The story of one pride of lions and one herd of buffalo isolated on an island in Botswana's Okavango Delta.
Taller than Shaquille O'Neal, he could kill a human with a single swipe of his paw. He is an 800-pound grizzly bear named Brutus, and the curious companion to renowned naturalist Casey Anderson, who has raised him since birth. Casey has dedicated himself to wildlife preservation and takes a daring approach to understanding grizzlies' every move-living among them and observing their behaviors, and even tasting some of their favorite foods. Together, they set out on a year-long mission to chronicle the lives of Yellowstone's vulnerable grizzly bears-mysterious beasts that have elicited fear and respect among humans through the ages. Filmed in stunning HD in some of Yellowstone's most treacherous and remote terrain, their unique story is an awe-inspiring glimpse deep inside the grizzlies' wilderness.
It's one of nature's most efficient ways to kill. Once injected into the bloodstream it can impair nerves and seriously damage flesh in minutes. Venom - it's a cocktail of virulent biological toxins causing searing pain in seconds. It is the weapon of choice for thousands of species, but which one is most deadly to man? Of the creatures armed with this lethal cocktail, which is more likely to kill you?
Join conservation biologist Zeb Hogan in his quest to find and help the biggest freshwater fish in Brazil.
Megafish follows the quest National Geographic Explorer and Aquatic Biologist Dr. Zeb Hogan, on his search for the world's largest freshwater fish.
On Christmas Day 2007, a 243-pound Siberian tiger named Tatiana escaped from her open-air enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo and mauled three young men. Before long, one 17-year-old boy and the 4-year-old tigress lay dead. Zoo Tiger Escape investigates the how and why of what really happened that night-from the possible motivational factors that led the tiger to escape, to the complex evolution of enclosure design.
A haunting call echoes across the Liuwa Plain. There is no answer, there hasn't been for years. She has no pride, no support - she alone must safeguard her own survival. Her name is Lady Liuwa, and she is the Last Lioness. Isolated by a scourge of illegal trophy hunting that wiped out the rest of her species in the region, Lady Liuwa is the only known resident lion surviving on Zambia's Liuwa Plain. For four years, cameraman Herbert Brauer watched her lonely life unfold, until, in her solitude, she reached out to him for companionship.
The Congo is Africa’s mightiest river and an evolutionary hotspot that is home to an incredible variety of species. None is more remarkable than the Goliath Tiger Fish, a man-sized leviathan, and relative of the piranha, which patrols the depths of this watery world. Join a team of scientists and adventurers as they travel into this war-torn region to chart the river and unlock the secrets of this magnificent fish. But first they’ve got to catch one. Will anything take the bait?
Kangaroos aren't just adorable icons that emblazon our currency, flags and souvenirs... Australia's national mascot has a dark side.
In the Serengeti, cheetahs live uneasy lives. Females with cubs must hunt. Left alone, their offspring are exposed to the savagery of more powerful predators. Even scavengers can gain the upper hand over these felines. Cheetahs are the fastest, but also the most vulnerable of the big cats. In this new film we follow two cheetah mothers, both with varying fortunes, as they struggle to raise their families against all the odds.
Grizzlies once reigned unchallenged as the top predators of Yellowstone, but everything changed when an old rival returned to the landscape. After almost a century without them, wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone and again play a vital role in the ecosystem that depends upon them. Once the sole rulers of this vast kingdom, grizzly bears are now re-learning how to cope with the rise of an equal competitor.
The Kruger National Park is home to one of the largest pride of lions in Africa. This real life soap opera tells the story of how the 26-strong community interact.
Chimpanzees are our closest genetic relatives, with DNA over 98% the same as ours. They can learn from those around them in ways many other animals can't-and when they're captive, they become even more human-like. But is a new form of chimp adapting to captivity?
Film about King Cobras, with new tracking research into the movement patterns of this ‘King of Snakes’.
This film tells the story of two men obsessed with monster redwoods. Just when Steve Sillett thinks he has climbed and measured the tallest living tree on Earth, a new record-breaker turns up in a hidden valley of California.
Zeb Hogan travels to northern Australia to study the deadly and endangered sawfish.
Local scientists try to ascertain the cause of a series of worsening quakes in Reno, Nevada. Is the city on the verge of a major disaster?
As the world's largest and oldest trees, the redwood stirs up big passions. Following two fanatical redwood fans, this documentary introduces us to explorer Mike Fay, who is charting this forest giant's range, and Steve Sillett - a man who has dislocated limbs and risked death trying to climb the tallest of these magnificent trees. In an epic, year-long journey, and using high-tech aerial laser surveys, discover the little explored environment of the redwoods. Featuring breathtaking footage we take a look into the past, present and future of this spectacular forest dweller and discover what makes the redwood so special.
Follow Dr Zeb Hogan on his quest to find what could be the world's largest and most deadly freshwater fish: the giant freshwater stingray.
Some hundred million years ago, crocodiles were the ruling T. rexes of the waters. They galloped on land, ambushed prey at the river's edge—even terrorized dinosaurs. These swift predators evolved through the ages into the modern crocs we know today. Now, armed with newly discovered prehistoric crocodile bones, Dr. Paul Sereno is determined to bring the ancient creatures to life—and tell their fantastic untold story. Learn about a croc that pursued prey across land, a supercroc that locked its jaws around dinosaurs, even a croc with a startlingly canine face. Blending art, forensics and biology, a team reanimates a lost world of strange Cretaceous crocs that paleontology forgot.
The Elephant in the Living Room takes viewers on a journey deep inside the controversial American subculture of raising the most dangerous animals in the world, as common household pets. Set against the backdrop of a heated national debate, director Michael Webber chronicles the extraordinary story of two men at the heart of the issue - Tim Harrison, an Ohio police officer whose friend was killed by an exotic pet; and Terry Brumfield, a mentally unstable man who struggles to selfishly raise two African lions that he loves like his own family in a small cage in his backyard. He does not understand the controversy over "owning" wild animals; the reality is, he keeps them for himself, not because he thinks it puts the lions in a good situation. In the first of many unexpected twists, the lives of these two men collide when Terry's male lion escapes its pen and is found attacking cars on a nearby highway.
