Dating the Ice...

Frozen white lands are stretched over thousands of miles throughout the ends of the earth, in there lie many mysterious creatures who have truly fascinating survival stories. Their tales are buried beneath the thick blanket of ice. Watching Discovery channels documentary ‘Frozen Planet’ has made me realise there is a frozen world out there filled with life.  We all know how difficult it is to flourish in the wilderness. Just imagine, how next to impossible it would be for life to sustain in the Arctic and Antarctic region, where it is covered six months in dense sheets of ice and  next six months with grassy water lands all over. It is very rough for the flora and fauna to get use to such dramatic climate changes. Let us take a look at some of these creatures of the poles, see how they live up to Raj Kapoors famous song “Jeena yahan marna yahan, iske siva jana kaha”...

Arctic Woolly Bear Moth

They are found within the Arctic Circle in Greenland and Canada. It takes seven years of food to transform from a furry little caterpillar to a winged moth in the frozen North Pole. As the Arctic lands are engulfed by the mighty snow these guys go and hide deep within the rocks, as the temperature remains a little more stable within the rocks than on soil. They form a protective covering around themselves to prevent from organisms that feed on the living. They are fully frozen and are hibernating in the long winters of the Arctic (It is like being in a long deep sleep as good as being dead). As soon as the sun kisses the white icy lands these guys feel the heat, as rocks absorb maximum amount of heat. They defrost themselves and start feeding on as much food as they can find (they actually gobble down all the greenery, moss etc etc they can find; you should see their videos, you will surely feel this creatures hunger). The Arctic woolly bear caterpillars are unique in their combination of adaptations to the polar extremes. They spend nearly 90% of their lives frozen and only about 5% feeding on the tundra during June; the remainder is spent in summer within protective cocoons till they become full fledge moths.

American Bison

They have a motto for survival which says, “All for one and one for all”.  They travel over the high grasslands of Tundra in huge herds. It is very dangerous for carnivores to hunt for a Bison when they are in their herd, one blow from their strong deadly horns and your bones will be shattered completely. These tough guys are famous for their size and strengths. The male and female bison’s always roam around in different packs. They come together only during mating season. Interesting insight on mating habits of the bison, the bull has to roar at the female with all its might and if the female is willing she responds with an equal thundering roar.  The male bison has nothing to do with the upbringing of the little ones hence we can safely conclude the baby bison will never get a chance to say “My daddy strongest” to his pals.

Narwhal

These are whales with a large slender tusk that looks like they are out for battle with a sword in their mouths. The only thing that catches your attention when you see these creatures is their sword like tusk that stand out fiercely. They eat small fishes found in the Arctic seas. They prefer ice free shallow waters and they live up to they turn half a century old. They mostly communicate with clicks, whistles and knocks. They migrate in large number during the summer where many small groups of twenty come together to form a large group up to 500 or 1000. At times, male narwhals rub their tusks together, which is known as "tusking".  This is thought to maintain social dominance hierarchies or maintenance of the tusk as a sensitive sensory organ.

There are many legends surrounding the Narwhal. In Inuit legend, the narwhal's tusk was created when a woman with a harpoon rope tied around her waist was dragged into the ocean after the harpoon had struck a large narwhal. She was transformed into a narwhal, and her hair, which she was wearing in a twisted knot, became the characteristic spiral narwhal tusk. Also some medieval Europeans believed narwhal tusks to be the horns from the legendary unicorn. As these horns were considered to have magic powers, such as neutralising poison and curing melancholia, Vikings and other northern traders were able to sell them for many times their weight in gold.

The tusks were used to make cups that were thought to negate any poison that may have been slipped into the drink. During the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I received a carved and bejewelled narwhal tusk worth 10,000 British Pounds—the cost of a castle (approximately £1.5–2.5 million in 2007, using the retail price) from Sir Humphrey Gilbert, who proposed the tusk was from a "sea-unicorn". The tusks were cause of great curiosity its knowledge developed gradually during the Age of Exploration, as explorers and naturalists began to visit Arctic regions themselves.

Polar Bear

The entire breed of Polar bears has made the Arctic their home sweet home. They are the sister species of the Brown Bear. It is heavily rumoured that 38 million years ago the Polar bears diverged from a population of brown bears that became isolated during a period of glaciations in the Pleistocene or from the eastern part of Siberia. They are hardly 20000 to 25000 of these majestic white creatures that roam around in the icy planes of the north. They do not migrate during the harsh winters of the north like the others. 

