Wildlife Specials (1995)
Wildlife Specials
1995The BBC Wildlife Specials are a series of nature documentary programmes commissioned by BBC Television. The Wildlife Specials began with a pilot episode in 1995. 20 programmes have been made to date, with three of the recent ones being in multi parts. The earlier programmes were produced in-house by the BBC's specialist Natural History Unit, but the more recent Spy in the... titles were made by the independent John Downer Productions. The first 18 programmes, up to 2008, were narrated by David Attenborough. The most recent two were narrated by David Tennant. "The world's leading natural history filmmakers meet the world's most charismatic animals" — BBC tagline
Seasons & Episode
The first title from the exciting series made up from the BBC's natural history output. Just the sight of a shark's fin breaking the surface spells terror, but is this Hollywood-delivered image fair? Underwater filming of these awesome, two ton, 19 foot fish in their natural unbaited environments exposes the Great White as a paradox: a shy and cautious creature existing within a highly structured social order, but also a terrific killing machine striking with total surprise and devatating speed from the murky depths.
The great white bear of the arctic - includes a film first of polar bears hunting underwater and life inside their dens.
Only now, by exploring their complete world, above and below water, by day and night, can we fully appreciate how sophisticated crocodiles are.
This episode ventures into the night, and follows the lives of two leopards in Zambia's Luangwa Valley, to reveal the night-time secrets of the cat that walks on its own.
Few birds have captured the human imagination as deeply as the eagle and in this remarkable film, aerial photography captures the dramatic life of eagles as never seen before.
From the Arctic to the Antarctic, amazing underwater footage reveals for the first time the successful hunting and spectacular social behaviour of the world's largest predator.
The definitive story of this much-maligned animal - filmed in habitats ranging from the high Arctic to the hill farms of Europe and monsoon-sodden India.
After 25 years of the Project Tiger Scheme operating in the Madhya Pradesh, these magnificent animals have become more trusting, permitting an extraordinary intimate film which follows them from sunrise to sunset, in monsoon rains and in shimmering heat.
Edited from more than 3000 hours of footage, this documentary uses a remote camera disguised as a rock to observe cubs growing up into adult lions. It features their futile attempts to climb trees, the mayhem caused when they surround a hippo, and various encounters with other animals such as cobras, buffalos and elephants.
One of the most successful species on earth is also one of the least documented. Miniaturised cameras reveal the snakes' world for the first time from their point of view. Head-mounted cameras capture gripping images of the world's most dangerous snakes hunting and overcoming their prey. Using high-speed photography, x-ray imaging and state-of-the-art computer graphics, this is the most ambitious TV study of snakes yet attempted.
Attempts at charting shark behaviour using a 6ft, lifelike animatronic robot, complete with on-board camera and pre-programmed swimming patterns. In the waters around Bikini Atoll the creation is able to mingle safely with man-eating reef sharks, while in the Philippines it spies on deep-sea threshers and joins great whites as they hunt seals. Narrated by David Attenborough.
Sir David Attenborough narrates this look at bears from across the globe through the use of spycams, camoflaged in a variety of disguises from logs, boulders, fish and dustbins.
"The Journey" - A wildebeest calf makes spectacular year-long journey, an arduous 3,000km round trip across Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara. Filmed using Dungcam, Bouldercam, Croccam, Skullcam, Tortoisecam and other spycams. (Part one of a two-part documentary.
"The Crossing" - A wildebeest calf makes spectacular year-long journey, an arduous 3,000km round trip across Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara. In part two, the migration reaches the Masai Mara where, for the calf, the river presents his greatest challenge yet.
Elephants carrying Trunkcam, Tuskcam and other spy cameras tell the story of four cubs growing up in the Indian jungle. In the first programme, the elephants come upon the four 10-day-old tiger cubs. This is their mother's first litter and she has her paws full.
The cubs are now half-grown and very playful, learning the skills they'll need as adults.
The cubs are now a year-and-a-half old and learning to hunt for themselves.
Part 1 of this fantastic documentary. Spycams sneak within a paw’s swipe of the world’s largest land predators – Polar bears. Polar Bear Spy on the Ice gets closer than ever before to these charismatic bears and reveals their astonishing intelligence and curiosity.
Part 2 of this fantastic documentary. Spycams sneak within a paw’s swipe of the world’s largest land predators – Polar bears. Polar Bear Spy on the Ice gets closer than ever before to these charismatic bears and reveals their astonishing intelligence and curiosity.
"The Journey" - Emperor penguins cross a treacherous frozen sea to reach their breeding grounds.
"First Steps" - Newborn penguins are caught taking their first unsteady steps.
"Growing Up" - As the chicks become increasingly independent, their parents continue to protect them.
Nature Documentary hosted by David Attenborough and published by BBC broadcasted as part of BBC Wildlife series in 2004
The BBC Wildlife Specials are a series of nature documentary programmes commissioned by BBC Television. The Wildlife Specials began with a pilot episode in 1995. 20 programmes have been made to date, with three of the recent ones being in multi parts. The earlier programmes were produced in-house by the BBC's specialist Natural History Unit, but the more recent Spy in the... titles were made by the independent John Downer Productions. The first 18 programmes, up to 2008, were narrated by David Attenborough. The most recent two were narrated by David Tennant. "The world's leading natural history filmmakers meet the world's most charismatic animals" — BBC tagline