Nature

NARRATOR

Dolphins... -

Squeaking

NARRATOR

...the cleverest creatures in the ocean.

Upbeat tune plays

NARRATOR

They may seem familiar, but their undersea lives are a mystery. To uncover their story, an array of spy creatures with hidden cameras will infiltrate the dolphins' world.

Dolphin squeaking

NARRATOR

They'll reveal some remarkable fishing strategies and even more spectacular events. Encounter the greatest dolphin in the ocean, discover their unique hunting tactics... and how they teach their young the family business. Finally, hitch a ride on the back of a dolphin...

Squeaking

NARRATOR

and take a leap into another world.

Outro plays

NARRATOR

Dolphin blows

NARRATOR

In South Africa, a superpod of common dolphins is on the move.

Blowing

NARRATOR

Spy Dolphin joins them and films from the camera in its eye. The dolphins are after a special meal, one only served up at this time of year.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

The feast happens every winter, and draws together one of the greatest animal gatherings on Earth.

Squeaking rapidly

NARRATOR

To track it down, they work as a team. Speed is everything. The dolphins want to get there first.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

By working together, they gain the advantage. And it's begun -- the greatest fish migration on the planet. Shoal after shoal of sardines will be running, their numbers in the billions, but to catch them, they must work as a team. They dive deep beneath the shoal and start to herd it upwards.

Squeaking continues

NARRATOR

The fish stick together for safety. The dolphins' task is to break down their defenses. They use loud calls and bursts of bubbles to help drive them.

Squeaking continues

NARRATOR

The shoal fragments into more manageable bait balls. Now, the feeding begins. But sardines are never eaten alone.

Squawking

NARRATOR

Gannets have been watching from above. They seize the moment.

Cacophony of squeaking

NARRATOR

Gannets aren't the only gate-crashers. Bronze whaler sharks join the party.

Ominous music climbs

Squeaking continues

NARRATOR

The dolphins wisely beat a retreat. Just in the nick of time.

Ominous music plays

NARRATOR

A 40-foot Bryde whale.

Squeaking fades

NARRATOR

Squawking

NARRATOR

And he's not the only ocean giant attracted by the gathering. The world's largest dolphin is here, too. The orca.

Ominous music plays

NARRATOR

Orcas always travel as a family and they, too, rely on teamwork.

Calling

NARRATOR

But they aren't after the sardines. They're here for the dolphins.

Calling continues

Dolphins squeaking

Suspenseful music plays

NARRATOR

They dive deep to take them by surprise. A close shave for the dolphin and a disappointment for the orcas. But working as a family, they will have many more chances. In neighboring Mozambique, Spy Turtle is following a pod of bottlenose.

Dolphin blows

NARRATOR

He's one of many different Spy Creatures who have been watching how these dolphins work together as a team.

Dolphin squeaking

Spy whirring

NARRATOR

Spy Baby joins the underwater menagerie. This new, remote-controlled Spy Creature also has cameras for eyes. He's on the trail of a young male that has just left his mother's pod.

Lullaby plays

Rattling, squeaking

NARRATOR

This youngster has to survive without the support of family or friends, and it's not something he likes very much. He unearths a tube worm; not the quality of seafood he's used to.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

And he's in need of company, so, for now, the new Spy Creature will do nicely. -

Squeaking

NARRATOR

-

Whirring

Squeaking

NARRATOR

-Spy Baby records his lonely call...

Squeaking

NARRATOR

then, plays it back to him.

Squeaking

Prolonged squeaking

NARRATOR

The dolphin responds with his signature whistle.

Whistles

Whistling

NARRATOR

And Spy Baby plays this back, as well.

Whistling

NARRATOR

These unique whistles are used like names, repeating the call as a sign of friendship.

Squeaking continuously

NARRATOR

He picks up a mangrove seed...

Rattling

NARRATOR

and presents it to Spy Baby.

Rattling

NARRATOR

It's another friendly gesture.

Moan

Rattling

Chattering

Squeaking

NARRATOR

Offering gifts is common among dolphins, but Spy Baby can never be the companion he needs.