They have massive built and thick white fur that keep them warm when it gets really chilly out there. It is the only living marine mammal having powerful large limbs and feet allowing it to cover miles on foot and run on land. They feast on sea fishes and seals hiding within the icebergs. They hunt rigorously during the summers and are pretty good swimmers. During summers the poles have 24 hours daylight. When the Arctic melts it attracts many fishes and seals that thrive in these rich waters. The polar bear hunts mainly during start and end of the summers. 

The polar bear's most common hunting method is called still-hunting. The bear uses its excellent sense of smell to locate a seal in a breathing hole, and crouches nearby in silence for a seal to appear. The bear may lay in wait for several hours. When the seal exhales, the bear smells its breath, reaches into the hole with a forepaw, and drags it out onto the ice. The polar bear manages the kill successfully.

  During mating season a male may follow the tracks of a breeding female for 100 km or more and before finding her. After finding the right candidate all eligible willing bears will have to engage in intense fighting with other males over mating rights, fights which often result in scars and broken teeth. After winning the battle the winning bear forms romantic alliance with the female. Partners stay together and mate repeatedly for an entire week ahem ahem. Well after having a gala time they go their separate ways. The Female polar bear has to bring up their offspring with loads of love and care in the next three years till they become independent.

Wandering albatross

Wandering albatrosses spend most of their life in flight, landing only to breed and feed occasionally. They are found in the southern ocean during the Antarctic summers. The wandering albatross has the largest wings of any living bird, typically ranging from 8 ft 3 inch to 11 ft 6 inch. As a result of its wingspan, it is capable of remaining in the air without flapping its wings for several hours at a time, travelling 22 m for every metre of drop. Distances travelled each year by this bird is a little hard to measure, but one banded bird was recorded travelling a whooping 6000 km in just twelve days.

When courting they will spread their wings, wave their heads, and rap their bills together, while braying. They can live for over half century. Pairs of wandering albatrosses mate for life and breed every two years (awwwwwwwww). These wandering white souls have a large range of displays from screams and whistles to grunts and bill clapping. It is chaotic to have them as your neighbours especially during breeding season. They breed in isolated Sub Antarctic islands. The nest is a mound of mud and vegetation, and is placed on an exposed ridge near the sea. During the early stages of the chick's development, the parents take turns sitting on the nest while the other searches for food. Later, both adults hunt for food and visit the chick at irregular intervals. If any hungry polar bear wanders into their breeding zones in search of eggs, the fearsome albatross starts pecking them with their sharp beaks. The wounded bear cannot withstand the birds raging attacks and decides to leave their eggs alone and retreats for fetching easier meals.

Atlantic puffin

It is the only native bird of the Atlantic region. On land, it has the upright posture. In the sea they swim on the surface and feed mainly on small fish, which they catch by diving underwater, using their wings. The Atlantic puffin spends the autumn and winter in the open ocean of the cold northern seas and returns to coastal areas at the start of the breeding season in late spring. It nests in cliff top colonies, digging a burrow in which a single white egg is laid. The chick mostly feeds on whole fish and grows rapidly. After about six weeks it is fully fledged and makes its way at night to the sea. It swims away from the shore and does not return to land for several years.

Having spent the winter alone on the ocean, it is unclear whether the Atlantic puffin meets its previous partner offshore or whether they encounter each other when they return to their nest of the previous year. They mate for life (they find their true love janam janam ka sathi).  On land, they soon set about improving and clearing out the burrow. Often, one stands outside the entrance while the other digs deep, kicking out quantities of soil and grit that showers the partner standing outside. Some birds collect stems and fragments of dry grasses as nesting materials but others do not bother. Sometimes a beak full of materials is taken underground, only to be brought out again and discarded. Apart from nest-building, the other way in which the birds restore their bond is by billing. This is a practice in which the pair approaches each other, each wagging its head from side to side, and then rattles their beaks together. This seems to be an important element of their courtship behaviour because it happens repeatedly, and the birds continue to bill, to a lesser extent, throughout the breeding season.

These birds are colonial nesters, digging burrows on grassy cliff tops or reusing existing holes, and may also nest in crevices and amongst rocks. It is in competition with other birds and animals for burrows as they are very good diggers. It can clear its own hole or move into a pre-existing system dug by a rabbit and has been known to peck and drive off the original occupant now that’s what I call a bully. They take bi parental care of their young ones. The male spends more time guarding and maintaining the nest while the female is more involved in incubation and feeding the chick.

