Peter Coyote: IT IS A MODERN MARVEL, A BUILDING WHERE THE OCEAN LITERALLY FLOWS THROUGH THE WALLS.

THIS IS A PLACE THAT IS BOTH ALIVE AND MAGIC.

LIKE THE ANCIENT PYRAMIDS, IT WAS BUILT AS A PORTAL, PROVIDING ACCESS TO A FANTASTIC WORLD BEYOND OUR REACH.

THIS IS THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM, WHERE THE BOUNDARIES THAT SEPARATE US FROM THE OCEAN ARE SUSPENDED.

SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE AQUARIUM HAS PIONEERED NEW WAYS TO EXPLORE AND UNDERSTAND THE OCEAN.

TODAY, IT CONTINUES TO BREAK NEW GROUND.

ON THE FRONT LINES, THE AQUARIUM IS LEADING THE FIGHT TO PROTECT THREATENED ANIMALS.

CAN IT BE THE FIRST TO EXHIBIT ONE OF THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD PREDATORS IN THE OCEAN, THE GREAT WHITE SHARK?

STANDING AT THE BOUNDARY OF OUR WORLD, WE ARE DRAWN BY THE BEAUTY OF THE ABYSS AND CHALLENGED TO RECONSIDER THE PLACE WE CALL HOME.

IT SHIMMERS LIKE A JEWEL, A FRAGMENT OF THE OCEAN CUT AND POLISHED FOR DISPLAY AT THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM.

CONTAINING MORE THAN A MILLION GALLONS OF WATER, IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST MARINE EXHIBITS ON EARTH.

THE CURTAIN OF BUBBLES IS A VISUAL CUE THAT KEEPS THE ANIMALS FROM BUMPING INTO THE WINDOW WHEN THE AQUARIUM IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.

AS THE CURTAIN RISES, IT SIGNALS THE START OF A NEW DAY.

SINCE FIRST OPENING IN 1984, NEARLY 40 MILLION VISITORS HAVE FLOCKED HERE.

THAT'S MORE THAN THE POPULATIONS OF NEW YORK, LONDON, PARIS, ROME, LOS ANGELES, AND BERLIN COMBINED.

THEY COME HERE DRAWN BY MORE THAN 35,000 ANIMALS AND PLANTS, MANY FROM THE AQUARIUM'S OWN BACKYARD, WHICH IS ONE OF THE RICHEST MARINE REGIONS ON EARTH -- CALIFORNIA'S MONTEREY BAY.

OH, LOOK!

COOL.

PRETTY COOL.

YEAH.

PRETTY COOL.

Coyote: EACH OF THE ANIMALS ON DISPLAY HAS ITS OWN STORY TO TELL.

LIKE ANEMONES, WHICH, IT'S SUSPECTED, CAN LIVE FOREVER AND NEVER DIE OF OLD AGE.

MOON JELLIES, ONE OF A FEW CREATURES FROM OCEAN DEPTHS SENT INTO OUTER SPACE.

SCALLOPED HAMMER HEADS, WHICH FOLLOW EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD ON THEIR NORTH AND SOUTH MIGRATIONS.

TO THE SURPRISE OF MANY, THE SHOREBIRDS HERE DON'T REQUIRE CAGES.

VERY SHY IN THE WILD, THESE ANIMALS, MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN RESCUED FROM INJURY, HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO PEOPLE.

THE JELLY COLLECTION AT THE AQUARIUM IS THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD.

THIS DISPLAY OF FLOWER HAT JELLIES IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN NORTH AMERICA.

WHAT ARE THEY?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE CALLED?

JELLYFISH.

Coyote: IT'S SUSPECTED THE TASSELS ATOP THIS JELLY ACT AS LURES COAXING SMALL FISH TO ITS POISON TENTACLES.

WHEN THE AQUARIUM'S GIANT SEA BASS FIRST ARRIVED 12 YEARS AGO, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT WAS BUT 9 INCHES LONG.

THERE'S A GREAT BIG SEAWEED THAT CAN KIND OF GROW 5 INCHES A DAY SOMETIMES.

I MEAN, THAT MUCH.

AND IT LIVES IN THE WATER AROUND HERE.

AND THAT'S A SEA STAR.

SEA STAR.

Coyote: OF ALL THE ANIMALS TO BE SEEN HERE, OF ALL THE STORIES TO BE TOLD, THERE IS ONE ANIMAL IN PARTICULAR THAT IS ATTRACTING THE ATTENTION OF THE WORLD.

TO AN AQUARIUM, IT'S THE HOLY GRAIL, A CREATURE NEVER SUCCESSFULLY KEPT IN CAPTIVITY BEFORE.

THE RECORD SO FAR -- A MERE 16 DAYS.

BUT HERE, AMONG THE TURTLES AND THE TUNAS, THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM IS ATTEMPTING THE IMPOSSIBLE -- THEY WILL TRY TO EXHIBIT THE MOST FEARED CREATURE IN THE SEA...

THE GREAT WHITE SHARK.

TAKING A FULL-GROWN GREAT WHITE ALIVE FROM THE OCEAN IS SIMPLY NOT A VIABLE OPTION.

AT 5 FEET LONG AND 62 POUNDS, THIS FEMALE IS JUST A BABY, LESS THAN A YEAR OLD.