Filmed in Mongolia - this show focuses on Zeb's research on the ecology and conservation status of the world's largest trout species, the taimen, a huge predator that can grow to 6 feet and 200 pounds. Highlights of the show include details about a a partnership between scientists, anglers, and local monks designed to help protect the taimen, a discussion of threats including poaching and gold mining, and beautiful scenes of Mongolia and fly fishing. Themes: Lake Baikal watershed, fish biology, endangered species issues, partnerships for conservation, catch and release angling, ecology of long-lived species, threats to freshwater biodiversity.
Billions of Sumo sized gelatinous monsters are preparing to wreak havoc on Japan's coastal towns and cities. This film captures an underwater attack unfolding onto Japan's shores. We follow a fishing community that is being destroyed by huge blooms, a scientist racing to find a way to stop these monsters breeding, and a chef determined to introduce jellyfish to the Japanese palette.
A dramatic, real-life tale of three leopards plays out in Botswana's Okavango Delta. This is prime habitat for Africa's most secretive big cat. Leopards normally avoid each other but this island is the common hunting ground for all three individuals as they are drawn together by the changing seasons and the movement of their prey. What unfolds is an in-depth look into their lives; following the tension, drama and, in the end, heart wrenching tragedy, as all three seek a common goal - to dominate one of the Okavango's most prized leopard territories.
The largest reptile on Earth, the saltwater crocodile rules the rivers and estuaries of Australia's Northern Territory. But each year this cunning, ferocious predator is tested by the harsh extremes of nature and by battles for dominance with its own kind. National Geographic takes you deep into the salties' territory, using high-speed cameras and infrared technology to reveal the little-known world of these master hunters.
Secrets of the King Cobra is an unprecedented journey into the natural history of the wild King Cobra - following them into their world - revealing what they do, where they go, and who they interact with - when we are not around. And surprisingly, the people of India are very much a part of the story.
In a land reduced to sand and water, every day is a struggle for survival. But one creature has conquered these two elements: crocodiles have learned to thrive.
Pierre-Yves Cousteau, Jacques Yves Cousteau's youngest child, explore the Meditteranean and the 4 reserve areas that have banned fishing for 11 years and compares the conditions. The reserves are rich in all sea life compared to the overfishing in the rest of the sea, all except for red coral.
The infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar was notorious for smuggling cocaine all over the world. With his drug money and power he illegally imported an array of exotic species to his personal zoo. But soon after Escobar's demise, the animals were left alone in the zoo to fend for themselves. One of these species flourished and now lurks in the Colombian countryside. As a dangerous and potentially aggressive invader, hippos are claiming territory in the rivers of Colombia. Join National Geographic WILD for an exclusive look at the so-called 'cocaine hippos' and the battle to try and control this thriving African visitor.
Crocodiles: Nearly 200 million years in the making to become the perfect killing machines. HD high-speed cameras with 2000 frames per second reveal unknown sides of their hunting strategies. Besides their brutal image, the film also shows their soft spot. When it comes to breeding, the hunters are haunted themselves by monitors and baboons.
Successful lions need to be brutal and use any means to quash would-be kings. These are not random acts of violence, but vital behaviour to secure their own genetic future.
Desert Seas narrated by David Attenborough tells the story of how the peninsula of Arabia transformed from an ocean millions of years ago to the desert it is today. The Gulf is now home to a myriad of sea creatures but, just as Arabia was once ocean, a mere 10,000 years ago this expanse of water was a swampy flood plain. Since it drowned as sea levels rose, the Gulf is now the world's hottest and saltiest open sea.
The Harris Hawk is one of the few birds in the world that hunts in a pack. James Currie is on a mission to witness these majestic birds hunting in the wild. James ventures into the hostile Arizona desert ditching traditional bird watching methods for more radical tracking techniques to ensure he sees with his own eyes this remarkable and rare raptor behavior.
When Lynea Lattanzio was a child, her mother wouldn't let her have a kitten, now she has over 700 cats! She also used to lead a millionaire's existence, with a dream house, expensive cars and a husband who could provide her with anything her heart desired. But she soon discovered that wealth doesn't equal happiness, and she traded in her lavish lifestyle to follow her real heart's desire: looking after California's cats.
Sydney, Australia, 2009. Three terrifying shark attacks in as many weeks caused a wave of primeval panic to sweep through the cities four and half million people. Shark Invasion follows Australia's leading shark experts conduct the first study of dangerous sharks ever undertaken in the harbour. Targeting great white sharks, tiger sharks and bull sharks hey want to know if - in a city surrounded by much loved and used waterways - sharks and humans can safely co-exist.
The idyllic Australian resort city known as The Gold Coast has an issue that few other cities have to contend with – sharks in the suburbs. Over the past 10 years the Gold Coast has faced an explosion of demand for waterside housing. As a result, local government and developers have created hundreds of kilometers of canal front housing estates. Unfortunately, the new canals are also attracting an increasing number of extremely aggressive Bull Sharks. The region is seeing an alarming rise in Bull Shark incidents in canals, rivers and the popular beaches. One scientist believes local residents can co-exist with a better understanding of the shark itself – and especially its attraction to these urban canals.
Go on the trail of a sharp-shooting inhabitant of the coral reefs - the record-breaking, thumb-splitting mantis shrimp.
Shark expert Enric Sala and his team of scientists begin their search for these deep sea monsters with a high seas adventure, setting out from Chile to brave the tempestuous Southern Pacific Ocean. Their first stop, Easter Island, is a land of mammoth stone statues and a population with a cultural memory full of catastrophes. Diving underwater reveals an ocean desert that the team are quick to document.
A community of cougars struggle to survive in the severe landscape of the Northern Rocky Mountains. A determined team of researchers, including houndsman and researcher Boone Smith, mount grueling expeditions in attempts to gain precious scientific data. Meet F51, a young crafty female who makes her way through the winter, but is tested as she struggles to bring her unborn litter to a healthy birth. The matron, wise F109, carries in her radio collar crucial scientific data, but she's a ghost, and a true master of escape. Attempts to retrieve her information turn out to be more than anyone bargained for. Get an exciting and intimate view into the secret life of the cougar.
From dramatic rescues to amusing koala antics and the everyday communication and emotions in between, Port Macquarie’s Koala Hospital has been caring for this beloved animal for almost 40 years.
