“With its bristly moustache and wrinkly skin, the walrus is one of the Arctic’s friendliest looking creatures, but looks can be deceiving….”In this National Geographic ‘Wildlife Special’ we travel to the remote Walrus Islands in Alaska, where thousands of male walruses congregate before setting off again for the ice floes of the extreme north.
Toothed Titans centres on a walrus community containing the Eastern Atlantic and Pacific Walrus. The film includes some impressive underwater footage of walrus, as well as a predation sequence in which the walrus community is stalked by a polar bear.
In a duel for supremacy, two massive walruses slash at one another in the shallows of Alaska’s Cape Pierce. Their sword-like tusks gouge and rake against each other’s thick, ruddy skin.
Prominent scars from previous duels cover the dominant male’s neck. In a sudden blow, the battle-worn male spears his weaker opponent, ripping open a two-inch gash. Blood trickles from the jagged wound and drips into the churning water.
The contest of strength continues, yet the weaker male’s energy gradually wanes. After another pummelling round, the dominant male emerges as the victor.
Toothed Titans will explore the magnificent walrus, and the many other creatures, like polar bears and orca whales, that it encounters in the frozen realm of the arctic.
This documentary won numerous awards, including the Gold World Medal for Nature and Wildlife at the 2001 New York Festivals, and the coveted Palme d'Or.
It was filmed by the well-known Canadian film maker, Adam Ravetch, who is renowned for his arctic wildlife cinematography.
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