CAUGHT ACCIDENTALLY IN A FISHING NET, HER NOSE INJURED IN THE PROCESS, SHE'S THE PERFECT CANDIDATE FOR A DARING EXPERIMENT.

CAN SHE ACCLIMATE TO THE CONFINES OF AN EXHIBIT WHEN SHE'S USED TO WIDE OPEN WATER?

WILL SHE TURN AT ANY MOMENT AND ATTACK ANOTHER ANIMAL IN THE TANK?

THE STAKES ARE HIGH, BOTH FOR HER AND THE AQUARIUM.

BUT IT'S HOPED HER PRESENCE WILL PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON THE PLIGHT OF SHARKS WORLDWIDE.

GLOBALLY, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 100 MILLION SHARKS ARE KILLED EACH YEAR.

AND SOME SPECIES HAVE DECLINED BY A DEVASTATING 90%.

THIS CARNAGE HAS LARGELY GONE UNNOTICED BECAUSE SHARKS HAVE BEEN DEMONIZED.

CAN THIS YOUNG GREAT WHITE HELP SWAY PUBLIC OPINION?

Man: I'VE HAD THE EXPERIENCE NOW JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY SINCE WE PUT HER ON DISPLAY OF BRING PEOPLE INTO THAT SPACE SPECIFICALLY TO SEE HER.

AND YOU STAND THERE IN FRONT OF THIS MAGNIFICENT WINDOW.

AND YOU'RE STANDING THERE LOOKING, AND A SOUPFIN SHARK WILL SWIM BY AND THEY'LL, "OH, IS THAT HER?"

"NO, THAT'S NOT HER."

AND THEN A GALAPAGOS SHARK WILL SWIM BY.

"OH, IS THAT HER?"

"NO, THAT'S NOT HER."

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, SHE'LL SWIM INTO VIEW, AND EVERYBODY GOES, "OH."

YOU KNOW, AND THERE IS SUCH, SUCH A CHARISMA THAT THIS ANIMAL CARRIES, SUCH A PRESENCE THAT SHE CARRIES, WE'RE NOT SEEING FEAR, WE'RE SEEING AWE.

THAT'S A GREAT WHITE SHARK RIGHT THERE, THOUGH.

Coyote: WHILE THE GREAT WHITE SHARK IS STIRRING HEARTS AND MINDS, SHE IS STILL A LETHAL PREDATOR.

HOW LONG WILL SHE BE CONTENT TO SWIM THIS LITTLE PATCH OF OCEAN?

TAKING A CHANCE WITH THE GREAT WHITE SHARK ISN'T THE FIRST CALCULATED RISK THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM HAS WAGERED.

FISHY.

WHEN THE AQUARIUM FIRST OPENED, IT GAMBLED IT'S FUTURE AND $55 MILLION IN LARGE PART ON THIS EXHIBIT.

COOL.

THAT'S COOL.

Coyote: THIS IS A LIVING KELP FOREST.

AND ITS CREATION FLEW IN THE FACE OF PROFESSIONALS WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A LOSING BET.

NOBODY HAD EVER SUCCESSFULLY GROWN KELP ON THIS SCALE.

BUT THERE WERE ALSO MORE PRESSING CONCERNS.

THE EXHIBIT WAS INTENDED TO RE-CREATE A KEY HABITAT OF THE MONTEREY BAY.

AND CRITICS SCOFFED THAT NOBODY WOULD BE INTERESTED.

THE PUBLIC RENDERED ITS VERDICT QUICKLY.

THEY WERE ENTHRALLED.

THE SECRETS BEHIND THE EXHIBIT'S REALISM CAN BE TRACED TO MANY FACTORS.

SUNLIGHT POURS THROUGH THE DISPLAY, WHICH THE KELP USES TO CREATE FOOD.

A PLUNGER AT THE TOP OF THE EXHIBIT RE-CREATES THE PULSING FLOW CALLED SURGE, WHICH BEATS ALONG CALIFORNIA'S COAST.

SURGE IS NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN THE KELP, BATHING IT IN VITAL NUTRIENTS.

BUT PERHAPS THE MOST IMPRESSIVE INNOVATION CAN'T BE SEEN FROM THE EXHIBIT FLOOR.

DEEP BELOW THE AQUARIUM LIES THE CONTROL ROOM.

FROM THIS SUBTERRANEAN LOCATION, ENGINEERS MONITOR THE KELP FOREST'S MOST UNIQUE AND VITAL FEATURE -- A NEAR CONTINUOUS FLOW OF SEA WATER.

COME BACK, MIKE, YOU COPY?

Coyote: MONTEREY BAY IS ONE OF A FEW AQUARIUMS IN THE WORLD TO HAVE THIS CAPABILITY.

EVERY MINUTE, MORE THAN 2,000 GALLONS OF WATER IS BEING PUMPED FROM THE BAY THROUGH THIS LABYRINTH OF PIPES AND INTO THE KELP FOREST EXHIBIT.

IN THIS WAY, THE KELP FOREST IS LITERALLY CONNECTED TO THE REAL OCEAN, AN EXTENSION OF THE BAY ITSELF.

AT NIGHT, SEA WATER FLOWS THROUGH THE SYSTEM UNFILTERED, RICH WITH MICROSCOPIC FOOD AND EVEN A DIVERSITY OF ANIMAL LIFE.

