Summer survival challenges in the Russian Arctic
Summer survival challenges in the Russian Arctic
Arctic foxes and snowy owls struggling to find food in the Siberian Arctic.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
Transcript
Summer in the Russian arctic - for just a few months, the tundra is transformed by a short but explosive burst of life.
The Arctic foxes have had a poor breeding season. It’s been a year with few lemmings, the fox’s main prey. This female only has two cubs and the youngsters often have to go hungry. The neighboring family is faring slightly better. Their territory is by a lake and they have access to an alternative source of food – young goslings. The young cubs are growing fast and when it comes to meal times, no one wants to share. But it’s hard to stand by and watch the sibling get it all.
Whilst two are busy tussling it out, the third makes off with the prize. The young foxes are strong and healthy. By the time summer is over, they’ll be ready to hunt for themselves.
A pair of snowy owls are also trying to raise a family. Their chicks are less fortunate than the young foxes. They depend on lemmings for survival. But their mother has returned without food once again. There are only two chicks in the nest, and one is much smaller than the other. In good lemming years, snowy owls will raise as many as 10 to 14 chicks. But this year, most pairs will not attempt to breed at all.
The female is off hunting again. From a high vantage point, she watches for any signs of movement in the tundra. She's detected the lemming. Her chicks desperately need their next meal. The youngest is already very weak and may not survive much longer. This time she was successful. The bigger chick immediately takes charge of the booty. By now, the smaller one is so weak, it can barely move. The mother intervenes and tries to encourage the younger chick to take the lemming. But it’s too late. The little owl has no strength left and is unable to take the offering. The winner takes it all. The young owl will not survive. Harsh as this may seem, it’s nature’s way of ensuring that at least one of the chicks will make it this season. With food in short supply, the parents will not be able to feed both. The larger chick alone will now get all the lemmings that its parents can manage to catch and has a far better chance of survival.
The Arctic foxes have had a poor breeding season. It’s been a year with few lemmings, the fox’s main prey. This female only has two cubs and the youngsters often have to go hungry. The neighboring family is faring slightly better. Their territory is by a lake and they have access to an alternative source of food – young goslings. The young cubs are growing fast and when it comes to meal times, no one wants to share. But it’s hard to stand by and watch the sibling get it all.
Whilst two are busy tussling it out, the third makes off with the prize. The young foxes are strong and healthy. By the time summer is over, they’ll be ready to hunt for themselves.
A pair of snowy owls are also trying to raise a family. Their chicks are less fortunate than the young foxes. They depend on lemmings for survival. But their mother has returned without food once again. There are only two chicks in the nest, and one is much smaller than the other. In good lemming years, snowy owls will raise as many as 10 to 14 chicks. But this year, most pairs will not attempt to breed at all.
The female is off hunting again. From a high vantage point, she watches for any signs of movement in the tundra. She's detected the lemming. Her chicks desperately need their next meal. The youngest is already very weak and may not survive much longer. This time she was successful. The bigger chick immediately takes charge of the booty. By now, the smaller one is so weak, it can barely move. The mother intervenes and tries to encourage the younger chick to take the lemming. But it’s too late. The little owl has no strength left and is unable to take the offering. The winner takes it all. The young owl will not survive. Harsh as this may seem, it’s nature’s way of ensuring that at least one of the chicks will make it this season. With food in short supply, the parents will not be able to feed both. The larger chick alone will now get all the lemmings that its parents can manage to catch and has a far better chance of survival.