Herpetologist Vince Shacks and underwater cameraman Brad Bestelink go on a unique crocodile diving adventure to find out more about these cave systems, and how the reptiles use them. They enter a dark underworld of mystery and danger, and they find themselves doing things that no one has ever attempted before. Apart from swimming with huge crocodiles, they're the first to noose a wild Nile crocodile underwater, and they're the first to attach a remote camera to it, to see where it goes.
When five lion prides compete for scarce food, only the most cunning and capable will survive. In this remote African national park, nature is unforgiving to both predator and prey.
A 16-year-long civil war that began in 1977 ravaged Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park, wiping out nearly 95 percent of the elephant population. Today, peace has been restored, but the surviving elephants still carry the emotional scars of war and must relearn how to trust humans. Follow a brother-and-sister team, Bob Poole and Dr. Joyce Poole, on a mission to help the traumatized elephants heal and to restore peace to a once-again-thriving wildlife sanctuary.
Ten years after the finding of a new Coelacanth colony in South Africa, zoologist and deep-sea diver Dr Richard Pyle ventures below the surface to find and film this living fossil.
Dig deep into the often misunderstood world of spiders and discover how fascinating they really are. With more than 40,000 species recorded, they're an indispensable part of any ecosystem. Watch spiders that fly, spiders that jump more than 40 times their own height, others that spit to hunt and even ones that live underwater. Plus, see why spiders eat their own webs when they're done with them and find out why the scariest-looking spiders are often the least harmful.
It is a powerful predator and one of the most elusive animals in Patagonia: the incredible puma. Nat Geo WILD travels to Torres del Paine National Park in the south of Chile to follow a puma mother with her three cubs in the wild, giving intimate insights into their daily life, how cubs learn from their mother, and how they make themselves “invisible” when prey is approaching or their mom is away hunting. We'll track every movement to reveal the beauty and magnificence of this fierce creature.
Africa has a name for the most magnificent beasts on the continent. The legendary Big Five: Elephant, Lion, Water Buffalo, Rhino and Leopard. But now, there are other giants that must be recognized. Half a world away, there is an ensemble of creatures born of equal power and majesty. A new Big Five: the titans of North America.America's Greatest Animals takes us across North America on a revelatory mission: which of the continent's landmark creatures deserve to make the list? Which iconic giants command our highest level of respect, reverence and fear?
The rugged coast of our biggest state harbors the most incredible wildlife in America. When winter breaks, animals make the most of the endless sunshine before this world closes again in darkness. This is the story of the creatures that endure this harsh reality along the shoreline - Alaska’s life on the edge.
This film reveals for the first time Cesar Millan's incredible life journey, following his rise from impoverished illegal immigrant to international superstar. A tale of hope and determination, of self-made success, and of learning from man's best friend how to reconnect with the world. From the throngs of fans and followers everywhere, it's clear the message resonates. Cesar's pack is getting bigger and stronger every day.
This is a coming-of-age story about Dikeledi, a somewhat clumsy male leopard struggling to get the hang of, well, being a leopard. The special by award-winning filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert follows Dikeledi as he grows into his oversized paws and eventually moves away from his mother—his provider and protector. See every frustratingly failed stalking until he eventually gets it right and witness his personality and confidence grow as he becomes a stealthy and effective hunting machine.
"The Jungle Book" made India's sloth bear famous, serving as inspiration for the character Baloo. But little is actually known about this mostly nocturnal species. For three years, scientists filmed these elusive creatures day and night, focusing on an adolescent fittingly named Baloo. After two years under his mother's care, he must now venture out on his own. Remote-controlled cameras offer insight into the sloth bear's life, and even capture a behavior never before filmed.
For well over a century the National Geographic Society has been synonymous with pioneering expeditions, groundbreaking discoveries and breathtaking imagery of world cultures and exotic locations. In celebration of the iconic yellow border's 125th anniversary, National Geographic Channel pays tribute to the hotshots, the mavericks and the best in their field who have devoted their lives to exploring the world around us and the groundbreaking discoveries that are making a difference.
In the waters just off Seal Island in False Bay, South Africa, great white sharks are hunting and attacking Cape fur seals and putting on an awesome acrobatic display. Anchored just off the island, a special crew from National Geographic is trying to capture the holy grail of marine photography; a great white predation on a seal, from the shark's perspective. It's a technological and physical challenge that takes brains, bravery and a boatload of luck, where putting one foot in the wrong place can mean the end of that foot.
In the most brutal migration on the planet, ride shotgun with ZuluEcho545 and FoxtrotOne, a zebra mother and her son. They run the gauntlet through crocodile infested rivers and lion offensives, culminating in the world’s ultimate ambush: the Mara River – where the biggest crocodiles in Africa are on the attack.
Polar Bears as you've never seen them before- up close and personal, we get to the heart of Polar Bears' personalities. Stereoscopic 3D takes us into their intimate society - an immersive 3D experience into the bear's sensory and physical world like never before.
National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Enric Sala journeys to the Pitcairn islands to document life in the sea and on land with hopes of turning this ocean environment into a protected marine reserve. Sala is hoping that the same isolation that has kept Pitcairn's inhabitants so removed from the rest of the world may also have protected the population beneath the waves. This is exploration at its most extreme and isolated.
He’s been living surrounded by domesticated lions for years. Kevin Richardson lies down with them, pets them, takes care of them and travels long distances along with them. Convinced that animals cannot be domesticated through stick and chain strikes, he’s been using other techniques since their tender childhood to get in touch with them. The compassion, trust and even love he feels for those animals - considered as the most dangerous of the world - enabled him to create his own language. He claims an instinctive approach of those animals which led to the fusional relationship they share. This documentary takes you into the intimacy of this astonishing, “extra-ordinary” relationship. In South Africa, where wild beasts are the victims of poachers and dream sellers, Kevin tries to denounce those downward slides and protect the kings of savanna he knows better than anyone else because they are wrongly threatened.
Explore the fiery heart of Hawaii -- from volcanic eruptions spewing rivers of molten lava to spiders that smile, fish that climb and turtles that bury secrets in a landscape that defies expectations. Learn about the monster at Hawaii's molten core, Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. See how Hawaii's creatures have evolved to be different from their cousins the world over. Finally, we show how 95 percent of the flora on these islands does not exist anywhere else in the world.
