PBS' new two-part special, Dolphins: Spy in the Pod, offers a twist on normal wildlife photography. Created by the team behind Spy in the Wild, the show uses animatronic cameras to infiltrate the world of dolphins. The spy creatures look like a dolphin, turtle, squid, nautilus, baby dolphin, tuna, ray and puffer, and have state-of-the-art cameras in their eyes or mouths.
In addition to the animatronic spies, a real bottlenose dolphin is used in Caribbean waters as a "double agent." This tame dolphin, carrying tiny cameras on its back and sides, has free rein to explore the ocean and return to base when it's ready, bringing back recordings of its adventures.
The program airs at 7 p.m. Wednesday and May 10 on AETN. In the first episode, the bottlenose is introduced. A female is recorded with her young, and we learn that dolphins rub against coral heads to help shed old skin. And Spy Tuna follows spinner dolphins.
Episode 2 looks at the orca, the world's largest dolphin. The film reveals that orca pods (groups) don't interact, and even "speak" in different dialects. The series concludes with Spy Squid's ultimate sacrifice while filming its archenemy, the potato cod.
-- Rosemary Boggs
Style on 05/07/2017