Whirring

Squeaking

NARRATOR

He must find real dolphins if he is to thrive in this new stage of life. In the Caribbean, there is a bottlenose dolphin with a very useful talent. He's happy to carry tiny cameras into the wild. Each day, this tame dolphin is given free rein to explore the open ocean. He returns when he wishes, with a recording of his adventures. From this unique position, it's clear how he glides through the water with such ease. Powerful beats of his tail give him perfect control as he searches for company. But another dolphin finds him first.

Squeaking

Prolonged squeak

NARRATOR

He could hear his call from 10 miles away. By happily swimming side-by-side, they show they're friends.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

Only dolphins that know each other come this close. -

Prolonged squeaking

NARRATOR

-

Squeaks

NARRATOR

They partner up as they start looking for a meal. Despite the wealth of fish life on the reef, the dolphin has learned to be choosy. Many fish are distasteful, or poisonous. Up ahead is a barracuda -- a wholesome meal. But it's quick and has a nasty nip. It's not worth the trouble. A giant snapper presents the next opportunity. But it, too, is armed to the teeth, and best avoided. Surprisingly, the barren-looking seabed offers the easiest possibilities.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

He scans it with sonar, moving his head like a minesweeper.

Creaking

NARRATOR

When he finds a hidden fish, he IDs it by upping the sonar's intensity.

Prolonged squeaking

NARRATOR

A tasty tidbit for all the effort. Single dolphins have to rely on their personal skills and abilities for everything. It's a different matter for those that hunt as a pod.

Squawking

NARRATOR

-

Dolphin blows

NARRATOR

In South Carolina, bottlenose take teamwork to a whole new level. -

Squawks

NARRATOR

-

Blows

Blows

NARRATOR

The results are spectacular. Fish explode onto the shore. They just have to be plucked from the mud.

Whirring

NARRATOR

Spy Dolphin moves in for a closer look. He follows as the dolphins patrol the shallow creeks to find yet more fish shoals.

Blows

Whirring

NARRATOR

The technique requires close cooperation.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

But one dolphin makes the final decision -- selecting which mud bank to use. Then, he leads the charge. The fish leap in panic, right onto the shore. The dolphins may hunt like this 15 times on each low tide.

Whirring

NARRATOR

These techniques are only known by a few local individuals, and they have to be learned by younger members of the group. Stranding is a serious hazard for dolphins. But these have mastered the knack.

Honking

NARRATOR

As dolphins are so intelligent, they can tailor the way they catch food to exploit specific, local conditions.

Whirring

NARRATOR

Back in Mozambique, the young dolphin that's left his pod still cuts a lonely figure.

Clicking

Squeaking

Whirring

NARRATOR

It's important for him to find a companion. And Spy Baby doesn't measure up to the job.

Clicking

NARRATOR

But Spy Baby soon spots someone who might.

Tranquil tune plays

NARRATOR

It's not a bottlenose. It's a rare humpback dolphin, -

Squeaks

NARRATOR

a different species entirely. Regardless, the young bottlenose still seems interested.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

And something extraordinary appears to be happening -- they seem to be making friends.

Squeaking continues

NARRATOR

-

Calls

NARRATOR

This is the first time such a peculiar partnership has ever been filmed. -

Squeaks

Squeaking

NARRATOR

They strengthen their relationship by swimming close together. It may not be a match made in heaven, but at least it's company. Orcas are never lonely. Their families stay together for life.

Blows

NARRATOR

British Columbia has among the highest number of orca pods in the world.

Blows

NARRATOR

A family is led by the eldest female, while her daughters and granddaughters follow behind.

Blows

NARRATOR

Unlike most dolphins, even the males stay with the family.

Blows

NARRATOR

His dorsal fin is over 6 feet high.

Blows

NARRATOR

These family bonds are among the strongest in nature, and any hunting knowledge gained is kept exclusively within the group.