Where the shores end, the real story begins. Head to the wet and wild Hawaii, with undersea rivers and creatures that only thrive and survive in this spot on Earth. See giant mantas fly through the sea, humpback whales fight to the death and tiger sharks amaze us with their savagery.
This is the story of Solo, a lonely African wild dog that has befriended a number of jackals and hyenas in the Okavango Delta. Solo has helped the jackals raise their pups as if they were her own. So strong is her desire for her own offspring that Solo kidnaps the young pups, preventing their parents from getting near. The pups love Solo: she feeds, grooms and protects them. But when a pack of wild dogs appears, Solo must make a choice -- stay with her adopted family or join her own kind. (Source: National Geographic Wild)
Mike Fay and Enric Sala are on a quest to protect the rich coastal waters of Gabon. Full of hippos, sharks, and humpback whales, these waters are some of the last healthy oceans in West Africa. Twelve years ago, the country of Gabon became a conservation pioneer in Africa when its president, Omar Bongo Ondimba, created 13 National Parks protecting 11% of the country. Mike Fay was instrumental as an advisor, and now he has returned to save Gabon’s oceans and coastal wetlands. He and Enric put together an ambitious expedition to determine how healthy the waters off the shores still are. The expedition covers Gabon’s 885-kilometre coastline, where they dive around oil platforms and use deep-water camera systems to document rare species. Their goal: to convince the current Gabonese President, Ali Bongo Ondimba, to extend and create new marine protected areas.
Mass animal deaths are occurring across the globe with increasing frequency and ferocity. Should we all be freaking out about the end of the world? Or is there a perfectly logical explanation?
Beat the Christmas heat and plunge into the world of Antarctica’s emperor penguins as these devoted parents nurture and protect their energetic baby chicks.
Join entertainment reporter Billy Bush in an awe-inspiring adventure as he takes time off from his day job to fight illegal poaching of greater one-horned rhinos. He'll accompany poaching patrols; fly an unmanned aerial drone; and participate in a race-against-time effort to catch, collar and release a wild adult rhino. Greater one-horned rhinos are being poached, even within the borders of protected national parks guarded by armed rangers. Just over 500 of these 12-foot-long, 3-ton living tanks survive in Nepal to this day, and their numbers are threatened due to poachers who are willing to profit at the rhinos' expense. A single rhino horn can fetch more than $30,000 on the black market, which is reason enough for poachers to slaughter this rare, beautiful and powerful species. "We have an opportunity to do something really remarkable, and that is to raise some awareness. Most people I told about this mission said, 'there's rhinos in Nepal?'" said Bush
In the bays and harbors of residential Florida, the threat of a crocodile attack looms as humans become too comfortable around these intelligent predators. The Sunshine State looks to Australia for their know-how in controlling ever-expanding crocodile populations. If croc populations continue to grow rapidly, Florida may have to take a lead from Australia and begin capturing and hazing these animals for the safety of the people.
Up to 30 feet long, today's giant snakes are as big as they've ever been and their appetites may have never been bigger. Over 100 teeth, 300 vertebrae, 600 ribs, and 10,000 muscles work together to form nature's most elegant predator. Now, National Geographic debunks the myths and reveals the startling truths of the Super Snake.
Even though some are pretty to look at, these 20+ slitherers can all make you drop dead in a matter of minutes. World's Deadliest Snakes takes a look at some of the most extreme snakes around the world, highlighting their capabilities, the secrets to their successes, and their many guises. We'll get to see how they attack their prey, and why they are the "ultimate survivors."
Peaceful. Gentle. Caring. Not words you usually associate with the anaconda! National Geographic takes you on a journey to uncover the truth about one of the biggest snakes on Earth.
As the rains turn Botswana’s Kalahari Desert green and lush, great herds of springbok, gemsbok and their accompanying predators bring the wilderness to life.
Dust and dunes, sun and sand: the parched landscapes of Namibia in southwest Africa are extreme in every way. This Terra Mater Factual Studios production tells the fascinating story of how the largest animals on our planet survive in the oldest and most inhospitable desert on earth. Ephemeral rivers support a stunning diversity of mega fauna in Namibia’s arid areas: elephants as well as giraffes, baboons, antelopes and lions. Spectacular aerials and a fantastic scenery, amazing animal behaviour and stunning timelapse sequences, impressive images and an exciting narrative – this is Wild Namibia.
The Chinese snub-nosed monkey was one of the least documented species of its kind ... until now. Once believed extinct, renewed scientific interest in this shy creature with its strange snub of a nose has revealed that the monkey lives within a complex multileveled society, an uncommon trait among nonhuman primates. Come along for the journey around China's mountainous central and southwest regions as we investigate the mysteries behind these beautiful monkeys.
In Yellowstone National Park several wolf packs reside, competing for territory and pack leadership. But the rise of a dark wolf is about to challenge the pack’s so-called normal behaviour.
The shrew is one of the most remarkable species on the planet, trapped in a seemingly unremarkable body. But don’t be fooled by its mousy coat or its tiny eyes. It’s a formidable force with power beyond belief.
The desert elephants of the Namib have developed a special knowledge that helps them to survive the hostile desert – their instinct leads them to hidden water sources buried somewhere in the desert.
Two of Africa's deadliest species tough it out against everything nature throws at them. Hippo or Croc? Who is the ultimate gladiator?
The epic story of a legendary Yellowstone wolf; her rise against-the-odds to an extraordinary position of power, her tragic death, and her enduring legacy.
The Giant Panda is one of the world's most iconic bears, but they are also critically endangered. Now the race is on to save them from extinction.
As the male heirs of the powerful Xakanaka lions, Tau and Banda’s success is not a birthright. When they come of age, like all juvenile males, they are exiled from the pride and must survive as nomads. Cast into the wilderness, they don’t know how to hunt. Starvation is a daily threat. Battles with Pride Males teach harsh lessons. Tested to the limit, they must rely on each other. Can they beat the odds and win a kingdom?
Leopards are loners and famously elusive, but in a remote corner of Botswana, filmmakers find a window into their world when they discover a mother and her cubs. The result is a two-year journey packed with danger, humor, and revelation, following the fate of a reckless young male, his sensible sister and their supremely resourceful mother.
