The Sun rises over a forest.
Dawn, over a silent forest a few hundred miles form the South Pole. It is the end of months of total darkness.
Deep within a forest, by a pond. Lies a body of a dinosaur.
And as the Sun's rays filter down from the trees. And reveal a cold harsh world.
Here there are polar dinosaurs, adapted to cope with extreme conditions.
But even they struggle to stay alive.
In the water near the body, a flat head with eyes on top surfaced and then lowers into the water.
And then, like a Crocodile. The head of a large Amphibian lunges from the water, and snatches the body.
And disappears under.
This far south, the first day of spring lasts only a few minutes. But it triggers the starts of astonishing story of survival from the polar year.
ANTARCTICA
106,000,000 B.C.
It is the Mid Cretaceous Period, and dinosaurs are now more wide spread then ever. Reaching every part of the globe.
But one place, is a special challenge.
The South Pole.
Here, a giant continent made up of South America, Australia and Antarctica is kept warm by ocean currents that are forced down from the Equator, to encircle it.
Instead of ice caps, there are lush forests. But unlike the unchanging tropical climate elsewhere, Antarctica has seasons. From hot summers under midnight Sun, to cold winters of total darkness.
Twilight and her friends have recently arrived to this ice forest, and are unaware that in 106 million years time. It will become the coldest continent on Earth.
"This is amazing." Spike looking at the scenery.
"Yeah, it's very lush and warm here." Fluttershy said.
"I wonder what could live here." Rainbow thought.
"I'm sure we'll run into something sooner or later." Twilight said.
A few minutes gone by, and as they near a small stream. A small dinosaur rushed by them.
"Whoa, who's that?" Pinkie seeing it rush by.
"I don't know, let's follow it." Twilight said.
The followed the dinosaur until it finally stopped, and got a good look at it.
It was a 2 legged dinosaur, similar to the Dryosaurus back in Jurassic times. It was called Leaellynasaura.
And the Leaellynasaura chipped.
Leaellynasaura is a dinosaur that has adapted to this extreme climate.
Soon, the Mane 7 found a whole group of them.
Throughout the winter, they've survived in the warm sheltered heart of the thick forest. But now in spring, they emerged to feed on the fresh plant growth.
They are just 6 feet long, and their most distinctive feature is their large eyes. Which help them find food in the dark winter.
Twilight and the others watched from a distance, and as the group feed on the plant growth.
"Wow." Fluttershy watching them.
"I must say, their coloration does make good impressions." Rarity looking at their green coloration.
These dinosaurs are sociable little animals, that live in small clans. Enabling them to make the most of scarce resources. The clan is dominated by one breeding pair, and the hierarchy ensures that a Leaellynasaura is always on lookout duty. He irregularly issues reassuring clicks, as long as the coast is clear.
Among the clan, they noticed one Leaellynasaura on a tree stump keeping lookout. And made reassuring clicks to them.
"I think he might be a lookout." Starlight said.
"I think you're right." Fluttershy said. "Some bird groups do that."
The Leaellynasaura sentry does see them from his lookout post, but doesn't sense them as a concern.
Nearby in a small pond however, a black object is seen under the surface. One Leaellynasaura noticed and then made concern calls alerting the clan. And part of a tail was seen, Twilight and the others soon noticed.
"What is that?" Spike asked.
"I don't know." Applejack said.
And then, hauling itself out of the water. Was a giant Salamander like Amphibian, but at 16 feet long.
The sentry has spotted a giant Amphibian, Koolasuchus. He has massively powerful jaws, weighs about half a ton. And is a carnivore.
Twilight and the others peered over a log and saw the Koolasuchus. And he was as big as a Crocodile.
"Whoa, that is one big Salamander." Pinkie said.
"I've never seen one that big before." Fluttershy said.
Close by, 3 Leaellynasaura were by a log watching the 1,000 pound Amphibian.
In the water, Koolasuchus is lethal. But on land, his legs have trouble dragging his bulk around.
To the Koolasuchus, seeing this would make this seen easier for Crocodiles and Alligators. As Twilight and the others watched as he drags himself over a slope.
And he is no threat to the live little dinosaurs.
He has been hibernating over winter in the forest. And now faces what for him, is an arduous journey of 600 feet, to get back to the river. Where he will spend his summer.
Twilight and the others followed the Koolasuchus as he lumbers through the forest floor and makes it the open near the river.
This bizarre looking creature is relic from a time before dinosaurs. In most parts of the world, competition from Crocodiles has driven these magnificent Amphibians to extinction. But here, the waters get too cold for Crocodiles. And the world's last Koolasuchus survive, still patrolling the waterways, just as their ancestors did. 150 million years before them.
