Nature

Masters of the water and air, they have conquered the globe. From deft dabblers to great divers, these are one of the Animal Kingdoms ultimate athletes. Take a fascinating look at one of our most familiar birds.

Reunions between wild animals and their caregivers reveal whether interspecies bonds can stand the test of time.

Vianet Djenguet has lived half of his life in Europe, yet his heart still lies in his homeland, his Congo. As a successful wildlife cameraman, Djenguet is returning to his roots to reveal the beauty and majesty of his country and its people. During his journey, Djenguet explores a vibrant "African Eden" - a Congo complete with chimps, gorillas, weaver birds, Colobus monkeys, swamp antelopes, forest elephants and buffalo - and a jungle tribe who still reveres his great-grandfather. Djenguet shines a spotlight on his beloved homeland and discovers an even deeper connection with this place than he ever imagined.

Cats are among the most feared and revered creatures on the planet. Their power, strength, and enigmatic nature have fascinated us for centuries. They are one of the most studied mammals in the world yet only now is their real identity being understood - from their incredible hunting abilities, to their unique physiology and remarkable behaviors. With nearly 40 different species, thriving in almost any environment, the cat is one of the most successful predators since the dinosaurs. Using the latest camera technology and working with leading scientists, we are able to tell the story like never before. Join Nature in this epic two-part event as we journey across the globe tracking down the origins of these diverse creatures. Take an in-depth look at what makes the family of felines unique and the evolutionary tricks and adaptions that truly make a cat, a cat. In Part 1, discover how the first cats arose in the forests of Asia, how they spread across the continent and later came to conquer Africa. We reveal how cats evolved with an in-depth look at lions, servals, caracals, cheetahs, tigers, fishing and sand cats.

The Sierra Nevada, a mountain range running about 400 miles along the eastern side of California and stretches into Nevada, is home to three national parks: Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite. This is a land of giants, whether speaking of trees soaring to nearly 300 feet, or massive stone monoliths far taller than any skyscraper. But the force that has given rise to the earths largest living trees and carved out the iconic natural landmarks of the Sierras is water. The role that water has played in the creation and evolution of Yosemite Valley cannot be overstated - feeding its numerous wild rivers and countless waterfalls, and making life in this stone wilderness possible. The second force, crucial to the Giant sequoias ability to reproduce, is fire. It is the delicate balance of these two elements, water and fire, that is vital to the continued existence of the wildlife and trees that inhabit the Sierras. Despite the recent heavy rains and snowfall, scientists are finding that water is scarcer and the threat of fire is more likely as the area continues to experience rising temperatures upsetting that important balance. Geologists, ecologists, researchers and adventurers investigate how the changing climate is affecting one of Americas greatest wildernesses.

Filmmaker Charlie Hamilton James follows the story of three, curious river otter orphans in Wisconsin and visits otters all over the globe. Join Charlie as he uncovers the secrets to the otter’s survival with innovative experiments, cameras and CGI.

At the very northern edge of North America is Ellesmere Island, where the unforgiving Arctic winds tear through the tundra, dipping temperatures to 40 below zero. Running through this shifting sea of snow and ice is one of the most hardened predators on the planet, the White Wolf.

Uncover the secret lives of big cats who thrive in all four corners of the globe, from the solitary snow leopard to the nimble rusty-spotted cat, seen through the latest camera technology and science.

Discover the extraordinary abilities of squirrels, from the brainy fox squirrel, to the acrobatic gray squirrel, to the problem-solving ground squirrel. Follow a guide to the squirrel’s success along with an orphan red squirrel called Billy.

Discover how humans have partnered with the horse throughout the centuries, creating more than 350 breeds found all around the world.

Uncover the variety of activity, both human and natural, that occurs on the slopes of active volcanoes. Take a terrifying descent into the crater of one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes alive today. James Naughton narrates.

Breeding and the greening of the landscape are tied to another major spectacle of spring: the mass movements of animals as they take advantage of spring’s bounty. Meet the scientists who track the journeys of animals such as butterflies, birds, bison and bats over vast distances, from winter refuge to spring nesting grounds.

Travel back in time, from the Arctic Ocean to Pacific tide pools, with a pioneering group of scientists who make surprising discoveries that transform human understanding of nature and ecology. Based on a book of the same name, The Serengeti Rules had its theatrical premiere at Tribeca Film Festival and has won awards at the 2018 Wildscreen Panda Awards and Jackson Hole Science Media Awards.