Remarkable scenery and an exciting narrative tell the fascinating story of how some of the largest creatures on our planet survive in one of the most inhospitable deserts on earth.
Empire of the Penguins tells the incredible story of SeaWorld Orlando’s daring attempt to build the most ambitious penguin attraction in the world. With incredible behind the scenes footage and cutting-edge Computer Generated Images, it will bring to light the audacious feats of SeaWorld’s largest ever expansion: freezing Antarctic conditions in Florida, 45 feet high ice cliffs, closer-than-ever animal encounters and a palatial home for 245 penguins. But they have 18 months to finish it and no room for error: can they pull it off before the grand opening day?
Ferocious and Fierce Short, thick legs and muscular shoulders give the honey badger the appearance of a mean low-riding machine.
When Jack Frost blankets the landscape there is magic in the air. For many, winter is a time for fun and festivities, but for our wild neighbours it's a challenging period where they will need all of their adaptions to survive. Some rely on thick fur, big feet and varied diets; others huddle together for warmth or sleep away the cold. There are many dangers; moose face risky journeys crossing rivers while deer may find themselves stalked by the secretive lynx. But with forward planning, the beaver has built a home and stocked it with food so that he and his family can stay cosy and well fed until the weather improves. Nature nurtures the forest and its plants and animals, keeps them warm and waters them in spring - winter's legacy for the New Year. Winter's tale can be one of hardship, but also remarkable endurance.
This is the story of a species in extremis: The Iberian lynx is probably the world’s most beautiful cat. Yet it may well be the least known.
The furry denizens of any American backyard often go unnoticed, but their feats of agility, intelligence and imagination deserve a closer look. Tree squirrels are quite common in suburban backyards. Not only do squirrels survive and cohabitate with humans, but they appear to thrive in our shared spaces. Witness the mental and physical attributes that make it all possible. Squirrels cache and hoard food to prepare for hard times but any time away from the safety of the canopy is spent negotiating natural and manmade dangers — often in competition with rival squirrels. We analyze each skill and discover how everyday rodents morph to become Super Squirrels.
This is one of the most important wildlife sanctuaries on the continent. It's Sierra Morena, and it's under attack. A treet plague blights the forest and the ecosystem is struggling to recover. Human intervention causes unprecedented damage. But danger waits, for if we continue to destroy the things upon which we thrive, the next candidate for extinction may be us. At the very gates of the metropolitan area of Seville, an unsuspected world of wild nature extends itself; the only place where heraldic imperial eagles still fly, the Iberian lynx hunts and the legendary wolf stalks. This is the story of Sierra Morena, a region marked by time. A journey from the peaks of its wild and untamed mountains, to the bottom of its valleys, where cool mountain streams run. A paradise that is threatened.
As the sun rises over the blue waters off Sri Lanka’s southern coast, the largest mammal on earth breaks the surface. Beneath these waves lives a unique population of pygmy blue whales which feed, mate and play closer to shore in greater numbers than any other blue whale population on the planet. But the key to their existence lies hundreds of miles inland, at the top of Sri Lanka’s highest mountains. As the monsoon rains pour onto land, over a hundred rivers flow from the mountains, carrying with them nutrients which flood into the seas. From tangled mangrove forests to pristine white-sand beaches, Sri Lanka’s coastal waters present a show of nature’s most magnificent marine mammals. As turtles lay their eggs on palm-fringed shores, Sri Lanka’s iconic stilt fishermen wait for the shoals of herring and mackerel which the changing seasons bring. And out at sea, thriving coral reefs hide ancient wrecks filled with fish, while hundreds of dolphin race among the waves. This is an oceanic island where water, above all things, rules.
In the grasses of Sri Lanka’s scrub forests, a leopard stalks his prey. Here, food is plentiful, as populations of deer feed on the grass sustained by thousands of man-made lakes. These pools of blue are the centre of life on the flats of Sri Lanka. Because, as the monsoons recede and the sun scorches an otherwise parched land, these lakes nourish the land as sloth bears, painted storks, jackals, monkeys and some of the greatest concentrations of both mugger crocodiles and elephants to be found anywhere on earth swarm to their cool embrace… The earliest nature sanctuary on earth, this ancient hydraulic system creates a playground for the mega fauna of Sri Lanka, charismatic mammals whose abundance pays testimony to the awe-inspiring power of water over this tiny country’s rich wealth of natural history.
The forests of Sri Lanka rise above the rest of the country like islands out of the sea. Here, species found nowhere else in the world have been marooned on high forest plateaus, isolated from the rest of Sri Lanka, unable to cross from one forest patch to another. They have evolved into highly diverse, self-supporting arboreal outposts – between which bats and birds fly with messages from outside. These forests are islands within an island – to step into them is to travel to another world where life is sustained by cloud swells and dancing mists. And as this mountainous terrain has combined with not one, but two, monsoons, a distinct microclimate has formed among these cloud-cloaked trees. Nearly half the island’s flowering plants are found here and amidst the twisted vine and creepers, rare and delicate orchids dot the landscape. Blue magpies, red-slender loris and purple-faced monkeys inhabit this strange, colourful – and ever diminishing - world. But although forest habitats are in decline thanks to the encroachment of man, one thing remains certain. As long as it has water to sustain it, life –the fabulous, curious, glorious life that flourishes on these high peaks – remains. From the goliaths in its ocean depths to the little-known mysteries of its cloud-shrouded peaks, ‘Sri Lanka – Paradise in the Indian Ocean’ is a journey through an unseen ecological lushness found nowhere else on earth.
Japan is synonymous with crowded high tech cities. But it's a fact that around three-quarters of Japan is uninhabited forests, mountains and coast lines. Here a great diversity of wildlife ekes out an existence adapted to a country with great extremes of climate. From the tropics in the south to the sub-arctic climate of Hokkaido island. In Japan's Wild Year you'll meet the northernmost primates in the world, the snow monkeys, bears, giant hornets and the weird goat-antelope serow, to the iconic red-headed crane and the abundant cherry salmon, the life blood of Japanese rivers.
