Natural World

- Season 24

(2006)

This is the story of an Indian big cat that's thriving, unlike the tiger. Yet few people know it exists. Asiatic lions are completely different from African lions in both appearance and behavior. These lions once roamed Europe - they are the lions of Ancient Greece and Rome, the lions in The Bible. Their refuge is the beautiful Gir forest in Gujarat, and in the last hundred years their numbers have grown from just twenty to over three hundred. They are now spreading out beyond the protection of the National Park - reclaiming lost territory and even colonizing ...

A look at Henry Williamson's most famous book 'Tarka the Otter'. The film follows the fortunes of an otter living on the River Torridge in north Devon 80 years after the book was written.

Martyn Colbeck has spent 15 years scouring Africa for extraordinary images of the elephant. He has had to learn to read their minds and anticipate their every move. He has witnessed incredible behaviour: small secretive elephants deep in the Congo jungle, Echo the family matriarch giving birth at night, two huge bull elephants clashing heads in a deadly duel and mystical desert elephants gliding over the sandy dunes of Namibia.

Documentary about Charlie Russell, who believes that grizzly bears are not dangerous and that our unnecessary fear of them is driving them to extinction.

Film narrated by David Attenborough investigating why the Indian Tiger is in trouble. Thirty years ago India set aside over 30 tiger reserves controlled by Project Tiger. However, in recent years hundreds of tigers have been poached from under the officials' noses. Tiger scientist turned whistle blower Ragu uncovered the scale of the problem in one reserve. Tigers are now slipping towards extinction. They have come back from the brink before, but can they do so again?

The Giant Japanese Hornet is the fiercest looking insect on earth, and one of the deadliest. This film follows the remarkable life of one giant hornet queen, as she emerges from hibernation and starts to build up a colony in an old temple garden. Her army of warriors terrorize the beautiful mountain valley in their constant struggle to find food for their hungry grubs. In a series of dramatic pitched battles, the giant hornets massacre thousands of bees, but victory isn't always assured - one local honeybee fights back thanks to a remarkable defensive strategy, and ...

Nature documentary featuring the wildlife of Hawaii's famous surf zone and the surfers and scientists who are fighting to protect it. Turtles, dolphins, monk seals and albatrosses all have to cope with the growing number of people using the island beaches, but now animals face a new threat from washed-up plastic. A varied bunch of island characters, including born-and-bred Hawaiian musician Jack Johnson, make it clear that these beautiful islands have a powerful message for us all.

Nature documentary. Australia's deadly saltwater crocodiles are making a dramatic comeback, spreading in alarming numbers through the billabongs, rivers and beaches of the Northwest Territories. Last year over three hundred crocodiles had to be removed from the harbor of Darwin, the region's capital. Thousands of cattle are being killed and, most worryingly of all, attacks on people are increasing every year - often in places where crocs were previously unknown. Biologist Adam Britton is trying to find out why the crocs have suddenly become such a problem. With ...

Wildlife documentary. Simon King has spent four years helping to raise two orphaned cheetah cubs, Toki and Sambu. Sambu was killed by lions, but Toki survived and Simon has continued with his attempt to return him to the wild. Simon's unique relationship with Toki has enabled him to enter the world of this high-speed hunter and share in Toki's adventures. This is a gritty and honest account of life with one of the world's top predators.

Documentary. For thousands of years, dogs were working animals not just pets, carefully bred to hunt, guard, herd or retrieve. Now these instincts are turning some dogs into problem pets. This film follows a bloodhound called Holly and a bearded collie called Herbie, who both face an uncertain future in rescue homes because they are so out of control. In order to give them a second chance, professional trainers see if they can be put back to work, sniffing out criminals and herding sheep.

Documentary. Britain has spectacular colonies of puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes and skuas, but recently many birds have failed to breed. In the summer of 2006, bird expert Roy Dennis traveled in search of answers. He reveals that, as our seas are getting warmer, the sand eels that seabirds depend on are declining. Some seabirds are learning to find new sources of food and, with a bit more protection, Roy believes they can adapt and survive.

Wildlife film. Many years ago lions thrived in the deserts of Namibia's Skeleton Coast, until they were exterminated by man. Six years ago maverick biologist Flip Stander discovered a tiny remnant population alive and well in nearby mountains, and started to study them. Their numbers have grown and they are now returning to the desert in increasing numbers. But if these lions are to continue roaming here, Flip will have to persuade local people that these lions are worth more alive than dead.

Nature documentary. Wildlife biologists Rick Sinnott and Jessy Coltrane believe dangerous animals can live happily in the biggest city in Alaska. Anchorage is the test ground for this experiment where human residents are trying to share their parks and gardens with 60 grizzly bears, 200 black bears, 1000 moose and several packs of wolves. The many encounters between man and beast are often entertaining, but the potential for tragedy is great. Can Rick and Jessy keep the peace?

In a part of Africa more often in the news for human suffering and civil war, the Central African state of Gabon is a surprise - a stable democracy devoting itself to protecting wildlife. Over ten percent of the country's rain forest is protected in a series of new national parks that are home to abundant wildlife including elephants, gorillas, chimps and giant troupes of mandrills. Along the unspoilt coastline forest comes right down to the beach and hippos can be seen wallowing in the surf. It's an uplifting story of sensitive development, and a reminder of primeval...

The River Wye runs through some of Britain's most beautiful and varied countryside, from the mountain tops of mid Wales to the wide open spaces of the Severn Estuary. This film is a lyrical portrait of the valley through the eyes of four characters who make their living from the land: a cider maker, a salmon fisherman, a sheep farmer and a beekeeper. It might seem idyllic, but when you live this close to nature a change in the weather can make all the difference between success and failure.