really concerned about. victoria: this is why the whales come here to feed, antarctic krill. each just a few centimeters long, collectively there's an estimated 400 million tons of these crustaceans in the southern ocean. that's similar to the combined weight of every human on earth.

chris: well we think they're feeding on about one to one and half tons, per day, of antarctic krill. victoria: per day? chris: per day. and we've been underestimating that until the past few years when we've done this research. victoria: there is a krill fishery here. krill oil is used in some animal feed and supplements. there are strict catch limits to protect antarctic wildlife. but conservationists are concerned about the extra pressure that fishing puts on the environment. chris: this work is helping us to find where whales feed, why they're feeding, and what are the most critical habitats for them on the antarctic peninsula, so we can make those no fishing zones. victoria: these creatures are much more than whale food, they help keep the ocean healthy and our planet cool. krill eat microscopic plants that grow in sea ice, plants that suck carbon out of the atmosphere. so these tiny animals, just by growing, eating and excreting, send planet-warming carbon to the bottom of this cold ocean.

but climate change is warming the ocean and since 2017, there's been a worrying decline in sea ice here. and that's why scientists need to come here to figure out what impact that's having on some of the biggest animals in these oceans. one way to do that is to examine what's coming out of the animals that depend on krill. chris: juvie's coming up on the left, mom's pooping.. sarah: liquid gold! victoria: is that what i think it is? sarah: it's exactly what you think is and it smells exactly like you think it would. victoria: it's whale poo? sarah: whale poo, yep. victoria: and why... i mean, the glamour never stops in the science game, does it? why, why do you need a sample of whale poo? sarah: diet. victoria: right. sarah: it'll give us information on what they're eating. it's amazing, it's so hard to get, like... victoria: right. sarah: liquid, smelly gold. victoria: back aboard the ship, this precious specimen can be stored safely. it is ripe! sarah: it's very ripe. but you can actually see little chunks floating in it, which was a surprise to me. i mean, i've never held whale poo before. you could also do all sorts of cool things like get hormones from poo, you can look at dna.

victoria: wow, and, and i mean, i suppose it's difficult, it's really difficult to find. right, because you have to be next to a whale... sarah: right, and it's in the water and it can usually just disperse really quickly. this one was a little bit harder and stayed clumped together in a way i wasn't expecting... victoria: i love how you describe this. sarah: isn't it magical? and i was just able to take handfuls and smush it into the jar. victoria: well done. sarah: thank you. (laughter) victoria: this continent is unique, there's never been a war here. it's a land dedicated to science. chris: we can look at the data in columbia and compare it with the antarctic peninsula and be able to monitor the population the whole way. victoria: the antarctic treaty is a global agreement drawn up more than 60 years ago that now has 56 signatories. it states that antarctica will be used for peaceful purposes

and scientific co-operation. one of those permitted, peaceful purposes is tourism. and that's growing. before the 1980s, just a few hundred people came here each year. in the summer season between 2022 and 23, more than 100,000 people visited. steffi: that boat shed on the shore, that's now staff quarters... victoria: steffi is an expedition leader for a tour operator. it's her job to plan an antarctic itinerary for the 200 people on board the ship we're that traveling on. steffi: weather, ice changing dynamics... and the industry was designed when 100 passenger vessels were the larger ships, okay. and now 100 passenger vessels are the smaller ships. victoria: the international association of antarctic tour operators sets out guidelines for the industry. including restrictions on the numbers of people that can go ashore. and keeping a safe distance from wildlife.

the plan was that we would land here today, but it's not possible because there are too many penguins... and the rules to tourism are that everybody has to keep five meters away from the wildlife and as you can see here, it's not actually possible to get out of the boat and be five meters away from a penguin. tourist: hello! victoria: but you can't regulate how the animals will respond to tourists. as we found out during an encounter with some leopard seals. nico: the leopard seals discovered that they like to play with the, with the boats they are really curious, so whenever we have some leopard seals around we have to be careful because they, being curious and play, and they can try to chew the ends. oh, there it is! so, we can take some pictures and we slowly go away. victoria: two leopard seals popped up and followed the boat for about five minutes. we were moving slowly away, keeping our distance and we don't want to get nibbled. that was absolutely amazing. they're just not scared at all, they're just really curious. victoria: even with all the rules, tourism can leave its mark.

anyone visiting could unwittingly bring in seeds or microbes, that don't belong here, on their boots and clothes. there's even evidence of soot left on snow from ship exhaust. but, according to the international union for the conservation of nature, when people experience antarctica in person, it can inspire them to protect it. tourist: my favorite color is blue and every time i see the deep blue inside the ice it's like looking into the soul of something. it's so nice, it's real beautiful. tourist 2: everywhere you look there's wildlife. it's beautiful. victoria: have you had any favorite encounters? tourist 2: leopard seal. i love leopard seals, they're my favorite. i just adore them. they're the perfect combination of deadly, beautiful, and slightly ugly and we love it, we love it. victoria: what did you think of the, the cruise ship going by? that was kind of a strange sight, yeah? tourist: oh, i did wave with them and went, 'hello fellow unwanted species!" victoria: and while the scientists are here to gather data, they're also share their findings,

and conservation messages, with the passengers. chris: and we're gonna talk a lot about good news. this is not gonna be a bad news talk. you're gonna be inspired by the end of it. victoria: is it strange, in some ways, to be on a tourist ship? what's that like for you? because tourism is a pressure on this place too, isn't it? chris: it is. tourism is something that we need to regulate closely. so we tend to work with operators and where we can talk about conservation messages to the public. and one of the new things we're discovering are that whales are critical to ocean health. and so that type of partnership is really special and it really helps us try to protect this incredible place that we have. victoria: coming here repeatedly means scientists can monitor this environment. it also means they can capture some fascinating wildlife behavior up close. in krill hotspots these social, intelligent animals work together to gorge themselves. chris: oh, this is fantastic!