In many of Africa’s waterways lives one of the heaviest animals on earth. Their closest living relatives are cetaceans - the whales and dolphins. Despite fearsome tusks and a jaw that can open wider than any other land mammal, they are herbivores.The ancient Greeks named the animal ‘River Horse’. We call it the Hippopotamus. In Zambia’s Luangwa River, hippos dominate life in the water – here they reign supreme.
There’s a tight-knit snake family that rules reptilian streets with impressive firepower and a fearsome reputation, instilling fear and chaos throughout the wild of Africa and Asia.
Eagles are dramatic predators that have inspired myths and legends for millennia. Though at the top of their food chain, they battle for survival and work tirelessly to raise their young.
On Indonesia’s eastern frontier lies an ancient world forged by fire. Isolated for millennia, creatures here have evolved beyond recognition.
Since being cut off from the Asian mainland, the animals of Borneo and Sumatra have adapted to their new homes, developing unique traits.
In central Indonesia volcanoes and the monsoon have driven the evolution of bountiful life, including the fearsome dragons that rule here.
The playing field doesn’t get much more heated than this–and the only set of ground rules is to kill or be killed. In the game of survival, the prey is often as formidable as the predator. But gut-gouging horns, venomous fangs, stampeding hooves and sharp canines aren’t enough to deter the big players. So why go after a meal that can kill them? Sometimes the reward outweighs the risk.
Lions and buffalo compete for survival on the African grassland.
In the heart of India, a tiger family battles for dominance in the ruins of a lost empire. B1, a young tiger, challenges his aging grandfather for supremacy over their pride land, taking advantage of his slowed reflexes and struggling vision. Meanwhile, B1’s mother tries to keep the peace for her new cubs during their risky first years of life, and for her father, who is becoming increasingly helpless. But B1 is bent on taking over and starting his own dynasty deep in the heart of ancient India
Spanning the country's western length, the humid Chocó region hosts rainforests isolated by the Andes, rich in unique species.
This little-explored outcrop of sandstone comprises lush jungle, shrubland and savannah, isolated peaks, rivers and spectacular waterfalls.
Prehistoric towers, waterfalls and deep canyons are surrounded here by rivers, lakes and rainforests bursting with life.
Over the millennia, amphibians both large and small have dominated the Earth. Today, there are over 5000 different species of frogs inhabiting all corners of the globe—from tropical jungles and dark swamps to desert wastelands and frozen tundra. A select few evolved some extreme and bizarre adaptations to survive. An extraordinary family that comes in many weird forms, shapes and sizes. From bone claws and glass skin to antifreeze and deadly poisons, we’ll show you the jumpers, the climbers, the killers and high flyers. And hidden deep in the jungles of Central Africa, the Goliath Frog still lives today. It is one of the largest and rarest frogs to ever walk the Earth. This is Monster Frog.
The Tyrannosaurus rex was the top predator of its day, but new fossils reveal that the life of the T. rex and its cousins was brutal, and devastating injuries were routine.
Two New Zealand fur seal pups … Born on opposite sides of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s a battlefield where many pups don’t make it to their first birthday. Some pups are trampled by males fighting for the right to mate … or swept out to sea before they learn to swim. Others starve to death when their mothers fail to return from a feeding trip. Our pups must learn fast if they are to beat these odds. We follow the first few months of their lives as they struggle to learn the secrets of survival.
Around 150 wild horses—the likely descendants of horses abandoned by German and South African armies at the end of the First World War—live in the Sperrgebiet, 26,000 square kilometres of spectacular desert, grassland and rock land along Namibia’s west coast. This ‘Forbidden Zone’ of ghost towns was closed in 1908 to safeguard the diamonds that could literally be picked up in the sand, and later reopened in 2008 as a national park. Without water the horses should have died in the desert, but an artesian well from colonial times saved them. Now they trek through stunning landscapes between the well and the sparse grazing grounds, shadowed by spotted hyenas scanning for vulnerable foals or weaker older horses. The film follows the horses through one of the harshest years on record. And through it all, the horses show remarkable solidarity.
Documentary exploring the reefs of the Tegnue, located on the east end of the Lagoon in Venice, which are home to an array of life, from sponges and sea anemones to scribbled pipefish and flashing squid.
Two Australian marine biologists are on an epic scientific expedition in Western Australia’s stunning Kimberley region to capture the birth of a Humpback Whale calf on camera for the very first time.
The world is full of angry birds. Some lock talons over food while others wrestle for mates. For birds, anger and aggression are key to survival.
Borneo is the world’s third largest island. Shrouded in mist, this tropical island teems with strange and exotic life. In this vast jungle, snakes fall from the sky and lizards fly to survive. Some of the rarest, strangest and most magnificent creatures on earth call this place home. Pygmy elephants and the Sumatran rhino move quietly through the undergrowth while birds, bugs and bats inhabit some of the most spectacular cave formations on the planet. Borneo, an Island in the clouds.
Antarctica. The coldest, driest, most remote continent on earth. Its isolation and extremes of temperature make it unlike any other place on the planet. The animals that survive here are superbly adapted to Antarctica’s treacherous conditions. But existence in this frozen continent will always be marginal for a living creature. To survive Antarctica, the animals that inhabit this land of extremes have developed extraordinary behaviors to meet the continent’s extreme conditions head on.Witness what it takes to survive in this land of snow and icebergs.
A tiny, remote volcanic peak 200 miles west of Mexico is emerging as one of the last great junctions for thousands of sharks in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is a place of extremes, a battleground for some of nature’s greatest ocean predators. It’s also a vital sanctuary for bottlenose dolphins, giant Pacific manta rays and around 1200 migrating humpback whales.
The scorching interior of the world’s oldest continent is home to the toughest kangaroo on the planet, the mighty Red. You won’t want to miss extremely rare footage of a red kangaroo birth and specialised in-pouch cameras that capture an intimate portrait of Red’s development. We are also introduced to the kangaroo’s formidable neighbours through close encounters with wedge-tailed eagles, dingoes, venomous snakes and giant monitor lizards. This is a story of survival against the odds and what it takes to endure drought, heat wave and bushfire.
Journey to some of the most dangerous and visited beaches in the US to learn the truth behind many vicious shark attacks.
There are few places on earth more forbidding and beautiful than Baja, Mexico. Eight hundred miles long and ten million years in the making, it is home to a punishing desert and the most diverse sea on the planet. Explore amazing ecosystems in the Sea of Cortez and join the hunt with charismatic mega fauna - great creatures that inspire wonder, joy, fear, and awe—captured entirely in 4K over a period of 4 years.