TINY ANIMAL LARVAE PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE KELP FOREST EXHIBIT.

AS THEY MATURE TO BECOME SPONGES, MUSSELS, AND A HOST OF OTHER ANIMALS, THEY ENHANCE THE EXHIBIT'S REALISM.

BUT THESE TINY LARVAE CAN ALSO CAUSE BIG PROBLEMS FOR THE AQUARIUM'S PLUMBING.

ALL OF THE WATER AND LARVAE ENTER THE AQUARIUM THROUGH THESE TWO INTAKE PIPES, WHICH ARE THE FACILITY'S MAIN ARTERIES.

AS THE LARVAE GROW, THEY CAN CLOG THE PIPES, CHOKE OFF THE SUPPLY OF WATER, AND THREATEN THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS.

TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING, DIVERS ROUTINELY BRAVE THE FRIGID DEPTHS TO REPLACE FILTERS AND VALVES AND SCRAPE THE OPENING OF THE PIPES CLEAN.

ANOTHER BATTLE LINE AGAINST THE INVADERS IS WHERE THE INTAKE PIPES ENTER THE AQUARIUM.

TO ROOT OUT THE INFILTRATORS, THE ENGINEERS RELY ON A DEVICE USED IN THE EARLY DAYS OF OIL EXPLORATION, CALLED A PIG.

THE PIG IS PLACED IN A PIPE AND THEN SHOT THROUGH THE LINE UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE.

AS IT MOVES, IT SCRAPES THE PIPES CLEAN.

VALVE 6 AND VALVE 37 ARE SECURED.

Man: COPY THAT.

THANK YOU.

Coyote: WITH THE LINE CLEAR, THE PIG IS FORCED INTO THE END OF THE PIPE.

OKAY.

PERFECT.

IF EVERYBODY'S READY, LET'S SHOOT IT NOW.

DRIVE THE BYPASS.

ENERGIZING NOW.

SHOOT THE PIG.

[ BUZZING ] [ SQUEAL ] HEY, PIG NOISES.

HERE IT COMES.

THIS WATER'S FROM THE LOW SPOT IN THE PIPE.

YOU'RE MISSING OUT ON A WONDERFUL SMELL.

THIS IS SOME OF THE BLACK PIGGING DEBRIS COMING THROUGH.

THERE'S THE PIG.

WITHOUT THIS KEY MAINTENANCE TASK, WE CAN'T BRING THE RAW WATER INTO THE BUILDING THAT SUPPORTS OUR INVERTEBRATE LIFE AND ESPECIALLY THAT GOOD-LOOKING KELP FOREST.

THE REASON THAT TANK IS SO REALISTIC LOOKING IS BECAUSE WE BRING IN REAL OUTSIDE WATER THROUGH THE BUILDING AND PUT IT IN OUR TANKS.

Coyote: THE SEA WATER SURGING THROUGH THE KELP FOREST ISN'T CONFINED TO THIS EXHIBIT.

THE KELP FOREST AND ITS INTRICATE SYSTEMS SERVE AS THE AQUARIUM'S HEART, PUMPING AND CIRCULATING WATER TO ALL THE OTHER DISPLAYS.

THESE EXHIBITS, TOO, THEN, ARE QUITE LITERALLY EXTENSIONS OF THE OCEAN, AND EACH PRESENTS ITS OWN CHALLENGES.

OH, LOOK AT THAT.

Coyote: TO CREATE THIS UNDERWATER VIEW, AQUARISTS HAVE WRAPPED WHARF PILINGS WITH RUBBER SHEETS THAT WERE SUBMERGED IN THE BAY FOR MONTHS AND COLONIZED BY ANIMALS.

THROUGH THE CLEVER PLACEMENT OF MIRRORS, THE EXHIBIT APPEARS TO SHOW ROWS OF PILINGS, WHEN IN FACT, ONLY THREE PIERS ACTUALLY EXIST.

THESE FLAT FISH OUTGROW THIS DISPLAY ABOUT EVERY 12 MONTHS.

OH, LOOK, THEY'RE PLAYING TAG.

Coyote: AND THEY'RE RETURNED TO THE WILD AND REPLACED BY YOUNGER ANIMALS.

ROCK FISH, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE RETURNED ABOUT EVERY DECADE.

THEY'RE SLOWER GROWERS THAT CAN LIVE TO MORE THAN 100 YEARS OLD, MAKING THEM SOME OF THE LONGEST LIVING FISH ON EARTH.

THIS EXHIBIT OF TUBE ANEMONES IS ALMOST ENTIRELY AUTOMATED.

A MACHINE DISPENSES FOOD FROM THE TOP OF THE DISPLAY SEVERAL TIMES A DAY.

A REGULATED FLOW DIRECTS FOOD INTO THE PATH OF OUTSTRETCHED TENTACLES.

THIS SMALL SOLITARY EXHIBIT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF THE AQUARIUM.

A COLONY OF STRAWBERRY ANEMONES HAS BEEN FLOURISHING HERE EVER SINCE THE AQUARIUM FIRST OPENED ITS DOORS MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO.

AMONG THE SMALL DISPLAYS, SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND FASCINATING ARE THE JELLIES.

THE BLUE JELLY IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT HAS NOT ONE BUT DOZENS OF MOUTHS.

