Only The Animals

"Only the Songhay hunters, a hereditary caste, are entitled to kill lions. The herdsmen are permitted only to throw stones at lions to chase them away. The Peul consider that the lion is necessary for the herd, and they are capable of identifying individual lions by the tracks they leave. But when a lion kills too many cattle, it has to be eliminated, because such a lion is a killer." (J. Rouch). From 1957 to 1964, Rouch observed the Gao hunters from the Yatakala region and the film recounts episodes of the hunt in which technology and magic are intimately entwined: making bows and arrows, preparing the poison, tracking the animals, the death ritual.

Stretching from the Antarctic in the south to the Arctic in the north, the Atlantic Ocean is vast, wild and unforgiving and each season brings new challenges for its indigenous creatures.

Kate Humble and Simon King report from Zambia, following the lives of the animals living along the Luangwa River at a critical time in the seasons.

A scenically stunning and dramatically engaging story of one man's campaign to prove grizzly bears can live harmoniously with people if they are conditioned from an early age to loving trust. To many people, grizzlies are symbols of power and ferocity – creatures to be feared and, too often, killed. Are grizzly bears really that dangerous? Canadian naturalist Charlie Russell doesn't think so, and he believes our disproportionate fear of the animals is driving them to extinction. Russell, who has had a forty-year relationship with bears, holds the controversial belief that it is possible to live with and truly understand bears in the wild.

Nearly a thousand caves dot the ocean floor near the Bahamas, southeast of the Florida peninsula. These "blue holes" are limestone caves that have formed over the course of 350,000 years. There's little oxygen in the water in these caves, making it incredibly transparent with an over 100-meter visibility. The caves reflect only the deepest blue spectrum of light. Inside are numerous stalactites. There are also calcareous crystals, some shaped like roses, that reflect light like quartz. In addition, the bones of ancient animals and humans have been found in these caves. Join us as we dive into this wondrous world.

The Shape Of Life tells the gripping and magnificent tale of the beginnings of all animal life. Using innovative camera techniques to capture rarely seen creatures and breathtaking computer animation to reveal stunning detail, this digital high definition series tells the stories of the revolutionary findings and scientific breakthroughs in biology, genetics and paleontology that are rewriting the book of life. The series celebrates the splendors and struggles of evolution, unveiling eight biological designs that are the underpinnings of nearly all animal life. A Co-Production of Sea Studios Foundation and National Geographic Television.

Just like us, animals rely on their senses to communicate with each other, to find their way around, to find food and to stay safe.

Each 50 minute episode features a global overview of a different biome or habitat on Earth (Polar, Mountain, Cave, Desert, Plains, Fresh Water, Seas, Ocean, Forest), followed by a ten-minute featurette which takes a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of filming the episode.

Watching animals care for their young is a powerful reminder of the bonds we all share as living species on the planet. Take a heartwarming look at baby animals as they playfully find their way in the world.