Scientific buoys immersed in the abyss off the coast of the French Riviera enable us to make for the very first time a detailed scientific study of the largest bony fish in the world, the giant oarfish, the creature likely behind the myth of the Sea Serpent.
Among its stone forests, spiny groves and lush jungles, on the mystical island of Madagascar live over 100 species of endemic lemurs. In isolation for over 88 million years, these ancient primates have evolved into the remarkable creatures they are today. From the aye-aye with its extended twig-like hunting finger to the leaping sifakas and the charismatic ring-tailed lemurs with their own personal form of communication, these animals are wonders of adaptation.
She’s a hunter, killer, sister, but above all a selfless mother. Soon after you meet Manyari, queen of her pride, she does something both unusual and bold. She leaves the sanctuary of her family with her young cubs and takes them on a dangerous odyssey. She makes a bid to escape because two young bloods are sniffing around and, if they take over the pride, they will kill her cubs. Out in the wilderness, away from the protection of the pride male and without her sister to help her hunt, Manyari is forced to take huge risks. When her cubs are starving they wander back dangerously close to the young princes; as Manyari fights for her cubs’ very survival, her every move is shadowed by the marauding nomads. They know she’s out there and they want her back. Witness the terrifying hazards this mother takes to give her cubs a few more precious months of life.
Explore the true masters of the wild: the hardy animal survivors that have conquered every corner of the globe, thriving amid fierce rivers, cold ice sheets and thick jungle.
It's March - late summer in the Kalahari desert. Decision time for the old matriarchs of the herd. This summer, the rains just haven't materialized, and the nutritious desert is drying early. If you're an elephant you need a lot of water, so you have to plan ahead' The older members know that they have to move to survive.
Islands born of fire run from the equatorial Atlantic down to Antarctica. Many are now home to unique species and all have intriguing stories to tell.
Crocs have a remarkably ancient lineage. And some truly impressive distant cousins: the dinosaurs.It is believed that they have two hundred million years of evolution behind them. In most of that time, they have barely changed. This is the story of two of the Nile crocodiles, the most impressive creatures in the world, living together in an African river.
Sky Safari Australia Join an aerial odyssey across Australia's iconic landmarks of Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef, and Lake Eyre as we reveal how these unique environments affect the creatures who call them home.
India is home to over 40 tiger reserves and our story begins in the heart of tiger country. In this coming of age tale, follow the journey of Kumal, a young male tiger who has been banished from his father’s territory by Khan, a vagrant male. Kumal is on the run and must now find a territory and mate of his own to continue his legacy. But due to man’s need for resources overwhelming land in central India, time and space for Kumal is running out. Threatened by local villagers who mistake him for Khan, Kumal is chased out of their village with raging flames. Having never been on his own before, Kumal’s survival is hampered by his inexperience and poor hunting skills. However, he finally reaches an oasis in the forest where he comes face to face with Latika, a female tiger and the key to Kumal’s future. Despite the difficult journey, witness Kumal’s transformation from a cub into a confident adult.
An old lioness and her two daughters are holding the key to the future of all desert lions. Two years ago, they gave birth to a total of five male cubs and now the time has come for the ‘Five Musketeers’ to continue life on their own. If they can make it to adulthood, there will be hope for the dwindling desert lion population. For the first time ever in this harsh and extreme landscape, observe over an extended period the secret lives of true desert lions living in the ancient Namib Desert around Africa’s Skeleton Coast Park. Scientist, Dr. Philip Stander, has studied the small population of desert lions for nearly two decades and monitors this significant pride closely. They roam the rugged mountains, the majestic sand dunes, the endless gravel plains and sometimes even the beaches of the Skeleton Coast. Share intimate moments with lions once thought to be extinct and uncover a story that will inspire a fascinating but also dramatic and emotional journey through the world’s oldest desert. In a place of hardship, constant hunger, ever-lasting thirst and inevitable suffering, five young male lions need to conquer the Namib Desert and find their own kingdom.
Documentary following experts as they search Canada's Great Bear Rainforest for the Kermode bear, a rare white sub-species.
An extraordinary and entertaining portrait of one of Africa’s true icons reveals the secret lives of giraffes — the tallest animal on earth.
The Amazon is one of the wildest and least explored parts of the planet. It has the highest diversity of life on the planet, but what lies below it is truly shocking. In its deep muddy rivers, clear streams and expansive floodplains, a freak-show of fish life has exploded, with some of the strangest shapes and weirdest adaptations on Earth. Hiding in the vast rivers and streams is an electric grid-- a bizarre community of fish with a highly sophisticated electric sixth sense. Using electricity, these “Super” fish can communicate wirelessly, control each other remotely and emit shocks that can stop a human heart.
Surviving the Serengeti is a tale of courage and instinct, of hope and desperation. Set in East Africa, the story is told against the backdrop of one of the most beautiful places on Earth. It is a journey of growth and survival. Over nine months of the year, the Serengeti National Park is usually an area of peace and quiet where waterholes are places for all animals to take advantage of. However, at this time of year, carnivores have little to hunt—and yet they manage to survive and bring up young during the long dry season.
Tyrannosaurus rex, the famous king of dinosaurs, was a top predator of its day. Well-armed with terrifying jaws, it was seemingly impervious to attack. But new fossils are revealing that the life of T. rex and its cousins was brutal. Fossils are probed with cutting-edge techniques to reveal the source of injuries, predation attempts that went wrong and titanic battles where T. rex teeth were sunk into their adversaries.
Documentary chronicling how a cheetah nurtures her litter of cubs into predators and teaches them to survive in the savannah
Our planet is home to thousands of spine-tingling spiders that come equipped with strange features and bizarre behaviours. Over millions of years spiders have dominated almost every habitat on Earth – from the jumpers and hunters to the engineers and dancers, we delve into the world of Incredible Spiders.