And the Koolasuchus finally hauls himself into the water of the river. And they watched as he was soon accompanied by another Koolasuchus.
As spring take hold, and the days grow longer. The forest bursts into life.
Many of the plants in this unique conifer and fern forest, have specially adapted to lie dormant during the dark of winter. And only with the spring light, do they start to photosynthesize again.
And within no time, the forest was starting to turn green again.
For the clan, it is also a time for feverish activity.
Having mated with the first spring's sunrise. They are now building nests. It is a team effort, with the dominant pair building in the center. And other subordinate animals working around them.
Twilight and the others watched from a distance as they build their nest.
Many of these piles of leaves will never hold eggs, but act as decoys to help protect the main nest.
But no matter how busy these little dinosaurs are, they always have to remain alert to danger.
And Twilight and the others have been so busy with watching the clan. That they've forgotten that this is a world of living fast and dying young and they've became careless of what other creatures live here.
Some distance away, a mid sized Theropod hides and watches from the trees.
A Polar Allosaur.
A summer visitor, from warmer lands to the north.
The Polar Allosaur watches the clan, waiting for his moment.
He is a 1 ton ambush predator.
The Polar Allosaur slowly approaches closer to get within striking distance. But he accidentally stepped on a branch which then creaked under his foot. The sentry quicklys sound the alarm hearing that.
"What's with him?" Rainbow asked.
And then the Leaellynasaura start fleeing in directions as the Allosaur charges from his ambush spot losing the element of surprise. And the Mane 7 quickly runs off away from the Allosaur.
And soon they were completely gone.
The Allosaur is the largest and fiercest killer in the forest. But he was spotted early enough by the sentry, and as the clan melt into the undergrowth along with the Mane 7. He is no match, for their speed and agility.
Frustrated of losing a catch, the Allosaur begins to leave the area.
Twilight and the others deciding to leave the Leaellynasaura for a while and went off exploring.
Spring across the polar forest brings the movement of many animals. In the sky lines of Pterosaurs heads south for their summer rouses.
And among the trees there is the echo of unfamiliar sounds.
In the distance, the air is filled with odd sounds.
"What is that?" Rainbow looking around.
"I don't know." Twilight said.
The largest of all of the summer migrates, is coming to the forest.
And soon, a large herd of large dinosaurs were seen as they traveled down the river.
These unusual calls herald the arrival of huge herd of Muttaburrasaurus from the north. For the last 2 months, they have been migrating 500 miles down the coast of Australia. Following the Sun to the south. These dinosaurs move towards the pole every year, to strip the lush vegetation, and find secure sights to lay their eggs.
The Mane 7 watched as the Muttaburrasaurus move down river in amazement. And soon, some of them begin to feed from the branches of the trees.
The herds have a major impact on the forest. Each massive adult weighs about 3 tons, and can pluck food from branches 15 feet off the ground. While feeding, the dinosaurs keep in touch using their specially adapted noses to produce a range of trumpeting calls.
And then, one Muttaburrasaurus trumpets through it's nose as a thin membrane of skin expands making the calls.
As the forest becomes more crowded, the clan's nest need constant attention.
The Mane 7 went back to the forest, and found a Leaellynasaura tending a nest.
The lead female treats her pile of rotting leaves like an incubator. And uses her sensitive beak to monitor the temperature. Then she adds and removes vegetation to keep the eggs at about 86 degrees F.
Already the baby Leaellynasaura, can be heard inside responding to their mother's clicks.
The nests also have to be protected round the clock. Fur coated Mammals thrive these Antarctic forests, and some are easily large enough to steal a dinosaur egg.
Nearby, a Mammal called Steropodon sniffs the area and draws closer to the nest site.
The Leaellynasaura soon noticed the Mammal as it got closer to the nest.
But the Leaellynasaura has an unusual defense.
The Leaellynasaura then starts digging the leaves on the ground, and starts flicking them in the Mammal's face. She kept it up until the Mammal had enough, and leaves.
It is enough to see off this egg thief, but the little dinosaur knows there will be others.
And once the Mammal is gone, the Leaellynasaura returns of tending the nest.
Meanwhile, as the others stay within the forest, Twilight, Rainbow and Starlight decided to head back to the river.
And the Muttaburrasaurus are still on the bank.
The Muttaburrasaurus continued to arrive on the floodplains, and are watched from the forest edges by hungry eyes.
As the 3 watched the herd, the Polar Allosaur from earlier emerges from the forest.
The Allosaur is testing the herd. Probing for sick or old animals. These herbivores are slow, but fine safety in size and numbers.