THE UPSIDE DOWN JELLY USES ITS BELL LIKE A SUCTION CUP TO STICK TO THE SEA FLOOR.

IN THIS POSITION, THE JELLY HOUSES ALGAE, WHICH IN TURN MAKES FOOD FOR THE JELLY.

SOME OF THE AQUARIUM'S JELLIES ARE COLLECTED FROM THE BAY, BUT THEIR AVAILABILITY CAN BE SPORADIC.

TO MAINTAIN THE EXHIBITS, AQUARISTS ARE REFINING TECHNIQUES TO BREED JELLIES IN CAPTIVITY.

THIS LAB IS AFFECTIONATELY CALLED THE JELLY FARM.

HERE, PEOPLE LIKE CHAD WIDMER ARE EXPLORING THE CRYPTIC LIVES OF GHOSTLY JELLIES.

IT'S SUSPECTED THAT JELLIES ARE DIRECT DESCENDENTS OF THE FIRST ANIMALS EVER TO SWIM THE OCEANS.

AND TODAY, THEY CAN FOUND IN WATERS THE WORLD OVER.

SOME JELLIES CAN GROW TO BE LARGER THAN 7 FEET ACROSS, WITH TENTACLES NEARLY 120 FEET LONG.

DESPITE THEIR DOCILE APPEARANCE, JELLIES ARE VORACIOUS PREDATORS.

AND THE STING OF SOME OF THEM CAN BE FATAL TO HUMANS.

OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO WIDMER ARE THESE ANIMALS, CALLED MOON JELLIES.

THEY HAVE ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL LIFE CYCLES OF ALL LIVING THINGS.

IN THE WILD, WIDMER CAREFULLY GATHERS LARVAE FROM THE FEMALES, WHICH HE USES TO PRODUCE COLONIES IN HIS LAB.

BACK AT THE JELLY FARM, WIDMER CAREFULLY MOVES THE LARVAE INTO A CULTURE DISH.

IN THE COMING DAYS, THESE LARVAE WILL UNDERGO ONE OF THE MOST FANTASTIC TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

THE PROCESS BEGINS AS THE LARVAE ARE PLACED IN A CAREFULLY CONTROLLED WATER BATH WHERE THEY WILL SPEND APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AT A STEADY 58° FAHRENHEIT.

DURING THE NEXT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT, THE LARVAE HAVE TRANSFORMED INTO POLYPS, AND THEY HAVE ANCHORED THEMSELVES TO A ROCK.

EACH OF THESE TINY POLYPS CAN PRODUCE NOT ONE BUT DOZENS OF JUVENILE JELLIES.

BY MANIPULATING WATER TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY, WIDMER COAXES THE POLYPS TO DIVIDE AND FORM FLAT SEGMENTS CALLED EPHYRA.

EACH EPHYRA IS ACTUALLY A YOUNG JELLY.

LIKE A BUTTERFLY WORKING ITS WAY OUT OF A COCOON, THE YOUNG JELLY STRUGGLES TO BREAK FREE.

THROUGH EXPERIMENTATION, WIDMER HAS FOUND THAT MOON JELLIES AT THIS STAGE GROW FASTEST IN WATER TEMPERATURES OF 72°.

WITH THIS NEW INSIGHT INTO MOON JELLY REPRODUCTION, WIDMER CAN HELP GUARANTEE A VIABLE, HEALTHY POPULATION FOR THE AQUARIUM'S DISPLAYS.

[ CHILDREN SCREAMING ] THERE'S HIS FOOT, AND HERE'S HIS MOUTH.

IT'S, LIKE, SOFT.

YEAH, BUT KIND OF LEATHERY.

HE'S SOFTER MORE IN THE MIDDLE HERE, ISN'T HE?

Coyote: FOR 17 DAYS NOW, THE GREAT WHITE HAS BEEN ON EXHIBIT AND IS UNDER CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE BY STAFF AND CAMERAS.

TO THE TRAINED EYE, HER SWIM PATTERNS AND TAIL-BEAT FREQUENCY INDICATE SHE'S SETTLING INTO HER NEW ENVIRONMENT.

SHE'S BROKEN THE RECORD FOR SURVIVING IN CAPTIVITY, AND THERE ARE GOOD SIGNS SHE COULD BE HERE FOR SOME TIME TO COME.

THERE'S THE GREAT WHITE RIGHT THERE!

LOOK AT THE GREAT WHITE!

Coyote: PERHAPS WHAT'S MOST ENCOURAGING IS THAT SHE CONTINUES TO FEED REGULARLY.

THAT MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE MUCH.

AFTER ALL, GREAT WHITES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO SAMPLE ALMOST ANYTHING, INCLUDING LICENSE PLATES, A FUR CAPE, AND EVEN AN ENTIRE BUFFALO HEAD.

BUT NO GREAT WHITE HAS EVER FED IN AN AQUARIUM UNTIL NOW.

THE AQUARIUM'S SUCCESS CAN BE TRACED BACK SEVERAL YEARS TO SOME NOVEL RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN WATERS OFF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THE RESEARCH WAS CENTERED ON A 5-MILLION-GALLON OCEAN PEN, WHICH WOULD SERVE AS A TESTING GROUND TO SEE IF GREAT WHITES COULD ACCLIMATE TO A CAPTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

THIS HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.