Blows

NARRATOR

A calf learns the family secrets from an early age. What he knows depends on which pod he's in. -

Blows

NARRATOR

-

Blows

Blows

Squeaking

NARRATOR

-This pod specializes in hunting fish. -

Pod calling

Squeaks

NARRATOR

And, as salmon migrate into the bay, the whales are in for a treat. The orcas know just how to catch them and stealth is not required.

Calling

NARRATOR

They rely on shock and awe. They make as much noise as possible, slapping the water with their 6-foot-wide tails. The shockwaves stun or disorient the fish. And breaching adds to the confusion. They then charge into the shoal of confused and frightened fish. Each orca must catch 50 salmon a day, and their group skills make sure that none go hungry. Nearby, another pod favors completely different food. They specialize in catching dolphins and seals. Their culture is so different from the fisheaters, they even speak a separate orca dialect. The two pods never interact. These hunters spot their food by spy-hopping. A wake may be the only sign.

Blows

NARRATOR

They check again. It's just what they've been looking for. Dall's porpoises -- the fastest dolphins in the ocean. They reach speeds of over 35 miles per hour. Orcas nearly match them for speed, but the little porpoises are much more maneuverable. As the orcas dive, they go silent, switching to stealth mode, and try to sneak up undetected. But the porpoises just keep on accelerating. The orcas' endurance is tested to the limit. And the porpoises race to freedom. The orcas look for far easier prey. A lone sea lion is an unsuspecting target.

Suspenseful music climbs

NARRATOR

Tranquil tune plays

NARRATOR

Along the coral reefs of Mozambique, another Spy Creature joins the surveillance team. This is Spy Puffer, a pufferfish with a camera in his mouth.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

He immediately starts filming the young male and his humpback friend.

Whirring

Squeaking

NARRATOR

They seem to be getting along just fine. A second pufferfish joins. This one has cameras for eyes. They make a great double act -- one films forwards; the other, sideways.

Squeaking

Squeaking

NARRATOR

They immediately prove popular.

Squeaking

Whirring

NARRATOR

-Close by, Spy Baby has found yet more dolphins.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

It's gang of young males that have also just left their mothers. They seem totally unfazed by their first meeting with Spy Baby.

Squeaking

High-pitched squeak

NARRATOR

These young males hang out together, both for company and to share knowledge. The young bottlenose may have made a friend, but it's the wisdom of the crowd he needs. He cautiously approaches the gang with the humpback by his side.

Rattling

Whistling

NARRATOR

He whistles out with his name, but there's no guarantee he'll be accepted, especially with his strange friend in tow.

Whistling continues

NARRATOR

The humpback stays close as the bottlenose tries to join the pod.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

He's seeking reassurance from his friend.

Suspenseful music plays

Tranquil tune plays

Squeaking

NARRATOR

A pod doesn't accept newcomers willingly, even those of the same species. A dolphin starts to drive the humpback away.

Squeaking

Wails

NARRATOR

And, anyway, humpbacks tend to prefer their own company.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

As he turns to leave, his bottlenose friend must decide whether to stay, or join him.

Rattling, squeaking

NARRATOR

But, to the bottlenose, it's clear where his choice should be. As the humpback returns to a solitary life, his friend tries his luck with the motley crew.

Rattling

Squeaking

NARRATOR

The pod has a strong hierarchy, but he has an unusual method to wheedle his way in.

Whistling

NARRATOR

He begins to act like a female, deploying feminine charm to win them over.

Rapid squeaking

NARRATOR

It seems to be working. They even perform mating rituals.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

By discovering his feminine side, he's gradually accepted. Every male undergoes this initiation rite before he's allowed to join the gang. This is his new family now, and he'll soon be party to everything they know.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

Such strange rites of passage have never been filmed before and have previously been mistaken for males attacking females. In other parts of the world, more strange rituals are still being discovered. Recently, in Shark Bay, Western Australia, -

Blows

NARRATOR

-some bottlenose dolphins have taken to wearing what look like...hats. They're actually sea sponges, which they balance on their noses.

Blows

NARRATOR

The reason they carry them remains a mystery.