The Allosaur moves only in front of the herd, testing for any weak animals. But the Muttaburrasaurus stood their ground, and made loud trumpet sounds. The 3 ponies watch from a distance away from the Allosaur. And then one Muttaburrasaur confronts the Allosaur, and then made a loud trumpet sound. The Allosaur growls and snaps his jaws, but then runs off away from the herd.
"Hey, that's right." Rainbow said. "You better run."
The Allosaur is no match for a healthy bull Muttaburrasaurus. And he is forced to back down.
And the Allosaur walks away towards the forest.
By late spring, the tree ferns and conifers are in full lush. And have form a thick canopy, soaking up every bit of sunlight.
Many of the nests have now fallen victim to predators. But the clan is ensure that at least the dominant pairs has survived.
Secure within, are 3 hatchlings.
Twilight and the others watch only several feet away as a Leaellysaurna tends the 3 babies in the nest.
For the first 2 weeks of their lives, they will stay in the nest. While the adults take turns collecting food, and bringing back to them.
The Mane 7 watched as the Leaellysaurna feeds the babies in the same way that birds do.
The lead female takes great care to maintain the nest.
The female begins to remove any old eggshells and unhatch eggs from the nest.
To stop predators sniffing out her brood, she'll remove the old eggshells. And eats the unhatch ones. This also recycles the nutrients.
The lead female feeds on an unhatch egg.
At this stage, the hatchlings are vulnerable. And can easily become lost on the forest floor if they stray.
A single Leaellysaura hatchling has wandered away from the safety of the nest. And gotten lost and calls out.
And soon an adult appeared.
All the adults watch out for wanders, in case a predator moves in.
Within weeks, this little hatchling will be strong enough to keep up with the adults. But for now, he is promptly returned to the safety of the nest.
The adult soon picks up the hatchling, and soon returns him to the safety of the nest.
It is now full summer, and permanently light.
The Sun will not set for another 5 months. But this time of year the forest floor around the nests, comes alive with polar insects.
Near the Mane 7, a Weta is out hunting for food among the leaf litter.
They themselves for food for larger animals, like the Tuatara.
And then, a Tuatara Lizard emerges from a burrow.
It is a Reptile, but one surviving from a time long before the dinosaurs. It will remain long after them too, clinging on in the land that will become the islands of New Zealand.
The Tuatara crawls out of his burrow, and snatches the Weta and dives back into his burrow.
Meanwhile, the Muttaburrasaurus are still on the riverbank.
Out in the open, the Muttaburrasaurus is being tormented by blood suckers. Summer brings out swarms of biting flies, and although dinosaurs are covered in tough scaly skin. They do have softer parts. The insects concentrated on areas like the inside of the ear. Where their mouths can pierce the skin, and suck out a meal.
One Muttaburrasaurus is getting Mosquitoes swarming around it's face. And some are getting in it's ear.
These swarms can drive their gigantic hosts wild. And soon the herd has to move away from the river.
Inside the forest, The Leaellynasaura enjoy the summer bounty, and despite the dangers around them. Sleep.
During these long months of Sun, they rely heavily on their patterned skin. To camouflage then among the ferns.
Meanwhile, the Mane 7 were watching the 3 youngsters.
Sleep is the last thing on the minds of the hatchlings that are playing nearby. They have grown, and are now practicing a sort of agile moves, which will one day save their lives.
One youngster hops across the side of a log, and then bumps into one of it's siblings as it's falls over.
Wherever the young are, their mother is not far away. Acting as lookout for her increasingly active brood.
The lead female climbs up a fallen tree that is angled by another tree keeping watch.
On the banks of the river, an old Muttaburrasaurus has been brought down. And a male Allosaur feeds off the rotting flesh.
The Allosaur approaches the carcass.
The Polar Allosaur is a smaller descendant of the great carnivores of the Jurassic, 50 million years before. His type are rare in the Cretaceous, but they survive here in the South Pole.
As the male feeds, a female emerges from the forest and is drawn to the smell of the kill and approaches.
Although there's enough meat at this kill for 20 Allosaurs, it is unlikely the approach of a rival female will be tolerated.
The male Allosaur soon noticed the female, and then roars at her. And is clearly not in the mood to share. The male roars again, but the female growls and then quickly approaches the carcass. And then takes a strip of meat, and soon the male snaps at her driving her off.
She is driven away by the hungry male.
The female turns and leaves as the male begins to feed again.
A fully grown Polar Allosaur needs about 220 pounds of meat a week. She will need to come back once the male has eaten his fill.
Later, under the light of the Midnight Sun, one of the young Leaellynasaura ventures down to the river alone.