A captivating world of creepy crawlies exists all around us. And they are the biggest group of animals in the world, outnumbering humans 200 million to one. Thanks to millions of years of evolution, these invertebrates not only survive in almost every landscape known to man, but also thrive by means of fascinating, and sometimes bizarre adaptations. There's the Bombardier beetle that squirts a boiling hot liquid from its anus, the Assassin bug that turns its victims into soup, and the Parasitic wasp that lays her eggs inside her victims, until her young are ready to eat their way out. We end off with the biggest bugs on the planet: the Atlas moth with a wingspan of over 20 centimeters, the Hercules beetle that can carry 850 times its own weight, and the Giant centipede - big enough to catch flying bats from midair!
In the gorgeous natural reserve of the Camargue in France, a jewel of nature among the wildest in Europe, wild horses roam freely. Here, between two tributaries of the Rhone that run down to flow in the Mediterranean, follow the lives of these majestic creatures through the seasons.
oin renowned ocean explorer Bob Ballard and a team of scientists on a daring deep-sea expedition to explore the hidden geologic dangers of the Caribbean, and the bizarre life that inhabits these extreme ocean depths.
The Season 10 premiere accompanies whale researchers to a remote humpback whale breeding ground near western Australia.
A look at the platypus and its habitat.
The Tarkine wilderness area of Tasmania, which is home to giant ferns that date back to the Jurassic period, is explored.
The Black Saturday bushfires that erupted in 2009 Australia are recalled.
A look at the Florida manatee.
The baboons of the Table Mountain region in South Africa, which some see as a nuisance, are spotlighted.
A look at the reindeer and varied flora found in the largest mountain plateau in Europe.
The Season 10 finale focuses on the elephants of the Namib Desert in southern Africa.
A look at the ways animals can kill with venom.
In the shadow of Australia's wettest mountain, is Cooper Valley. This valley alone, is the oldest rainforest on earth. In this ancient landscape, there is a creature that is more important than any other. The Cassowary. A giant, flightless, pre-historic bird. Amongst the Cassowary in Cooper Valley, one in particular rules the rainforest. Here, Bertha is the Queen. 'Dino Bird' follows Bertha's life through the seasons. Bertha has males that she allows on her territory and it's these males that raise her chicks. But this is no easy task, the forest is always changing and predators are around every corner. If Bertha's chicks don't survive, it could have drastic consequences for not only the Cassowary population, but even the forest itself...
Evolution ran riot to create some of the rarest and most unusual wildlife on Earth making New Zealand a strange land of amazing creatures.
Take a journey to Central America, a cluster of 6 countries that host some of the most diverse wildlife in the area.
There's a new challenger in the Kabini Forest of India, one unlike all leopards that came before him. This is the story of Saya, the real black panther, and his rise to power.
Nzuri, a first-time Mom, is forced to add strategy to speed in order to avoid predators, feed her cubs and steer them successfully to adulthood.
Trek into the hidden battlefields of northern Botswana where lions and spotted hyenas clash in overlapping territories. With never-before-seen footage, much of it filmed at night, you'll uncover an intense and vicious blood feud that has been waged for millennia. Follow the Southern Clan, led by a powerful hyena matriarch whose firstborn female cub kills her sister at birth to assure her succession as leader of the clan. Lurk in the shadows as a lioness from the Central Pride gives birth to three cubs and then encounters a deadly Egyptian cobra. You'll be stunned by breathtaking chase scenes as the hyena matriarch is brutally killed by a male lion, throwing the clan into chaos. Discover nature's savage conflicts in this ancient rivalry between Eternal Enemies: Lions and Hyenas
Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins, famous for his portrayal of cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter, travels to Africa to observe some lions in their natural habitat. Following the route of the first safaris, the great Welsh thespian journeys into the Serengeti in search of the majestic beasts, learning about their lifestyle and their habits as he goes. He also meets some of the Maasai people, and hears of their love-hate relationship with the lion.
Known for their boundless grace and playful energy, captive dolphins are always eager to please and perform. But at home in the open sea, there's another little-known side to these awe-inspiring mammals that's powerful, cunning, and ruthless. Witness as a team of dolphins coordinates a devastating attack on a massive school of fish. See the largest, most fearsome member of the dolphin family-a killer whale-that can travel as fast as 30 miles an hour underwater to capture its next victim. Observe as dolphins learn from an early age how to hydroplane through mere inches of water to catch fish. You'll be amazed to explore the secret side of these sociable yet aggressive creatures
Africa's wild spaces host an incredible array of creatures who engage in a daily ballet of life and death. Among this myriad of species is an elite group of twelve known for their deadly proficiency. From the arid Saharan deserts to the lush plains to the Nile River, the National Geographic Channel examines each creature's magnificent adaptations that have allowed them to survive and thrive over time. From scorpion to the buffalo to the lion, witness their diverse weaponry and tactics and find out why these fierce predators are considered Africa's Deadly Dozen
People flock to beaches for serenity and fun in the sun, but the animals who make their homes on untamed shores fight for survival every day. From sea snakes, to giant lizards to bears and wolves, creatures along the coast endure in volatile landscapes where land meets sea- their very survival linked to the tides. Beautiful beaches provide a stunning backdrop to amazing predation footage.
Rats have been vilified and associated with disease and filth but why have they been so successful in outsmarting our best efforts to combat them? Now, the National Geographic Channel takes an in-depth look at these clever creatures to reveal their supreme agility, remarkable adaptability, and shockingly witty minds. In Rat Genius, see how scientists are trying to put their intelligence to use in detecting landmines in Africa and sniffing out disease in humans.
This is the story of a savage confrontation spawned by the desperate struggle for survival. The Long Hot Deadly Summer follows one stifling summer in the life of a lioness, a hippo and a crocodile in the Luangwa River Valley in Zambia and reveals the chain of events that WILL ultimately bring them into direct conflict under the scorching African sun.
The world’s eminent blue whale scientists embark on a revolutionary mission. Supported by the National Geographic Society, the world’s eminent blue whale scientists embark on a revolutionary mission: they’ll find, identify and tag California blue whales, use the DNA samples to confirm the sex of individual whales, then rejoin the massive creatures’ stunning migration when they collect at a chimera known as the Costa Rica Dome. These experts have observed, firsthand, courtship behavior among the whales at the moving mass of krill and currents 500 miles off the coast of Costa Rica. Now they hope to find and record the Holy Grail of blue whale science… the breeding and calving grounds of the biggest mammals in the sea.