Rattling

NARRATOR

One thought is that they use them to protect their noses as they root around in the sand. But some look a bit big for the job.

Blows

NARRATOR

As they live in such cloudy water, the real reason has yet to be confirmed.

Blows

NARRATOR

Sometimes mysteries just add to an animal's intrigue. Just a few miles away, the unique behavior of another bottlenose pod is better understood.

Blows

NARRATOR

-Each day, they enter this shallow bay.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

They seek the fish that gather around the shoreline. -

Rattling

NARRATOR

-As the fish dart away, they instinctively head to the shore, where it's too shallow for dolphins.

Chattering

NARRATOR

But this is all part of the dolphin's strategy.

Chattering

NARRATOR

Fish that make a break for it are chased right back. As usual, the young are watching and learning.

Chattering

NARRATOR

The fish soon hug the edge of the beach, but they've been lulled into a false sense of security. The dolphin now steps on the accelerator, powering into the dangerously shallow water.

Roars

NARRATOR

The sudden turn of speed raises her back clean out of the water. A few thrusts from the tail, and she hydroplanes across the surface, covering 30 feet in less than a second. Using this technique, she easily outpaces the surprised fish and also avoids becoming stranded. It's a skill practiced only by the dolphins of Shark Bay.

Blows

NARRATOR

Our camera dolphin, back in the Caribbean, shows just how dolphins talk to each other.

Chattering

NARRATOR

If another dolphin calls...

Whistling

NARRATOR

he immediately answers.

Honking

Honking

Whistling

NARRATOR

He uses dozens of different sounds, telling all the dolphins in the local area where he is and what he's doing.

Whistling

Honking

NARRATOR

The lips of the blowhole act like a mouth, adjusting the sound.

Chattering

Squeaking

Tweets

NARRATOR

Before long, his calls are answered.

Squeaking

Honking

Whistling

NARRATOR

In murky water, it's the only way they can stay in contact.

Whistling

NARRATOR

Different pods have different dialects or accents, and each sound has a specific meaning. -

Honking

NARRATOR

-

Whistling

Honking

Squeaking

NARRATOR

They hear a far greater range of frequencies than we can, so we can only eavesdrop on a fraction of their conversations.

Honking

Whistling

Honks

Whistles

Honking

NARRATOR

Blasts of bubbles add emphasis to what he's saying.

Puffing

Chattering, whistling

NARRATOR

And special calls are reserved for the opposite sex. Some of their sounds are quite bizarre.

Barking

Prolonged honk

NARRATOR

This is actually a love song, and it seems to be working.

Barking

NARRATOR

The females allow him to approach. But not for long.

Yelping

Prolonged honk

Squeaks

NARRATOR

He catches up, and, this time, the females wait for him.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

He checks her out. But she's still nursing, so, of no interest at all.

Squeaking

Prolonged honking

NARRATOR

He takes a deep breath. Time for a well-earned rest, after all his efforts. He starts to go to sleep. And the fish play Dare around their snoozing predator. Dolphins have a bizarre way of sleeping. Each half of their brain rests in turn, allowing the other half to stay awake and alert to danger. In Mozambique, the male pod is still very much awake.

Chattering

NARRATOR

And Spy Squid is on filming duty. He's found a hawksbill turtle. Squid takes a closer look. But he needs to be careful.

Sinister music plays

NARRATOR

A potato cod has him in his sights. Squid beats a retreat. And then goes back to work.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

-It's not a moment too soon. The pod is chattering with excitement.

Chattering, whistling

Squeaking

NARRATOR

Two friends stick close together as the reason for their concern becomes clear.

Rapid whistling

Suspenseful music plays

NARRATOR

Another gang of males is approaching.

Chattering, wailing

NARRATOR

The home pod takes up defensive positions as the two groups square off for a territorial fight.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

Then, they start to rumble.

Squawking

Whistling

NARRATOR

When two pods come together, the existing hierarchy can break down.

Squeaking

Chattering

NARRATOR

It's how new groups and alliances are formed.