IN THE PAST, AQUARIUMS AROUND THE WORLD HAD RUSHED GREAT WHITES FROM THE WILD ONTO EXHIBIT, WHERE THEY REFUSED TO EAT, IT'S SUSPECTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE STRESSED.

THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM WAS BANKING ON A GO-SLOW STRATEGY.

IN THE SUMMER OF 2003, THE STAFF TOOK CHARGE OF A SHARK SNARED BY A FISHERMAN.

AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, THE TEAM ACHIEVED A BREAKTHROUGH.

THIS FOOTAGE MARKS THE VERY FIRST FEEDING OF A GREAT WHITE IN A CAPTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO A GENERAL WEIGHT.

SHOULD I WEIGH EACH PIECE?

OKAY.

Coyote: IN THE WILD, ADULT GREAT WHITES HUNT AT WILL, FEEDING ON SEALS, SEA LIONS, AND WHALES.

AT THE AQUARIUM, THIS YOUNG GREAT WHITE HAS BEEN TRAINED TO COME TO DINNER WHEN CALLED.

PUT IN SOME MULTIS.

OTHER MAGICAL THINGS.

Coyote: AMONG FOOD ON HER DIET ARE MACKEREL, SARDINES, AND ALBACORE TUNA.

THE STAFF, HOWEVER, SUSPECT SHE'S SHOWING A PREFERENCE FOR WILD-CAUGHT RESTAURANT-QUALITY SALMON.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GIVE THAT A WHIRL.

Coyote: AS SCOTTY GREENWALD TAKES UP HIS POSITION ON THE CATWALK, THE FEEDING PROCESS BEGINS.

SPLASHING THE SALMON INTO THE WATER, HE ATTEMPTS TO LURE THE GREAT WHITE TO THE SURFACE.

THIS ATTRACTS THE ATTENTION OF THE OTHER SHARKS.

THE GALAPAGOS ARE UP.

I'VE LOST HER.

Woman: YEAH, I'LL HOLLER IF I SEE HER.

Coyote: NEARBY, FREYA SMITH ATTEMPTS TO DIVERT THE ATTENTION OF THE OTHER ANIMALS.

I'M FEEDING THE GALAPAGOS SHARKS, THE HAMMERHEAD SHARKS, AND THE SOUPFIN SHARKS.

AND ALSO MY OTHER FUNCTION, WHILE SCOTTY IS FEEDING, I HAVE SALMON IN THE WATER TO KIND OF DETER THE TUNA FROM SCOTTY, BRING THEM OVER TO ME SO THEY'RE NOT IN THE AREA WHEN WE'RE FEEDING THE GREAT WHITE SHARK.

Coyote: THE GREAT WHITE SHARK'S ABILITY TO SMELL IS ITS PRIMARY SENSE FOR FINDING FOOD.

IT'S ALSO LOCKING IN ON ITS TARGET WITH ITS ACUTE EYESIGHT.

THERE SHE IS.

Freya: SHE'S ON THE OTHER SIDE.

OH, FANTASTIC.

WHOO, THAT WAS COOL.

SHE SWALLOWED THAT ONE WHOLE.

THAT WAS GOOD.

Coyote: FEEDING A GREAT WHITE SHARK, IN FACT, FEEDING ALL EXHIBIT ANIMALS, IS A SCIENCE.

IN THE PAST, OVER-FEEDING HAS LED TO THE DEATH OF SOME FISH.

TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING, THE AQUARIUM STAFF REGULARLY SENDS FOOD SAMPLES TO A LAB TO BE ASSESSED FOR CALORIC AND FAT CONTENT.

DESPITE THE GREAT WHITE'S MEAN AND LEAN DIET, THE STAFF IS CONCERNED WITH ONE ISSUE -- SHE APPEARS TO BE GROWING FASTER THAN ANTICIPATED.

GREAT WHITE SHARKS CAN GROW TO BE MORE THAN 20 FEET LONG, WEIGH 2 TONS, AND SNARE 30 POUNDS OF FOOD IN A SINGLE BITE.

AS THE AQUARIUM'S GREAT WHITE GETS BIGGER AND OLDER, WHAT OTHER CHANGES CAN THEY EXPECT?

WILL SHE TIRE OF BEING FED FROM A POLE?

WILL HER PREDATORY INSTINCT SUDDENLY TAKE OVER?

WILL SHE BEGIN HUNTING AND STALKING HER PREY?

LOOK TO THE SKY.

OH, BEAUTIFUL.

PUT THAT ONE IN KIND OF LIKE A CRAB CLAW.

YOU WANT TO SEE SEA CUCUMBERS?

YEP.

Coyote: AT THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM, EXPLORING THE OCEAN ISN'T CONFINED TO THE EXHIBIT FLOOR.

AS THESE NOVICES PREPARE FOR AN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME, NOT FAR AWAY, PROFESSIONALS FROM THE AQUARIUM ARE STRIKING OUT ON THEIR OWN MISSION.

HERE'S YOUR REGULATOR RIGHT HERE.

PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH, BITE DOWN.

EXCELLENT, BREATHE IN AND OUT THROUGH YOUR MOUTH.

COME ON DOWN.