The youngster begins to drink from the river.
But is unaware of what might be lurking.
In the water, a Koolasuchus sets it's sights on the youngster and locks on.
And then at the last second, the young Leaellynasaura leaps from the lunging Amphibian and runs off.
Saved, by his lightning reactions.
And soon, the youngster approaches an adult.
Nearby, the Mane 7 saw the whole thing.
"Whoa, that was close." Spike said.
"Yeah, and fast." Rainbow said.
But the young Leaellynasaura has much to learn about the dangers of his forest home.
Sometime later, a heavy storm arrives.
In the time of dinosaurs, Antarctica suffers regular summer thunderstorms. But sweep up across the polar forest, causing widespread flooding.
These floods drive forest creatures together, and this can lead to confrontation.
With the Mane 7 and the Leaellynasaura clan, there is trouble.
One Leaellynasaura makes an alarm call, alerting the others.
"What is going on?" Rarity asked.
"I don't know." Pinkie said.
The Leaellynasaura have spotted a rival clan. And it is enough to trigger an aggressive respond. Each clan must defend it's area of forest, so it does not face competition for food. It is crucial that the interlopers are put off by a convincing show of strength.
And soon the clan started challenging the rival clan, and soon they rival clan starts backing down.
It has worked. The rivals retreat, and for the moment the clan's territory is safe.
Days later, the flood waters have finally lowered.
After the rains, the flood waters quickly subside. And dinosaurs and return to the river banks to feed.
Twilight and the others were on the river bank with the Muttaburrasaurus and Leaellynasaura. And at the moment they were feeding.
When there is plenty of food, herbivores can be very tolerant of each other. As the Muttaburrasaurus pluck and tear at the polar cap trees. The Leaellynasaura move among them, gathering up the red fruits that gets scattered on the ground.
As the Muttaburrasaurus feed on the branches, the Leaellynasaura busy themselves with the red berries on the ground.
Although a risky harvest.
One Leaellynasaura searches for food, but is too close to a Muttburrasaurus. And then quicklys moves aside as it took a step back.
The clan must take every opportunity the forest offers. Because time is running out.
"Does anyone else noticed that the Sun hasn't even set a lot lately?" Rainbow asked.
"Now that you mention it, I honestly thought it was just one day moving too slow." Applejack knew what she meant.
"I always wondered why I keep falling asleep and wake up in the day." Spike said.
"I wonder where we truly are." Starlight said.
The seasons draw on, and for the first time in 4 months, the Sun sets.
Autumn has arrived, the forest prepares for a polar winter.
On the riverbank, the Muttburrasaurus herd begins to head back north for the winter.
Up and down the river valleys, the Muttaburrasaurus sense the change, and begin their long trek north.
In the forest, an adult Muttaburrasaurus and a youngster travel through the forest. But have gotten lost among the trees. And the adult calls out, hoping for a response from other Muttaburrasaurus.
Occasionally, some of these giant migrants get lost in the forest. But what for them is a minor problem, can mean life or death for the Leaellynasaura clan.
The 2 Muttaburrasaurus continued their trek hoping to catch up with the herd.
Nearby, the Leaellynasaura clan are feeding, and the sentry as usual is keeping lookout. But the bellows from the Muttaburrasaurus in the distance is making a challenge for him form hearing other sounds.
The noise these huge herbivores make, prevents the Leaellynasaura sentry from hearing other, more threatening sounds.
Nearby, the Polar Allosaur slowly stalks close to the clan. And the Mane 7 are unaware of him from the distant calls from the Muttaburrasaurus. And slowly, the Allosaur approaches with striking range.
As soon as he was, he then immediately charges, and soon the Leaellynsaura and the Mane 7 started running away in different directions. And then soon, the Allosaur clamps down on a passing Leaellynasaura and starts shaking it like mad as the little dinosaur screeches.
And soon, he drop the dinosaur to the ground when it was dead.
And the Allosaur lowers his head down and sniffs it.
The giant carnivore has killed the dominant female.
It is a bitter blow.
The Allosaur lowers down, and begins to feed on the body.
Winter is coming, and without a lead female there will be tension in the clan.
And soon the other Leaellynasaura begins to leave the area. As well with the Mane 7.
Meanwhile, at the riverbank. The Koolasuchus emerges from the river.
In the gathering gloom, the Koolasuchus senses the dropping temperature. And reluctantly leaves his summer home.
The Koolasuchus begins to crawl away from the river, and begins to head back into the forest.
Once again, he lumbers into the forest. In search of a suitable shelter, to hibernate through the cold dark months that lie away.
The low light also triggers a change in the forest plants.
