Subjects: Life Science

Once upon a time, there was a flea who lived buried deep in the feathers of a Laysan Albatross. Together, they travelled across the tormented oceans of the Pacific Ocean landing only on very rare ocasions. Until one day… the albatross chooses to land on Midway an island 3000km off any land coast, to mate and start a family. Taking advantage of the physical closeness of this bird couple, the flea seizes the opportunity to explore the feathers of the female, from where she will witness the hatching of an egg. Then, the flea quickly prefers to jump onto the soft duvet of the young bird, not yet able to fly. In the nest, the young albatross discovers all the dangers which surround him, such as the penguins who come and steal food left by his parents. This provides an excellent opportunity for the flea, who decides to discover new feathers – the first of many to come. The flea will, from here on, share the same life style of the petrels, royal penguins, both adult and juvenile. In its little air bubble, the flea is protected from the pressure of the water whenever its hosts go for a dip in order to hunt for krill or anchovies. To keep a safe guard over its territory, the flea will confront tics and other lice who will have, like itself, colonised the fur of their hosts. This documentary, based on scientific research and fact, unites harmoniously the natural habits of these birds, who will be filmed by our team during 4 months in Hawaii, and digital images of the flea created through computer graphics.

Il était une fois une tique. Une femelle tique qui vivait dans le plumage d’un Albatros de Laysan. Ensemble, ils parcouraient les vastes étendues du Pacifique Nord , entre l’archipel d’Hawaii et les Aléoutiennes. Pendant que son hôte errait au gré des tempêtes en quête de quelques poissons, elle vivait une paisible existence et se cramponnait dans la douce chaleur d’une couche de duvet et de plumes. Puis vint le temps des amours de l’albatros synonyme de retour àterre obligatoire pour les vagabonds de l’océan. Les ébats et leurs inévitables épouillages mutuels mirent provisoirement fin à la douce quiétude : face aux becs qui pénêtrent réguliêrement dans le plumage, la tique préfêre lâcher prise et se laisser tomber sur le sol où l’attendent d’autres dangers. La tique va alors montrer d’incroyables capacités de résistance : piétinée par des pattes palmées, soulevée par quelques facétieux courants d’air, ou encore écrasée par un œuf chutant d’une hauteur équivalent àmille fois sa taille, elle survit tant bien que mal et donne vie à la génération suivante. Pour les tiques fraîchement écloses, une existence hasardeuse commence alors : selon les vents et les rencontres, les plus fortunées s’accrocheront àoiseau de passage, d’autres attendront au coin d’une pierre des jours meilleurs, d’autres finiront dévorées avec leur hôte par un requin tigre.

Meet Chinstrap, Macaroni, Adelie, Gentoo, King and… Queen. Spend a year with them in the icy waters or on the volcanic islands of the vast Southern Ocean. Do not fall from the cliff when you leave in the morning and always be certain to catch the right wave on your return home before sunset. Watch out your “friends” who are always ready to push you off the iceberg. On rocky outcrops, always keep your distances with your neighbour, at least 2 feet. Meet your partner this evening, as it is your turn to take care of your fat feathered kids for the next 15 days. Most important of all: if you want to see your family again, avoid all welcoming committees of Fur Seals and departure festivities of Leopard Seals. How does it feel to be a penguin?

In the summer, space becomes dear on the beaches of the Sub-Antartic islands. There, penguins and sea elephants live jumbled up together, caught in the throes of breeding and bringing up the little ones. Such overpopulation leads to tensions between species and individuals. The crowds of penguins and elephant seals attract many scavengers as well as dangerous predators like giant petrels, the vultures of those icy climes, and killer whales full of hunting tactics. More agile, the fur seals and the wandering albatrosses, those indefatiguable gliders, seem to escape the chaotic throng. Like the other animals, however, they are dependent on the ocean,their only source of food in these isolated lands. When winter comes, this cohabitation ends. Their breeding duties finished, the different animals return to the waters they are used to wander in.

The dolphin is still full of surprises. Group assistance, an unknown side of this charismatic animal’s behavior, is the central theme of this documentary presented as a scientific tale. Unveiling a wide range of behaviors in oceans around the globe, this initiatory voyage depicts the dolphin’s altruistic world as we follow the misadventures of one of them in search of a host group. May it be while hunting fish stranded in shallow waters in South Carolina, playing with a venomous snake in the Rangiroa lagoon, defending the group against a tiger shark attack in the Marquesas islands, parading in the crystal-clear pacific waters or surfing on waves from the bows of tankers in Texas, everything relies on the group: the dolphin needs to be surrounded by its peers to feed, defend himself, communicate and breed.