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The closer the seas are to mainland Antarctica, the colder they become.
越靠近南极洲大陆的海域，水温就越低。
Until, a few hundred miles offshore, the ocean's surface freezes solid.
直到海岸外的数百英里，海面完全冻结。
It forms a cover of sea ice that is twice the size of Europe and encircles the entire continent.
形成一层海冰，面积是欧洲的两倍，环绕整座大陆。
This is a stronghold for one of Antarctica's most remarkable inhabitants.
这处据点栖息着南极洲最了不起的住民之一。
It uses its teeth to prevent its breathing holes from freezing over.
它用牙齿防止换气孔冻结。
The weddell seal. The most southerly breeding mammal on the planet.
威德尔海豹。在地球最南端繁衍的哺乳动物。
This ten-day—old pup is still entirely dependent on his mother.
这只十天大的幼海豹仍须完全依赖母亲。
Out on the ice, it may be safe from marine predators.
在冰层上或许能不受海洋掠食者的侵扰。
But within its first two weeks, it will have to venture into the undennater world upon which its future depends.
可是在出生的两周内，就必须冒险进入水下世界，它的未来仰赖于此。
This is the coldest water on earth.
这是地球上最冰冷的水域。
So it's not surprising that a pup needs some encouragement.
因此不意外的是，小小的幼海豹需要一些鼓励。
It's time to leave the safety of the breathing hole.
现在该离开安全的换气孔了。
To catch fish and then safely return, this pup must learn how to find his way through the maze of undennater ice caverns.
为了能在捕到鱼后安全归来，这只幼海豹必须学会认路，在水下冰穴的迷宫中穿梭。
But afterjust eight minutes... his mother signals that it's time to head back.
可是才刚过八分钟，母亲就示意应该返回。
She can hold her breath for an hour and a half.
它能够闭气一个半小时。
But he is already starting to tire and is running out of air.
可是幼海豹已经疲倦，而且就快没气了。
On their way back to their breathing hole, they hear a sound as loud as a fighterjet.
在返回换气孔途中，它们听见如同战斗机一般的巨响。
It is the call of a half-tonne male weddell seal, announcing that he's on the lookout for a mate.
这是重达半吨的雄性威德尔海豹的呼唤，宣告着它正在寻找交配对象。
She, however, is still producing milk for her pup, and so isn't sexually receptive.
然而这只雌海豹仍在为幼海豹泌乳，因此还不到受孕期。
But he doesn't stop trying.
但雄海豹并未停止尝试。
To repel his advances, she leaves her pup's side.
为了吓阻它求爱，雌海豹会先离开幼海豹。
But the pup isn't strong enough to haul himself out without his mother's help.
可是幼海豹还无力在缺少母亲的帮助下自行上岸。
She tries to fight off the adult male.
它试图击退成年雄海豹。
She's wounded him so seriously that he is unlikely to be back any time soon.
它已给雄海豹重重一击，雄海豹短时间内不会再回来了。
A gentle nudge from mother is all an exhausted pup needs to make it to the safety of the sea ice.
母亲的轻轻一推，就是疲惫的幼海豹回到安全的海冰上唯一所需。
Mothers stay with their pups for six weeks, by which time they're strong enough to fend for themselves.
母亲会陪伴幼海豹六个星期，届时它们就够强壮，可以保护自己。