They stopped growing, and photosynthesis grinds to a halt.
Some will shed leaves, others will just lie dormant.
Meanwhile, at a stream the Leaellynasaura clan and the Mane 7 drinking some water.
The Leaellynasaura now have to work extra hard to find food. Searching for fungus and nutritious roots beneath the forest floor.
At this time of year, their survival strategy is to move to the heart of the forest. Where is rarely freezes, and to keep active to maintain their body temperature. But as the clan gathers around a waterfall, it is clear that the summer predators have taking their toll. Only 1 hatchling has survived.
And they still have no lead female.
Sometime later, the Sun begins to make one final setting.
Towards the end of autumn, the day passes in a few minutes.
And the long twilight begins.
And soon, everything was dark.
Life in the polar forest faces it's biggest killer.
Freezing temperatures.
Some polar creatures like the Weta, have learn to cope with the cold by allowing themselves to become frozen.
And soon, the night sky is lit up.
In the winter sky, the Southern Lights whipped and flicker over the silent forest.
Under the sleeping trees, it is almost pitch black.
But with image of enhancement, it is possible to get the Leaellynasaura's eye view of the clan.
Under the darkness, Twilight and the others are still with the clan. Twilight and Starlight had their horns lit up to see better.
The dinosaurs are still active, but this year the ground is frozen. And it has become almost impossible to scrap a living out of the soil.
The Leaellynasaura feed on whatever they can get.
Even pond water is frozen, and the Leaellynasaura resort to using their hard beaks.
One Leaellynasaura pecks at the ice of the pond trying to get a drink.
"Sure is cold." Spike shivered.
"I can barely see a thing out here." Rarity said.
"Yeah, I can barely see my own hoof in front of me." Pinkie holding out her hoof walking around and then felt something. "Hey, what's this soft thing?"
"Pinkie, that's my face." Twilight said.
"Oh, sorry Twilight." Pinkie pulling her hoof back.
"I can't if my eyes are open or close." Fluttershy said.
"Wait, I think I can see a bit." Rainbow moving around.
But then she bumped into a tree.
"I'm okay." Rainbow rubbed her head.
Temperatures this low don't usually last long in the forest, but facing this harsh time with their strict social order in tatters. Means the fate of this clan hangs in the balance.
And soon, they begin to head out.
They push deeper into the forest.
There has been no light for 2 months, and another cold snap forces the clan to take drastic action.
They have evolved one further adaptation to the cold. As a group they huddle together, and draft into a state of torpor. In this suspended animation, their bodies can resist the effects of the cold. But they cannot stay like this for more than a couple of days.
Twilight and the others were also forced to huddle close together from the cold.
The first hints of salvation are small.
Under a rock, ice starts melting and a Weta reawakens.
Under his rock, the Weta is revived from his deep freeze by a slight, but sustained. Rise in temperature.
And soon, the Weta begins to move around.
Months later, sunlight returns.
On the horizon the Sun's rays grow stronger. And there is the promise of spring.
In the forest, the Mane 7 were sleeping. And then a screech suddenly rang and they immediately woke up from it.
"What, what, what happened?!" Rainbow getting her senses back.
Spike yawned and stretched. "I think it came from over there."
The forest silence is shattered by an agitation clan.
They soon found the clan, and 2 Leaellynasaura were fighting.
2 males are fighting, this is the mating season for the Leaellynasaura. And the males are competing for dominance.
These fights are short, but can sometimes be vicious.
The fight continues until eventually, one of them backs down.
Having a won a challenge, the victorious male chooses a mate. And at last, the clan continued and start to reestablish round a dominant pair.
Their annual struggle to survive, can begin again.
Life at the poles is a remarkable evolutionary achievement for the dinosaurs.
But eventually, a slight cooling in the world's climate will spell doom for these lush Antarctic forests.
And without them...
All these unique dinosaurs, will also...
Disappear.
Twilight and the others continued to watch the Leaellynasaura. Until the time warp opened, and are taken to their next destination in history.
Away from the Poles, the dinosaurs continued to thrive for another 40 million years before Extinction.
And soon, they will see how just before the end of their reign...
They evolved the most terrifying predator...
That has ever walk the Earth.
Next Time.
Twilight and her friends travel 11 million years, and meet the biggest dinosaur of all time.
But found out that being big, doesn't mean you're always invincible.
As they meet the 2nd biggest land predator that has ever existed.
Author's Fun Fact:
The Polar Allosaur wasn't named until after Walking With Dinosaurs.
And is now called Australovenator.
Author's Note:
On Saturday, I saw The Grinch, and it was great and also funny.
Oh, and one of the previews is HTTYD: The Hidden World.