Animal Instincts

Japan's Ashio Mountain Range, once ravaged by intensive mining, has seen its forests miraculously restored. Regenerated forests have heralded the return of one of Japan’s most elusive animals, the moon bear. Witness the journey of a mother moon bear, caring for her cubs as they brave the outside world for the very first time.

On Australia’s Fraser Island, the dingo sits at the top of the food chain. Follow a family with nine pups as they roam across the island overcoming death, conflict with other packs, and devastating forest fires. In this harsh environment, they must work together to thrive and to ensure the survival of the youngest and most vulnerable puppies.

A small bay lying southeast of the island of Shikoku in Japan is the only known spot in the world where bamboo sharks gather for breeding. With help from a top shark researcher, hidden cameras observe the rare sharks for six months and uncover a surprising predator that cuts open the eggs to devour the developing embryos inside.

Madagascar is home to the smallest chameleon on earth. At just 2.5 cm in size, you would be forgiven for overlooking this tiny creature. Over millions of years these chameleons have become expert insect hunters. With tongues evolved to stretch to twice the length of their body, they thrive on this exotic island.

The Great Plains of Mongolia are lands of extremes, and their inhabitants must adapt to harsh changes in temperature. None is more suited to this environment than the pallas cat which can change shape with the seasons. Female cats are especially ingenious in order to protect their young.

Every year in Port Jackson, Australia, the bay’s secluded ocean floor and beach is littered with extraordinary spiraled eggs. These uniquely adapted eggs come from the remarkable Port Jackson sharks. Follow the sharks’ annual migration and arduous quest to find a mate.

Every year millions of mullet leave sheltered freshwater inlets to embark on a journey of epic proportions along Florida’s coastline. The giant swirling mass must evade predators and endure extreme weather conditions to make it to the ocean and spawn the next generation.

The rainforests of Costa Rica are teeming with life. Here, over 70 species of lizard have evolved to thrive in this dark, humid environment. From predatory basilisks that can run across water to newly hatched iguanas who find safety in numbers, these creatures have learned remarkable survival techniques.