Coyote: FOR THE YOUNG EXPLORERS, THEY'RE HEADED TO A SPECIAL DESTINATION -- A MANMADE TIDE POOL THAT TAKES THEM TO THE VERY EDGE OF THE OCEAN.

AS THE DIVERS BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY, THEIR COUNTERPARTS ARE EMBARKING ON THEIR OWN URGENT QUEST.

Woman: WAIT FOR HER TO COME UP AGAIN.

Coyote: AQUARIUM BIOLOGIST MICHELLE STAEDLER HAS TEAMED UP WITH CALIFORNIA AND ALASKA FISH AND GAME.

THERE'S SOMEBODY WAY OUT THERE SWIMMING.

Coyote: TODAY, STAEDLER GUIDES CAPTURE BOATS TOWARDS ANIMALS SHE'S BEEN STUDYING FOR YEARS -- CALIFORNIA SEA OTTERS.

Michelle: HE IS ABOUT 200 YARDS IN FRONT OF THAT, SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT.

SO YOU'RE NOT QUITE UP AS FAR ALONG AS HE IS.

BUT YOU'RE GETTING CLOSER.

OH, WE ARE.

OKAY, WE'RE CLOSER THAN I THOUGHT.

YEAH, OKAY, WE'RE CLOSER THAN I THOUGHT, SO WE'LL PICK UP THOSE ROCKS.

HE HAS A YELLOW AND WHITE TAG.

HE'S TERRITORIAL NOW, OVER.

I SEE HIM, I SEE HIM.

Coyote: THE OTTERS WRAP THEMSELVES IN KELP SO THAT THEY DON'T DRIFT AWAY DURING THEIR MORNING NAP.

AMONG OTTERS IN THE BAY, THESE TWO ARE SPECIAL.

THEY ARE PART OF A UNIQUE EXPERIMENT STARTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

BEGINNING IN 2000, SCIENTISTS BEGAN CAPTURING SEA OTTERS AND IMPLANTING SPECIAL DATA-RECORDING DEVICES IN THEIR ABDOMENS.

IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THE TINY COMPUTERS MIGHT HELP SHED LIGHT ON A PERPLEXING MYSTERY.

DESPITE PROTECTION, OTTER POPULATIONS ARE GROWING VERY SLOWLY.

AND THESE ANIMALS THAT HAVE BOUNCED BACK FROM THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION MIGHT ONCE AGAIN BE IN SOME KIND OF TROUBLE.

WHILE A NUMBER OF FACTORS COULD BE PLAGUING THE OTTERS, FROM CAT LITTER AND OTHER POLLUTANTS DUMPING INTO THE BAY.

ANOTHER PRIME SUSPECT IS THE AVAILABILITY OF FOOD.

THE DATA-RECORDING DEVICE TRACKS THE OTTERS' EFFORTS TO FIND FOOD.

HOW OFTEN ARE THEY DIVING?

HOW DEEP?

AND HOW LONG ARE THEY STAYING UNDER WATER?

A SURPRISE ATTACK IS THE ONLY WAY TO CAPTURE SEA OTTERS, WHICH COULD EASILY OUT-SWIM A DIVER.

TO HELP ACHIEVE THEIR STEALTH-LIKE PRESENCE, THE DIVERS ARE USING RE-BREATHERS, WHICH ELIMINATE BUBBLES WHEN THEY EXHALE.

THE PRESENCE OF BUBBLES WOULD BE ENOUGH TO SPOOK THE OTTERS AND BLOW THE OPERATION.

WITH THE OTTERS CAPTURED, THE TEAM WORKS QUICKLY TO GET THE ANIMALS TO SURGERY.

NEARLY A DOZEN OTTERS WILL FOLLOW THIS PATH OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

DR. MICHAEL MURRAY WILL PERFORM ALL THE OPERATIONS TO REMOVE THE DATA DEVICES.

WHAT SECRETS ABOUT THE OTTERS MIGHT THE DEVICES REVEAL?

WITHIN HOURS OF THEIR SURGERY, ALL THE OTTERS ARE RETURNED SAFELY TO THE WILD.

EACH HAS CONTRIBUTED IN ITS OWN WAY TO HELP SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE FUTURE OF THEIR BRETHREN.

STAEDLER'S PRELIMINARY FINDINGS SUGGEST THESE OTTERS ARE WORKING HARDER THAN OTHER OTTERS TO FIND SUCH FOOD AS ABALONE, CRABS, MUSSELS, AND OTHER INVERTEBRATES.

JUST WHY FOOD MAY BE SCARCE IS ANOTHER MYSTERY, ONE STAEDLER IS DETERMINED TO HELP SOLVE.

FOR SCUBA DIVERS, THE SAFEST WAY TO VIEW A GREAT WHITE IS FROM A STEEL SHARK CAGE.

THESE DIVERS WILL HAVE FAR LESS PROTECTION.

THEY'LL BE CLEANING THE WINDOW OF THE EXHIBIT, AND THEY CAN'T RISK DAMAGING THE VIEWING WINDOW WITH ANY HEAVY ARMOR.

THEY EVEN DON SOFT CLOTH SUITS OVER THEIR CHAIN MAIL TO PROTECT THE WINDOW FROM BEING SCRATCHED.

FOR THE DIVERS, THERE'S BOTH GOOD NEWS AND BAD.

THE GOOD NEWS -- GREAT WHITE SHARKS DON'T SEEM TO HAVE A TASTE FOR PEOPLE.