victoria: trapping their prey inside a net of bubbles. chris: they're blowing bubbles in a circle and they're coming up right through the center of the bubble net to feed. it's absolutely spectacular. natalia: wow, look at that. that's such a cool... hello! waving with a pectoral fin. victoria: this animal is using its fins to feed. chris: it kinda looks like play, but it's using it's pectoral fin as a tool. to sweep the krill in. that is wild. victoria: these playful giants seem to be engaged in an interspecies dance with a seal. the researchers want to identify and do what they can

to protect wildlife hotspots around the peninsula. natalia: that is pretty amazing to be able to see them under the water. oh, they're beautiful. sarah: my new favorite color is the blue of a humpback whale under the water. it's a very specific color. oh, watch out. chris: i'm sorry. sarah: i'm going to ask crayola to make that color for me. victoria: we can even see evidence of close family bonds. chris: theres two animals. humpbacks need their moms to care for them, you know, and, uh, help navigate this kind of wild place. victoria: while the researchers are curious about the whales, the whales seem curious about us too. they raise their heads above the water... passenger: oh, my god! victoria: "spy hopping" to see what's going on.

chris: mom, beautiful. mom looks like she's going to come under us. she's right under us. she's going to come up. just, uh, hold on to the boat in case she touches the boat. passenger: oh, she's huge! victoria: oh my word, i have never seen a humpback whale that close before in my life. i'm a little bit scared, i've got to admit. they're gigantic. passenger: how did you feel when it went under the boat? victoria: a little bit apprehensive. this is so beautiful, this is so beautiful, this is so beautiful, this might be the most beautiful thing i've ever seen. the team makes the most of every minute they have here. natalia: so, so far we have 67 samples between this trip and the previous one. an amazing, amazing success. um, last year in the same situation, two trips,

uh, we got 40. victoria: today is their last day. the more samples they can get, the more detailed picture they'll have of what's happening to this environment. natalia: you gotta be patient. you gotta give the animal some space and understand their behavior and, you know, every now and then you, you actually get a result. chris: is that a female, it's hard to say. natalia: it didn't react. it didn't make a big deal, so maybe a female. (laughter) chris: yeah, that's natalia's test. yeah, the males are like, you know, we're, we're a little bit more... more anxious. you know? (laughter) we are sensitive, we got a whale up at your 12 o'clock. victoria: occasionally a whale will show its irritation. chris: so, phill, sometimes we get a reaction like that and it's like a little mosquito bite for whales and

it's really temporary. so, sometimes we'll see a fluke slap or a pec slap, uh, but it's something that is very temporary and is not long lasting. you wanna try one more... sarah: why not? chris: and then call it? i think this is going to be our last whale, so i'm gonna put the drone up and let's do it. dick, i can see 'em in the water now over by the edge of the rocks. victoria: but sometimes, after all that feeding, whales are too tired to participate. natalia can only take a biopsy from a moving whale that's arching its body out of the water. now, can you just tell me what you're gonna do? natalia: i'm just gonna try to hit the water to, like, wake her up a little bit. victoria: because they're asleep and you cant... natalia: oh yeah, they're very sleepy. victoria: natalia can't get access to the right part of the body because these two humpbacks are really sleepy. she tried to wake them up by putting just a dart in the water to make a splash, but it didn't work.

what happened? natalia: i shot at the water and it didn't move, no reaction whatsoever, nothing. it was just like, "eh." victoria: seems they rest well. yeah, they're just... they're just napping. chris: hello, slowly waking up. victoria: when the humpbacks finally wake up, natalia can take her last shot. one final, precious tissue sample. chris: it's gonna do one big breath. it's gonna go. victoria: the end of an antarctic expedition is a time for reflection. natalia: just grateful... for the opportunity to, like, just do what we do in a place like this, um, and just connecting data that is so important, and so critical, for humpbacks and for the ecosystem. victoria: this trip was a chance to gather clues about this remote wilderness.

clues the researchers will use to build a picture of the health of this fragile place. chris: i'm at peace in this environment. i feel more connected to nature. and we're getting this important data, to bring to policy makers to make really important changes in international policy and protect this area for antarctic krill, for humpbacks, for penguins. you know, this place is not only important for nature, but it's also important to us. victoria: just as marine wildlife depends on this place, so do we. this icy ocean cools our planet. so scientists will keep a check on its largest inhabitants, the whales. whose bodies hold the clues about the effect we have on this precious environment. natalia: i can't believe it's over. it seems like yesterday... chris: i know! natalia: that we made it ashore. chris: what an epic place. i mean, we had perfect weather,

amazing whales around us. i think it's time to go home. so, let's hit the road. natalia: yeah, there you go. that's it. chris: let's do it. okay. let's go! crew: that's a wrap! victoria: oh, a hug for me! chris: that's so awesome. victoria: no tears on the boat. chris: nope. it's been awesome. awesome to have you. sarah: what a beautiful place. announcer: funding for presentation of this program is provided by... financial services firm, raymond james. announcer: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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amna: good evening. i'm amna nawaz. geoff bennett is away. on the “news hour” tonight, president biden acknowledges mistakes in last week's debate, but insists he will stay in the race for the white house. we report live from london as