Part 1: “Between Earth and Ocean” on September 26th at 8:15 pm on ORF 2
Vienna (OTS) – Fjords, forests, glaciers and geysers – the Nordic countries impress with the raw beauty of their untouched nature. Behind the impressive backdrops lie fascinating habitats that have unexpected things to offer. The new three-part series “Universum” “Wild Scandinavia” sets off on a journey into the peculiarities of the Nordic animal world from Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 8:15 pm on ORF 2 and meets, among other things, hot heads , cheaters and border crossers. The first part of the elaborate BBC production, designed by Tuppence Stone (ORF adaptation:
Wolfgang Stickler) takes television audiences to the regions “between the land and the ocean”. From the beaches of Denmark’s Wadden Sea to the fjords of Norway and the ice shelves of Iceland – nowhere are Scandinavia’s habitats wilder, more extreme and more unpredictable than here. Even though the sea provides abundant food, there are strict limits to life on the coasts. A challenge for animals and humans.
Norway’s fjords and harbors remain largely ice-free in winter. The reason for this is the Gulf Stream, which pumps heat from the Caribbean to the polar cold of the North Atlantic. The result: a vital mix of nutrient-rich water that fills the sea with life. This is how schools of herring become a feast for an unusual trio of hunters:
Humpback whales, orcas and people. They use each other’s fishing techniques to make it easier to catch the coveted prey. Cameramen managed to capture this race to the cold buffet with stunning footage in stormy waters. A feast for the eyes are the swarms of lion’s mane jellyfish, which float majestically in the depths of the ocean with highly venomous tentacles up to 30 meters long. Equally impressive are the aerial acrobatics of the enormous flocks of birds, which stop off the coast of Denmark on their migration to arctic climes. In the Wadden Sea you will find plenty of opportunities to fill your empty calorie tanks.
Milder temperatures than in other regions of the same geographic latitude make coastal waters an attractive hunting area for many animal species. In spring, the breeding grounds on the snowy cliffs are filled with countless seabirds, such as the guillotine and the lively puffin. Lack of space on the land often leads to violent arguments in the neighborhood. The sea eagle also has a hard time with its young: inexperienced young animals are only too happy to avoid the difficult task of catching fish in the water and prefer to steal prey. They simply steal the fatty food from the claws of adults. Even some cute otters that settle down on the ice shelf to feast fall prey to these cheeky eating attacks.
The example of gray seals on the Swedish islands in the Baltic Sea shows how difficult and dangerous life on land can be for marine mammals. After birth, cubs only have three weeks left before they are abandoned by their mothers. They therefore need to perfect their swimming and hunting skills from an early age. But the rocks, which freeze immediately in the cold air, give them little support and the surf carries them out into the open sea. A dramatic fate that many do not survive.
Rising sea temperatures and the consequences of decades of overfishing are putting the sophisticated balance of the Scandinavian seas under severe pressure. Norwegian biologist and photographer Audun Rikardsen records the movement patterns of orcas, from which data he draws conclusions about the behavior of herring swarms. In this way, he hopes to be able to contribute to their protection. Living in a region where nature’s possibilities are limited has made many Scandinavians aware of a more careful approach to the environment. “Friluftsliv” – living outdoors – is more than a leisure activity, it is a lifestyle in which Norwegians consciously expose themselves to nature. Like Hege Ringard, a base jumper who throws herself off rocks thousands of feet high in a catsuit to float freely over the fjords. An adventure that, according to her, connects her intimately with nature.
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