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Polar bears thrive at this time of year thanks to the huge platform of sea ice on which they can hunt.
北極熊在這個(gè)時(shí)節(jié)活力旺盛，是受它們能夠在其上狩獵的巨大海冰平臺(tái)所賜。
The arctic ocean lies across the top of the northern hemisphere and over the north pole itself.
北極洋占據(jù)北半球的頂端，并且橫跨北極。
And is surrounded by three continents -- Europe, North America and Asia.
也被三個(gè)大陸環(huán)繞--歐洲、北美洲及亞洲。
In winter, the sea ice extends across an area of over five million square miles.
在冬天，海冰遍布超過五百萬平方英里的地區(qū)。
But off the coast of arctic Russia, a tiny pocket of water has been kept open.
但在北極俄羅斯的海岸，一個(gè)微小水孔持續(xù)開著。
By the continuous stirring of 30 trapped beluga whales.
因?yàn)?0只受困白鯨不停攪動(dòng)。
These four-metre-long arctic whales are superbly adapted for hunting far beneath the surface of the sea ice.
這些四米長的北極鯨絕佳地適應(yīng)了海冰表面下深處的狩獵行動(dòng)。
Nonetheless, being mammals, they must return to the surface to breathe every 15 minutes or so.
盡管如此，因?yàn)樯頌椴溉轭悾鼈兠?5分鐘左右就得回到表面呼吸。
But this cold spell is exceptionally severe.
但這個(gè)寒流特別嚴(yán)酷。
And there's not another breathing hole within 20 miles.
方圓二十英里內(nèi)，沒有別的洞得以呼吸。
Nearby fish and squid disappeared long ago.
附近的魚與烏賊早就消失無蹤。
These emaciated whales have been imprisoned by the ice for five months, and they're now starving.
這些瘦弱的鯨已經(jīng)被冰囚禁了五個(gè)月，它們現(xiàn)在餓到不行。
Their only chance of escape will come when there is a change in the season.
唯一逃脫的機(jī)會(huì)將在季節(jié)轉(zhuǎn)換之際來臨。
As spring finally reaches the north of the planet, air temperatures creep above freezing.
當(dāng)春天終于降臨北半球時(shí)，氣溫悄悄上升到冰凍溫度之上。
The impenetrable ice ceiling begins to fracture.
堅(jiān)不可摧的冰層開始斷裂。
Small life-saving channels open up, bringing freedom.
狹小卻能救命的渠道打開，帶來自由。
But spring is a dangerous time for beluga.
但春天對于白鯨來說是危險(xiǎn)時(shí)分。
As tides and currents pull ice apart, the beluga find themselves in a labyrinth of shifting ice floes
當(dāng)潮浪與水流把冰拉開，白鯨會(huì)處于由移動(dòng)浮冰形成的迷宮之中，
that could close their breathing holes at any point, and so drown them.
可能隨時(shí)會(huì)蓋住它們的呼吸洞口，導(dǎo)致它們溺斃。
Using their sophisticated sonar, they try to find a way through the icy maze.
靠著它們精密的聲納，它們試圖在浮冰迷宮之中找到出路。
And eventually reach a patch of open water.
最后抵達(dá)一大片開放水域。
They're not the only whales here.
它們不是該處唯一的鯨。
Narwhal, the unicorns of the sea, are closely related to beluga.
獨(dú)角鯨，海中的獨(dú)角獸，與白鯨血緣相近。
In a rarely seen encounter, these two kinds of whales appear to socialise.
在罕見的接觸中，這兩種鯨看起來像在社交。
Who knows what's going on between them?
天知道它們之間發(fā)生了什么事。
But soon, they set off together through the shifting fields of ice.
但很快地，它們一起出發(fā)，穿過移動(dòng)的浮冰。
A journey of up to 1,000 miles. Before they reach ice-free waters, where they can rear their young.
一趟長達(dá)一千英里的旅程。直到它們抵達(dá)無冰的水域，好養(yǎng)育后代。
