Earths Tropical Islands

Exploring some of the world's most isolated and iconic tropical islands.

Exploring some of the world's most isolated and iconic tropical islands. Journey across the tropical island of Madagascar and explore the unique and incredible wildlife it has to offer - from its famed lemurs to chameleons. As the oldest island on earth, life has had time to evolve, and there are now more unique plants and animals on Madagascar than any other island. It was formed nearly 90 million years ago when a giant landmass split apart, and Madagascar was cast adrift from east Africa. Braving the 400-mile ocean crossing from Africa, the first castaways arrived on the arid west of the island, and were met with vast deserts.

A look across Hawaii's varied islands, discovering how they were made, and how its wildlife thrives. The most remote island chain on Earth, its tropical shores are hard to reach. However, for the hardy creatures that have made it there, such as the waterfall-climbing fish, carnivorous caterpillar and Laysan albatross, a land of opportunity awaits. From newly formed lava fields, to lush jungles, and vibrant coral reefs, these diverse and beautiful islands have it all. As this documentary reveals, its people are looking to the future and attempting to protect and foster its flora and fauna.

In the heart of south east Asia lies the tropical island of Borneo. Twice the size of the British Isles, it is the third largest island on earth and home to possibly the greatest diversity of life of any island - from flying lizards sun bears to orangutans. Its huge variety of habitats, from bustling coral reefs and ancient jungles to towering mountains, has given rise to over 60,000 species of plants and animals - many found nowhere else on earth.

Islands can be home to the most extreme examples of life, and the some of the most dramatic landscapes. Isolated for hundreds of thousands of years, pockets of individuals survive, thrive and adapt to fill all available niches fuelling a rapid development of new species. In the new series of Wildest, viewers will be taken to the Islands Islands of Mystery in the Philippines, a nation of over 7,000 islands forming one of the most ancient archipelagos in the world and will explore Japan's expansive 6,852 islands. Other islands include the breath taking Rivers of Life in Vancouver and the islands around the Amazon River in Brazil.

The Yaeyama islands in Okinawa Prefecture, where the lifestyle that has existed since ancient times is still strong. The trip is filled with discoveries, including the sabani boats of Ishigaki island made from logs, the exquisite scenery of Taketomi island, and a woman who carries on the tradition of minsa fabric. A stop on Hateruma leads to the island's only school, where kids from kindergarten to junior high study together. Immerse yourself in a 4-day journey through nature and culture.

From space, the US appears to be an immense single land mass hemmed between the planet's two greatest oceans. Look a little closer, however, and you notice something else. All around its coastline floats a gauntlet of countless islands. Unbeknownst to many, the coasts of America are home to over 18,000 named islands, with thousands more too small to name. Following his experiences exploring the islands of Australia and Britain, Martin Clunes sets off on an epic journey to discover what lies beyond the mainland of America and to challenge the misconceptions that America is simply a country filled with towering buildings, endless highways, and mega-stores.

The many islands that lie between Asia and Australia can claim to be the biologically richest on earth. The fascinating diversity of life is due to the many millions of years that these islands have remained in the tropics and the power of the earth, the sun and the moon.