SURPRISINGLY, LESS THAN 50 HAVE BEEN KILLED BY GREAT WHITES IN THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS.

AS FOR THE BAD NEWS, IT'S BEEN SAID THAT GREAT WHITES ARE VERY CURIOUS AND THEY OFTEN BITE UNFAMILIAR THINGS AS A WAY TO IDENTIFY A POTENTIAL MEAL.

THERE ARE OTHER CHALLENGES AWAITING THE DIVERS.

THE PELAGIC RAYS STILL HAVE THEIR STINGERS.

THE TUNA, BULLET FAST, COULD EASILY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY.

NOT ONLY IS THE GREAT WHITE WATCHING THE DIVERS, SHE CAN DETECT THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT OF THEIR BEATING HEARTS.

IT WAS GREAT ON THE BOTTOM.

WE GOT INTO HER SWIM PATTERN AT THE VERY TOP.

AND THAT'S WHERE IT GOT A LITTLE BIT TOUCHY.

SHE CAME BY A COUPLE TIMES REALLY CLOSE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

SHE JUST KEPT SWIMMING BY, BUT SHE JUST DID IT AT A REALLY, REALLY CLOSE DISTANCE.

SO IT GETS YOUR BLOOD GOING A LITTLE BIT.

Coyote: BY ALL ACCOUNTS, THE GREAT WHITE SHARK'S FIRST SIX MONTHS ON EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN A RESOUNDING SUCCESS.

BUT THERE ARE SIGNS OF TROUBLE BREWING.

ON FEBRUARY 23, 2005, THE GREAT WHITE TAKES A BITE FROM A SOUPFIN SHARK.

TWELVE DAYS LATER, SHE KILLS ANOTHER SOUPFIN.

IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE GREAT WHITE IS HUNTING OR JUST GETTING TERRITORIAL.

IN EITHER CASE, THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT HAS MANY WONDERING IF PERHAPS HER DAYS AT THE AQUARIUM ARE NUMBERED.

JUST NEXT DOOR TO THE EXHIBITS, THE AQUARIUM HAS JOINED FORCES WITH STANFORD UNIVERSITY TO STUDY THE AMAZING PERFORMANCE OF ONE OF THE OCEAN'S GREATEST ATHLETES.

THIS IS THE TUNA RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION CENTER.

AND IN THE POOL A TEAM OF BLUEFINS IS WARMING UP.

STANFORD BIOLOGIST BARB BLOCK HAS BEEN STUDYING TUNA IN THE LAB AND IN THE WILD FOR YEARS.

WHILE MANY PEOPLE THINK OF TUNA AS MERELY FOOD IN A CAN, BLOCK SEES SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

TUNA ARE OLYMPIANS OF THE SEA, CAPABLE OF SPEED BURSTS OF UP TO 40 MILES PER HOUR.

BLOCK DISCOVERED TUNA MAKE EPIC MIGRATIONS ACROSS BOTH THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEAN.

IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS, ONE TUNA LOGGED OVER 25,000 NAUTICAL MILES, CRISSCROSSING THE PACIFIC.

KNOWING HOW TUNA MIGRATE COULD HELP CONSERVE ANIMALS THAT ARE BEING DECIMATED BY FISHING FLEETS.

BUT THEIR MIGRATIONS RAISE OTHER QUESTIONS.

WHEN I GO TO SEA, I NEED A GPS.

I NEED ALL OF THE BEST ELECTRONICS TO KNOW WHERE I AM AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME.

AND WHAT I GET AMAZED ABOUT ABOUT TUNA IS THEY CAN ACTUALLY TRAVEL ACROSS OCEAN BASINS AND FIND THEIR WAY BACK TO VERY SPECIFIC LOCATIONS.

AND I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE HOW THEY'RE DOING IT.

SO I GET AMAZED AT THEIR JOURNEYS, THE SIZE OF THEIR JOURNEYS, AND THE PERFORMANCE THAT THEY HAVE AS THEY GO ON THESE JOURNEYS.

HERE IN THE LAB, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, WE'RE STUDYING THEIR PERFORMANCE, WE'RE ASKING, HOW EFFICIENT ARE THEY AS AN ANIMAL MACHINE?

Coyote: HOW MUCH FOOD DO TUNA REQUIRE TO SUSTAIN THEIR EPIC MIGRATIONS?

HOW MUCH FUEL DO THEY NEED?

IT'S HOPED ONE OF THESE TUNA CAN HELP ANSWER SUCH QUESTIONS.

FROM THE TANK, THE TUNA IS RUSHED TO THE OTHER END OF THE RESEARCH CENTER AND PLACED IN A DEVICE CALLED A RESPIROMETER.

THE RESPIROMETER IS AKIN TO A TUNA TREADMILL.

OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS, THIS TUNA WILL BE SWIMMING NON-STOP AS RESEARCHERS ATTEMPT TO GAUGE ITS ATHLETICISM.

ELEVEN TUNA WILL LOG SIMILAR JOURNEYS.

AFTER 3 1/2 MONTHS OF RESEARCH, THE DATA BEGIN TO PROVIDE NEW INSIGHT INTO HOW TUNA CAN SURVIVE IN THE OPEN OCEAN.