Arctic Fox

These go by several names the white fox, polar fox and snow fox. It is native to the Arctic region common in the Tundra region. It has adapted wonderfully to the extreme winters. Its thick protective fur turns brown in summer and white in chilly winters. They live in packs consisting close knitted family members. Arctic foxes form lifelong pairs during the breeding season and they will stay together to raise their young in complex underground dens. Occasionally, other family members may assist in raising their young. The Arctic fox preys on any small creatures it can find, including lemmings, voles, ringed seal pups, fish, waterfowl, and seabirds. It will also eat carrion, berries, seaweed, insects, and other small invertebrates. 

The Arctic fox lives in some of the most frigid extremes on the planet but does not start to shiver until the temperature drops to −70 °C (−94 °F). Among its adaptations for survival in the cold is its dense, multi-layered furry cover provides excellent insulation, also system of counter current heat exchange in the circulation within the paws to retain core temperature, and a good supply of body fat. The fox has a low surface area to volume ratio, as evidenced by its generally compact body shape, short muzzle and legs, and short, thick ears. Since less of its surface area is exposed to the arctic cold, less heat escapes from the body. Its paws have fur on the soles for additional insulation and this helps it to walk on ice.

The Arctic fox has such keen hearing that it can determine exactly where a small animal is moving under the snow. When it has located its prey, it pounces and punches through the snow to catch its victim. Its fur changes colour with the seasons: in most populations it is white in the winter to blend in with snow, while in the summer it is greyish-brown or darker brown. In some populations however it is a steely bluish-gray in the winter and a paler bluish-gray in summer. Arctic foxes do not hibernate and are active all year round. They build up their fat reserves in the autumn, sometimes increasing their body-weight by more than 50%. This provides greater insulation during the winter and a source of energy when food is scarce. They live in large dens in frost-free, slightly raised ground. These are complex systems of ridge tunnels spread over 1000 sq meters.

Seals/Walrus/Sea lions

If someone has made the Arctic and Atlantic oceanic region their adda then it is these marine mammals as they have a humongous population. Each heard consisting of few females and their children, they all belong to one dominant male generally called a bull. The bulls have to generally fight with their rivals to control their herd. Each herd consist of approximately twenty females. The fight between the bulls is really terrifying as they hurt each other by biting, crashing into each other with their bulky weight causing deep ghastly wounds.

The bull is in charge of a herd only once in a life time. During the bull fights the herds suffer massive destruction as many babies are injured or lost in the utter chaos. During the summers they breed on isolated sea shores. Thousands of breeding colonies are spread out widely over the northern and southern hemisphere. The baby seals are furry and white in colour so they cannot be spotted easily by hungry predators. They feed on small fishes, krill’s, crabs and marine animals.

Adult walruses are easily recognized by their prominent tusks, whiskers, and bulkiness they can weigh over 2,000 kg.  Its tusk is use mainly for digging. The walrus plays an important role in the religion and folklore of many Arctic peoples. Skin and bone are used in some ceremonies, and the animal appears frequently in legends. For example, in a Chukchi version of the widespread myth of the Raven, in which Raven recovers the sun and the moon from an evil spirit by seducing his daughter, the angry father throws the daughter from a high cliff and, as she drops into the water, she turns into a walrus – possibly the original walrus. According to various legends, the tusks are formed either by the trails of mucus from the weeping girl or her long braids. The origin of the word walrus is thought by J.R.R. Tolkien to derive from a Germanic language, and it has been attributed largely to either the Dutch language or Old Norse. Its first part is thought to derive from a word such as Dutch walvis 'whale'. Its second part has also been hypothesized to come from the Old Norse word for 'horse'. For example, the Old Norse word hrossvalr means 'horse-whale' and is thought to have been passed in an inverted form to both Dutch and the dialects of northern Germany as walros and Walross. An alternate theory is that is comes from the Dutch words wal 'shore' and reus 'giant'.

Whales

When fresh waters from the melted ice floods the northern and southern oceans it attracts many beasts great and small. The rich oceans are a fertile spread for all the flourishing small fishes, krills, crabs, spiders etc etc. This means it is feast time for the whales. The polar oceans are house to many different species of whales.  Let us have a look at some of the interesting ones.