Chattering continues

NARRATOR

The pair decide that, for now, they're safer on their own.

Whistling

NARRATOR

They leave the rest to fight it out. They may rejoin the pod when things calm down.

Honking

NARRATOR

Bottlenose can choose when to be social or alone, but some dolphins don't have this option. It's late summer in Patagonia and the beaches are packed with breeding sea lions.

Rumbling

NARRATOR

And as the young pups are about to enter the water, an orca pod arrives like clockwork. They are a family that has hunted here for generations, and they have devised a spectacular way to get a meal.

Sea lions barking

NARRATOR

The adult sea lions are wise to their plan, -

Bark

NARRATOR

-and usually see them coming.

Barking

NARRATOR

But the new pups aren't so savvy.

Rumbling

NARRATOR

The orcas patrol the surf zone, waiting for one of them to make a mistake.

Honk

NARRATOR

Sooner or later, they have to enter the water. And this is when the orcas strike. A near miss, but she'll have plenty of other chances. -

Grumbling

NARRATOR

-

Purring

Barking

NARRATOR

But when it comes to catching sea lion pups, there is one orca better than all the rest.

Suspenseful music plays

Barks

NARRATOR

The expert is a 50-year-old male who's hunted these waters all his life. The technique is a family tradition, and training starts at an early age. It's like this beach is part of their family estate. Each orca uses its own subtle variations, but none is as accomplished as the old male.

Barking

NARRATOR

This should be suicidal for a 10-ton orca. Around the world, hundreds die from stranding each year. Even he seems to be struggling. But he has survived for half a century. He clearly knows what he's doing. He's never left high and dry. Even in a pod where skills are shared, there is always one individual who outshines the rest.

Triumphant music plays

NARRATOR

Despite the value of working in a pod, in Mozambique, the two dolphin friends discover there can be advantages to being independent.

Squeaking

NARRATOR

They meet a group of females, and are already faring better for being on their own.

Whistling

NARRATOR

A female has even started to show some interest, flirting with the young male.

Squeaking

Honking, rattling

NARRATOR

Things are going well, but the pair won't be alone. -

Honking

NARRATOR

-

Rumbling

NARRATOR

His best friend doesn't get that three's a crowd. -

Whistling

NARRATOR

-

Rumbling

Chattering

NARRATOR

Not put off, the female shows her interest by some seductive moves. She also blushes pink -- a total giveaway. And there's nothing subtle about her fin slaps. Yet, all the time, the courting pair are accompanied by the young male's friend. -

Whistling

NARRATOR

But this wingman has a job to do -- watching his friend's back while he's...otherwise engaged. He chases off other males that might muscle in.

Whistling

NARRATOR

In dolphin world, it's what best friends are for.

Tranquil tune plays

NARRATOR

And, to guarantee success, the courting male gathers a bouquet of seaweed for his new love.

Whistling

NARRATOR

As the happy couple plays with the garland, their relationship is complete. It seems that the friend isn't doing too badly, either. He's found himself a girlfriend, too.

Rattling, whistling

NARRATOR

Two matches made in underwater heaven.

Whistling

Squeaking

NARRATOR

Back in the Caribbean, the camera dolphin is doing what dolphins love the most -- racing through the waves. Like all the dolphins we've seen, he has taken us on an incredible journey into his secret world. He then treats us to something extraordinary -- he barrel-rolls with joy. Then, for the first time, the view from his back as he leaps. Dolphins are the cleverest creatures in the ocean. And, as they've shown us, they certainly have the most fun. Out on the reef, Spy Squid goes on one last adventure. He soon meets his archenemy -- the potato cod. Another joins. And yet another. This doesn't look good. He valiantly keeps filming, but he's completely surrounded.

Sinister music plays

NARRATOR

And then, catastrophe.

Distorted tune plays

Powerdown

NARRATOR

Among the fishes, he rests in pieces, but like all the Spy Creatures, his job is done. To learn more about what you've seen on this "Nature" program, visit pbs.org.