Paradise presents the landscape and wildlife of the Upper Okavango River. A lioness severely injured by a buffalo is left for dead by her pride. Now handicapped, she has to survive in the swamp alone, hunting to feed her little cubs.

Inferno presents the landscape and wildlife of the Lower Okavango River. The landscape is baked dry by the scorching sun, and large herds of zebra and wildebeest migrate to the dry plains in search of precious salt that these animals need.

Follow the adventures of bears across the globe, from grizzlies to pandas to sloth bears, as they draw on their brains, brawn and unique adaptations to survive. Find out what it really takes to be a bear in today’s ever-changing world.

Go beneath the surface and meet Africa’s river giants, the hippos. Discover an unexpected side of these aquatic mammals that can’t even swim as hippos protect their families, face their enemies and suffer in a drought. Narrated by David Attenborough.

An intimate look into the weasel family which includes the adventures of a first-time weasel mom, a tiny orphan weasel and the fearless honey badger.

There are more than 100 types of rabbits and hares. Despite their extraordinary ability to reproduce, wild rabbits are in danger of being eradicated. This show separates the facts from the stereotypes.

Travel to the Northern Hemisphere, where the spy creatures learn how animals move, feed and fight. A spy hummingbird films millions of butterflies, and a spy squirrel winds up in a battle. A spy beaver observes other beavers building dams.

From penguin chicks to elephant seals and wolf cubs to polar bears, the spy creatures meet and observe the hardiest and most charismatic animals in the Arctic and Antarctic circles.

Meet the people rescuing and caring for the animal survivors of Australia’s devastating bushfires. Iconic species like koalas, kangaroos and wombats face a series of hurdles to recover from their trauma.

Family is everything for primates. They have the most complex social lives of any animal group on the planet. Meet devoted monkeys’ uncles, playmate apes and tender troops.

Get an intimate look at the wildlife of Lapland, a region in northern Finland, the fabled home of Santa Claus and actual home of reindeer, great gray owls, wolverines, eagles, wolves, musk oxen, brown bears and more.

In the second and final part of NATURE’s miniseries “The Alps,” experience the hostile and bitter cold ecosystems of the Alps, shaped by snow blizzards and avalanches.

Roam the Wild West frontier land of the Rio Grande’s Big Bend alongside its iconic animals, including black bears, rattlesnakes and scorpions.

Learn surprising facts about the sharks that call the warm waters near Hawaii’s islands their home. Meet the Whitetip reef shark, Whale shark, Tiger shark and more.

A story of surprise and revelation. A wildlife cameraman spends his time during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown filming the bees in his urban garden and discovers the many diverse species and personalities that exist in this insect family.

Witness the creation of the waterhole, one of Africa’s greatest wildlife meeting places manufactured by giant elephants and tiny termites. From baboons to dung beetles to chameleons, an entire community of creatures call the waterhole their home.

Young animals face new challenges as winter envelopes the Rocky Mountains, and spring means the end of childhood. A grizzly mom prepares her cubs for hibernation, a mountain lion raises her kittens and a bison calf must learn to survive the snow.

Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan fronts the team helping scientists investigate the lives of some of Australias most iconic animals. Koalas, fruit bats and kangaroos take the cameras into their secret worlds.

The story of South Africa’s sardine migration is brought vividly to life on camera. Each summer, the sardine run sees billions of sardines traveling up the coast, providing a feast for an array of marine predators.

Follow the life of an old hippo, a king of its kind, and discover the true character of one of Earth’s largest land mammals.

Discover the wildlife and landscapes of Portugal, shaped by its history as a global trading hub. From forest to coast, witness the majesty of the country’s wild horses, storks, monk seals, flamingos and more.

Journey from Canada’s Arctic to the boreal forest and discover how polar bears, coastal wolves, lynx and more survive in the North. Timing and seizing opportunity can mean the difference between life and death in this wild and rugged outpost.

Dive deep into South Texas to meet one of America’s most endangered cats: the ocelot. With about 120 known ocelots remaining, the future of the U.S. ocelot population relies on ranchers, scientists and government agencies working together.

Take a deep breath and experience the complex world of ocean waters. Get a never-before-seen look at how life underwater co-exists in a marriage of necessity.