Humpback Whales

Adult Humpback Whales are a 39–52 ft in size and weigh a massive 36,000 kilograms. Even though it has a super huge built up area it is an acrobatic animal known for breaching and slapping the water with its tail and pectorals, now that is some kind of exercise to stay fit. It is noticed in males that they can produce a complex song lasting 10 to 20 minutes, which they repeat for hours at a time how entertaining. Though its purpose is not clear, but it may have a role in mating. They are found in oceans and seas around the world, humpback whales typically migrate up to 25,000 kilometres each year. Humpbacks feed only in summer in polar waters (I still don’t know how can one manage to eat only six months a year and still be so hefty) and migrate to tropical or subtropical waters to breed and give birth in the winter.

            During the winter, humpbacks fast and live off their fat reserves. Their diet consists mostly of krill and small fish. Typically, individuals live alone or in small, transient groups that disband after a few hours. These whales are not excessively social in most cases. Courtship rituals take place during the winter months, following migration toward the equator from summer feeding grounds closer to the poles. Competition is usually fierce between eligible males. The unfortunate unsuccessful males retreat and others arrive to try their luck. Whale songs are assumed to have an important role in mate selection; however, they may also be used between males to establish dominance.

Females typically breed every two or three years. It takes 11 months for a mommy to give birth to a baby male. Both male and female humpback whales vocalize, but only males produce the long, loud, complex "songs" for which the species is famous. Each song consists of several sounds in a low register, varying in amplitude and frequency, and typically lasting from 10 to 20 minutes. Humpbacks may sing continuously for more than 24 hours. Cetaceans have no vocal cords, so whales generate their songs by forcing air through their massive nasal cavities. Whales within a large area sing the same song just like we sing all the same YO YO’s songs all day long.  All North Atlantic humpbacks sing the same song, and those of the North Pacific sing a different song. Each population's song changes slowly over a period of years without repeating (I guess newer generation of whales would prefer remix version of their old songs).

Scientists are unsure of the purpose of whale songs. Only males sing, suggesting one purpose is to attract females. However, many of the whales observed to approach a singer are other males, often resulting in conflict. Singing may, therefore, be a challenge to other males. Some scientists have hypothesized the song may serve an echo locative function. During the feeding season, humpbacks make altogether different vocalizations for herding fish into their bubble nets. Humpback whales have also been found to make a range of other social sounds to communicate, such as "grunts", "groans", "thwops", "snorts" and "barks"

Killer Whale

These guys are known as “The Wolfs” of the seas. These massive black and white marine mammal is a really advance predator. It is very social in nature so you will find half a dozen of them hunting together. They feast on seals, penguins, large and medium sized fishes; they also eat other whales like the minke, blue whales, baby humpbacks etc etc. They form a group and chase their prey. If they notice their pray relaxing over an iceberg then they will encircle it. Entire pack will swim with rhythmic motions under and around the iceberg creating huge waves caused by the disturbance. They will dislocate the iceberg by splashing their heavy tails and creating huge splashing waves due to their aerial acrobats. Once the prey is in waters they will confuse it by blowing dense bubbles in the water so that the prey cannot see clearly. If the prey manages to escape all the chaos they keep up the chase consistently until their prey is completely exhausted and gives up. The pack will bite and drag their triumphant catch to the ends of the ocean and feast upon it. They have a very strong sense of smell. They can smell their prey from quite a distance. They are massive and live up to half a century. They avoid inbreeding and Mother calf will deliver once in five years. It takes approximately 15 to 18 months to become a mommy killer whale.

Penguins

I won’t say I kept best for the last but we all have huge crush on the penguins. They are really adorable white tie and black suit appearance. Well no wonder Warner Bros made so many mullahs on its blockbuster “Happy Feat”.  They found in the Southern Hemisphere i.e. Antarctic region. There are 17 species of penguins some of which are found as far north as the equator. Penguins are categorized into three families: brush-tail, crested, and king/emperor penguins. Of the 17 species only six are found in Antarctica (Adélies, Chinstraps, Emperors, Gentoos, Macaronis and Rockhoppers). Penguins often are referred to as "flipper flyers" due to their effortless movement through the water and their possible evolution from gull-like birds. When European explorers discovered what are today known as penguins in the Southern Hemisphere, they noticed their similar appearance to the great auk of the Northern Hemisphere, and named them after this bird, although they are not closely related.

