Frozen South: Antarctica is the most hostile of all earth’s frozen worlds. Yet even here, amongst some of the most challenging conditions on the planet, life finds a way not just to survive, but thrive. Our journey begins at the far edge of the continent, on its far-flung sub-Antarctic islands. Here we meet king penguins that, to feed at sea, […]
Frozen Peaks: Mountains create frozen habitats on every continent on Earth, and each of these high-altitude worlds holds unique challenges for its surprising and remarkable life. We begin our journey close to the equator – the furthest point from the poles – in East Africa. Here on the high slopes of Mount Kenya, during the day the tropical sun keeps
Frozen Ocean: At the top of our planet lies a magical realm, the Arctic Ocean. After four months of winter darkness, the sun returns to reveal a frozen ocean covered in ice. Mother polar bears emerge from their hillside dens and lead their cubs down to the sea ice to hunt, while a young male and female bear forge a
Frozen Worlds: Journeying from pole to pole, we reveal the surprising frozen worlds that exist across the planet and the remarkable animals that make them their home. We begin our journey in the far south, in the most hostile place on earth, the frozen continent of Antarctica. After being raised on the ice in winter, emperor penguin chicks find themselves
The Wonder of Animals – Great Apes: Chris Packham explores the evolution of the great ape’s brain to reveal how different parts have been adapted over time by its anatomy, ingenuity and sociability, culminating in one of the most complex brains on the planet. Chris examines how the ability to use two hands asymmetrically sets the great ape apart from
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The Wonder of Animals – Dolphins: Chris Packham explores the success of the most widespread of marine mammals, the dolphin. Contrary to their amiable reputation, they are in fact ruthless predators. They hunt using a combination of specialised anatomy and complex communication, requiring a big brain. Chris explains the inner workings of dolphin echolocation, reveals how a pod
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The Wonder of Animals – Bats: Bats have colonised remote corners of the planet to become one of most widespread mammals on earth. Chris Packham explores their incredible anatomy, physiology and senses to understand what enables them to thrive in some surprising places. Tiny hairs on their wings give them a detailed air-flow map during flight, heat sensors
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The Wonder of Animals – Birds of Prey: Chris Packham explores what enables birds of prey to rule the aerial roost. Their ability to dominate their fellow birds in terms of strength, manoeuvrability and phenomenal speed is down to a combination of anatomical and physiological adaptations. Chris explains the internal workings of the bald eagle’s ratchet talons and
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The Wonder of Animals – Crocodiles: Chris Packham explores what lies beneath a crocodile’s hard exterior to discover the secret to its 250-million-year history. It may look like a relic from a prehistoric world, but the crocodile boasts one of the most sophisticated physiologies on the planet. By following all stages of a crocodile hunt, from the warm-up to the
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The Wonder of Animals – Foxes: Across the planet carnivores are struggling to compete in a world with a rocketing human population, but one predator is bucking the trend – the fox. Its numbers are increasing and its geographical range expanding. Chris Packham explores the secrets to its success – its senses, its intelligence and its flexibility. New
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The Wonder of Animals – Penguins: Chris Packham explores what makes animal groups successful. He looks at how the penguin’s legs, wings and body shape have allowed it to adapt to a range of environments. At first sight, penguins seem ill-suited to their environment – rotund abdomens, stubby little legs and stiff wings appear to make the going
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The Wonder of Animals – Bears: Bears can live in practically every habitat on Earth, from tropical jungles to the Arctic Ocean. Wherever they are found, they are capable of surviving extreme conditions and extracting the highest-quality food. Detailing the latest research, Chris Packham explores the specialised adaptations that have enabled bears to thrive, including how a polar
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