How do wild dogs survive and thrive in the wild? Discover the secrets to their success, from black-backed jackals that leap skywards to catch prey to agile gray foxes that climb high into the trees. (Episode 2 of 3)

Discover how tiny Hummingbirds influence their many flowering kingdoms and their ripple effects on macaws, quetzals, monkeys, tapirs, and coatis. Set in the exotic landscapes of Costa Rica.

In 2013, a fisherman in Guatemala, who is struggling to feed his family, is forced further offshore in a search for food. In an act of desperation, he guns his small boat straight out to sea and into dangerous waters. With no land in sight, the sun blazing, the fisherman cuts his engine and peers over the side of his boat. His expression transforms to utter disbelief. He is sitting atop a coral reef, five times the size of Manhattan and teeming with life, that no one knew existed. It is like a window back in time when Caribbean corals were thriving. The discovery is part of an even bigger story, marking an exciting new chapter in understanding corals, the fish that need them and the battle to save coral reefs all over the world. 

Witness the story of Pete Walsh, a Tasmanian man who befriends a platypus he names Zoom. With the help of experts, Pete learns more about the platypus’s secret world in a mission to protect them from the dangers of urban development.

Spy creatures explore animal emotions and the deep feelings we share. With surfing dolphins, kissing manatees and sensitive cuttlefish, witness the emotional rollercoaster of life in the sea.

Spy creatures showcase the challenges of ocean life. From a baby whale in danger and marine iguanas battling storms, to a mantis shrimp’s knockout punch, the spies are never far from trouble.

In Taiwan, a Formosan pangolin travels through a land of giants to find a mate in a protected forest, while in Brazils Atlantic Forest, a family of golden-headed lion tamarins journey from the edge of their world into a land of plenty.

Gabon’s Loango National Park is home to a group of western lowland gorillas that have become accustomed to biologists who have studied them for almost 20 years. This documentary presents an intimate look at a silverback and his family, and features a newborn baby gorilla, brave researchers, forest elephants, buffalos and the last remaining wild coastline in the African tropics.

Sir David Attenborough unearths a once in a lifetime discovery: the fossil of a giant Pliosaur, the largest Jurassic predator ever known. Follow a team of forensic experts on a perilous expedition to excavate the skull, uncover the predatory secrets lying deep inside the fossil, and unlock clues about the life of this giant sea beast.

From giant eagles to miniature falconets, meet the many species of raptors. Explore how they survive winters, learn to hunt, and undergo migrations. Their superpowers of flight, sight, hearing, and smell give them dominance over the skies.

The most famous bear in the Tetons attempts to raise four cubs. But she makes increasingly unexpected and consequential choices to protect her family, Grizzly 399 stands as a symbol of the clash between humans and the wild.

Ireland is renowned worldwide for its lush green landscapes and wild Atlantic coast, but one of its greatest natural treasures is a desert of grey stones called the Burren, which is home to some of Ireland’s most enchanting wildlife. Featuring striking wildlife sequences set in this fantastical otherworld, the documentary follows its lead character, the elusive but charming pine marten, as her story takes us on a delightful journey through this incredible habitat and the lives of its wild birds and animals.

Discover Transylvania, a mystical region in central Romania where its mountain ranges, vast ancient forests and medieval villages are a sanctuary for wolves, lynxes, brown bears, bats and more. Narrated by Jeremy Irons

In this astonishing true story, lion researcher Dr. Philip Stander is witness to the most unprecedented lion behavior whilst following three orphaned Desert Lion cubs, as they navigate the harsh realities of survival in one of the worlds most unforgiving environments, Namibias deadly Skeleton Coast.

Lion, leopard and cheetah parents attempt to co-exist and raise their cubs on the shores of Botswanas Gomoti River. Narrated by David Oyelowo.

Follow a team of scientists and filmmakers in Antarctica studying the most sophisticated hunting strategy in the animal kingdom - killer whales making waves to wash seals off floating ice.

Katavi National Park is typically a lush paradise for wildlife in Tanzania. However, the upcoming dry season looms more threatening than ever before. Meet the hippo, crocodile and lion families who must navigate this change of seasons.

After the worst drought in years, hope looms on the horizon. The rains finally arrive, and the water brings relief and movement for all. However, the parched land cannot absorb the heavy rain, bringing fresh dangers and further testing the animal families’ survival skills.

Follow a paleontologist on an Arctic adventure to uncover the hidden lives of walrus and the threats they face as climate change shrinks the sea ice.

Uncover the secret world of New York and London’s pigeon flocks, seeing how they adapt to the challenges of city life and thrive alongside people.