It is believed that 40-50 million years ago, while Antarctica breaking away from Gondwanaland, penguins also were separating to form their own species. Originally, indigenous to warmer climates, penguins adapted to the cold as Antarctica made its move southward. Part of their adaptation to the cold includes oily, water resistant feathers which cover the outer layers of penguins (and what gives the tuxedo look). Underneath is a layer of soft down feathers and under that a thick layer of fat. This keeps the penguins so warm they will actually fluff their feather to released trapped heat in order to cool down. Penguins are well known for their swimming abilities. Using their flippers for propulsion and their feet as a rudder, penguins can swim in excess of 12 mph (20 kph). Through the use of air sacs to protect their lungs, penguins can stay under water for 15 to 20 minutes and dive as deep as 275 feet (900 meters).In the water, penguins typically feed on krill and fish. They are very near-sighted on land, penguin’s posse’s exceptional vision in the water. Their eyes, like the many sea animals, are attuned to the colours of the sea--green, blue-green, and violet. They need this excellent vision to avoid leopard seals and killer whales, which are their primary predators in the ocean. On land their arch enemy are skuas (large birds) which snatch penguin’s chicks from nests.

Sticks and stones aren’t for breaking bones, if you're a penguin. They're symbols of love. Sticks adorn the nests where they raise their children, and stones serve as heartfelt gifts from one bird to another. Humans give flowers and candy when wooing a lady. Penguins give rocks. Not just any rocks, though -- male gentoo penguins search through piles of pebbles to find the smoothest, most perfect ones. When a penguin has selected his pebble, he presents it to his intended companion. If she approves, she puts the stone in her nest and the two are well on their way to becoming mommy and daddy birds. Pebbles are so important to the penguins that males often fight over the prettiest selections, also some become petty thieves. If you have time you should watch the video of the gentoo penguin who has taken the criminal path to steal the pretty pebbles from the unattended nest of other gentoo penguins.

To set the mood Penguins don’t need soft music and candles to set the scene for romance. They breed in some of the harshest conditions in the world. Emperor penguins get their groove on during winter in Antarctica, trekking inland on solid ice. The winter is so cold, at more than 50 degrees below zero that parents have to perch the eggs on their feet constantly so they don’t freeze. Humboldt penguins have the yuckiest place to mate. They breed in burrows sometimes made of guano, aka poop. In order to build a home the Fiordland species, which lives in the rainforests of New Zealand, has a comparatively posh baby-making environment. Its birds breed in caves or under rocks in nests of scavenged sticks and grass. Macaroni penguins aren’t terribly picky about where they set up camp. Most dig out a modest nest, but many lay their eggs in the open on a flat rock. Sadly, one of the two eggs each mother lays typically dies.

Waiting for Mr. Right

True love waits -- for a little while, anyway. Penguin breeds including gentoo, chinstrap and Adelie mate with the same partner year after year. If a partner doesn’t show up, the show must go on; most birds will choose another mate. Monogamy isn’t for all penguins, though. Occasionally, a penguin will choose two or three partners in a year.

Emperor Penguins - the most elegantly dressed penguins I know.

During the summer in the southern hemisphere – from about December to February – Emperor Penguins in Antarctica are at sea fattening up on squid, fish, and krill. As autumn approaches in March, the Emperors leave the water and begin a long trek to one of several breeding colonies. There, they mate, and each female produced a single egg. She transfers the egg to her mate, then leaves to spend winter in the open ocean. During Antarctica’s winter – a frigid night four months long, male Emperor Penguins huddle by the hundreds in the snow. The male penguins guard the eggs and keep them warm. For 65 days, each bird incubates an egg. He cradles it on top of his feet, covering it with a pouch of skin. Their mid-winter vigil will end around August as the sun peeks over the horizon.

By the time the female returns, sleek and full of food, the male may have lost 45% of his body weight. Ravenously hungry, he leaves to feed at sea. The offspring grow rapidly in summer when food at sea is plentiful. By December, they are going to be on their own. Five years from now, if they survive in their ocean home, the chicks will return to become parents themselves. Emperor Penguins, the subject of the popular 2005 documentary March of the Penguins, have a strange “marriage”. Penguin couples spend their lives apart from each other and meet once a year in late March, after travelling as far as 70 miles (112 km) inland - on foot or sliding on their bellies! - To reach the breeding site. Once there, penguins look for their mates by making a bugling call. Male penguins generally stay in one place, lower their head to their chest and call out to the females. Once they find one another, they would stand breast to breast, repeatedly bow to each other and sing now I can surely see some romance. I am glad I am ending this blog on this lovey dovey note, hope you all enjoyed reading about the creatures of the poles. I really enjoyed writing this blog hope you all liked it please feel free to share your comments. Happy reading people!!!