BLUEFIN TUNA, IT TURNS OUT, CAN SWIM 20% FARTHER ON A SINGLE POUND OF FOOD THAN SCIENTISTS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.

THIS HELPS TO EXPLAIN HOW TUNA CAN SURVIVE OUT IN THE OPEN OCEAN WHERE FOOD IS PATCHY AND OFTENTIMES SCARCE.

DESPITE THE PROWESS OF TUNA, THEIR SPEED AND ATHLETICISM, THERE'S REAL FEAR AMONG SCIENTISTS LIKE BLOCK THAT TUNA ARE FACING THREATS THEY CAN'T ESCAPE.

IF BLOCK CAN GET THE WORD OUT, AND PEOPLE CAN SEE HOW SPECIAL TUNA ARE, PERHAPS THEY'LL HAVE A CHANCE.

Woman: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE?

THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM AND ITS STORES WILL BE CLOSING IN 5 MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

Coyote: AFTER HOURS, LEAD MEMBERS OF THE HUSBANDRY TEAM MEET TO DISCUSS THE FATE OF THE GREAT WHITE SHARK.

NEARLY A MONTH AFTER ATTACKING THE SOUPFIN SHARKS, THE GREAT WHITE IS NOW SHOWING SIGNS THAT SHE'S ACTIVELY HUNTING AND STALKING OTHER ANIMALS.

HER AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR HAS THE STAFF VERY CONCERNED FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE OTHER ANIMALS ON DISPLAY.

THE TIME HAS COME TO RETURN THE GREAT WHITE TO THE WILD.

BUT THAT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

REMOVING THE GREAT WHITE POSES SERIOUS RISKS FOR THIS ANIMAL.

IT'S 3:00 IN THE MORNING, AND TENSIONS ARE RUNNING HIGH AT THE AQUARIUM.

IN THE PAST, OTHER AQUARIUMS HAVE FAILED IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO RETURN GREAT WHITES TO THE WILD, OFTEN WITH TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES.

INJURING THIS ANIMAL, OR LOSING HER, WOULD BE A DARK END TO AN OTHERWISE TRIUMPHANT EFFORT.

Man: HERE SHE COMES AGAIN.

SHE'S COMING AGAIN, JOHN.

Coyote: HAVING FAILED IN THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT, THE CAPTURE TEAM IS ANXIOUS.

WILL THEY GET A SECOND CHANCE?

HAS THE SHARK BEEN SCARED OFF?

CAN THEY AFFORD TO WAIT ANOTHER DAY?

Man: RIGHT BELOW ME.

YOU GOT IT.

TAKE YOUR TIME, TAKE YOUR TIME.

FOUR -- TWO, THREE.

Coyote: THE GREAT WHITE SHARK NEEDS TO SWIM TO BREATHE.

AND THE TEAM HAS TO WORK FAST TO GET A PUMP INTO HER MOUTH THAT WILL FORCE WATER OVER HER GILLS.

QUICK MEASUREMENTS INDICATE THAT THE GREAT WHITE HAS GROWN RAPIDLY, MORE THAN 17 INCHES IN 198 DAYS.

WHEN THE TEAM MOVES THE GREAT WHITE TO THE SCALE, THEY'RE IN FOR ANOTHER SURPRISE.

Man: 172.5.

Coyote: SHE'S GAINED MORE THAN 100 POUNDS.

IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW MUCH STRESS THE GREAT WHITE IS EXPERIENCING.

THREATS OF CARDIAC ARREST ARE REAL.

ON BOARD THE TRANSFER BOAT, THE TEAM MASSAGES THE GREAT WHITE'S TAIL TO HELP FORCE BLOOD INTO HER HEART.

Man: YOU GOT A 10-CC SYRINGE?

Coyote: EN ROUTE, THE GREAT WHITE IS FITTED WITH A SATELLITE TAG, WHICH WILL TRACK HER FOR 30 DAYS.

IN THE OFFSHORE WATERS SOUTH OF MONTEREY BAY, THE STAFF TAKES A FINAL CHECK OF THEIR CHARGE.

THEN THERE'S ONLY ONE THING LEFT TO DO.

Man: WE'RE GOING TO PUT HER IN AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO FREE THAT END.

AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO COME HERE.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

ALL THE WAY DOWN.

MANNY, COME ON OVER HERE, TAKE THAT ONE AND PUSH.

THERE SHE GOES.

SHE'S SWIMMING.

COOL!

YEAH!

NICE!

THERE SHE GOES.

ANYBODY GOT THE TIME?

YEAH, WE GOT IT.

5:45.

HEY, WE CHANGED OUR MIND.

WE WANT HER BACK.

Coyote: IT IS POSSIBLE TO CRADLE A SMALL FRAGMENT OF OCEAN AND TO BRIEFLY PEER ACROSS THE BOUNDARY OF OUR WORLD.

WE CAN COME TO KNOW THE LIFE HERE, THOUGH OUR ENCOUNTER, LIKE THAT WITH THE GREAT WHITE, IS ONLY FLEETING.

DESPITE OUR TENUOUS HOLD, THE OCEAN AND THE LIFE WITHIN IT STILL DRAWS US.

DEEP DOWN, PERHAPS WE DESIRE THE VEIL TO BE LIFTED AND FOR THE BOUNDARIES TO DISAPPEAR.