Natural World — Season 16

01 Puma: Lion of the Andes

Oct 19, 1997

02 The Temple Troop

Oct 26, 1997

In Sri Lanka's ruined city of Polonnaruwa lives the Temple Troop, the unruliest gang of monkeys around. This film follows an extraordinary year in the life of the troop.

03 Denali: the Great Alaskan Wilderness

Nov 2, 1997

An examination of the wildlife living around Mt McKinley, North America's highest peak.

04 Jungle Nights

Nov 9, 1997

Set in the tropical rainforests of Central America, this film reveals the unseen behaviour of jaguars, vampires, margays, kinkajous and other strange animals that spring to life after dark. The documentary was filmed in Belize, over the course of a year, by resident film-makers Richard Foster and Carol Farneti Foster. They used infra-red cameras and powerful software which converts the ultrasonic calls of bats into distinctive visual patterns on a computer screen.

05 Paracas and the Billion Dollar Bird

Nov 16, 1997

Along the shores of the Paracas National Park on the coast of Peru, two very different worlds collide - the barren Atacama desert and the seas teeming with wildlife such as sea lions, penguins and pelicans as well as guanay cormorants, a bird that once created fortunes for the local people through the sale of their droppings, an excellent natural fertiliser.

06 Komodo Dragon

Nov 23, 1997

A study of the world's largest lizard, the man-eating Komodo dragon of Indonesia, revealing the dinosaur-like creature to be far more than just a cold-blooded killer.

07 At the Edge of the Sea

Nov 30, 1997

An absorbing exploration of coastal British Columbia, At the Edge of the Sea provides an insight into the diverse life that thrives within the ever-changing landscape of the Pacific shoreline. A vivid portrait of life amongst the violent surf, impressive time-lapse photography reveals the clever adaptations of the area's inhabitants. Acorn barnacles 'glue' themselves to rocks, while mussels produce strong threads to anchor themselves to the ocean floor and anemones develop adhesive undersides.

08 Beyond the Naked Eye

Dec 7, 1997

The hidden world of microscopic bugs, microbes, fungi and plants is revealed using special filming techniques. These tiny organisms can cause deadly diseases, but they also help to provide food and control the climate.

09 On the Path of the Reindeer

Dec 21, 1997

This edition follows thousands of reindeer as they undertake a 400km migration through Lapland, guided by the Saami, the reindeer people. On the journey the reindeer give birth, evade predators, struggle over mountains and even swim across the sea to reach the lush summer pastures of the Arctic coast.

10 The Secret Garden

Dec 27, 1997

Timelapse and close-up photography reveals the natural lives of the plants and animals that inhabit an English garden.

11 The Dragons of Galapagos

Jan 18, 1998

A look at the iguanas of the Galapagos.

12 Three Monkeys

Jan 25, 1998

How three species of monkey - howlers, red spiders and white-faced - use their different skills to fight for survival deep in the unpredictable and unforgiving tropical forests of Costa Rica.

13 Borneo: Island in the Clouds

Feb 1, 1998

The wildlife of Borneo, home to a diverse array of creatures, including proboscis monkeys, forest elephants, rhinos and orang-utans. The island boasts the tallest peak in South-East Asia, Mount Kinabalu, and some of the world's largest cave systems, as well as mangrove swamps and a coral reef teeming with life.

14 Oman: Jewel of Arabia

Feb 15, 1998

Documenatary film looking at the geography, wildlife and peoples of Oman.

15 The Lost Lands of Scilly

Feb 22, 1998

Sharks, palm trees, shipwrecks and sandy shores are all vital ingredients for a sub-tropical paradise. Add sunken treasure, colourful corals, nectar sipping birds and exotic flowers and it sounds a long way from Britain. But the exotic Isles of Scilly are just beyond Land's End. Here Britain's biggest predator, the grey Atlantic seal, basks on the rocks and raucous colonies of nocturnal birds fill the midnight air.

16 Fire and Ice: an Icelandic Saga

Mar 1, 1998

During filming in Iceland, a huge volcano exploded under Europe's largest icecap, melting billions of tons of ice. But foxes, skuas, puffins and other wildlife have learnt to turn such natural disasters to their advantage.

17 Metropolis

Mar 8, 1998

New York's concrete and steel plays host to fascinating wildlife, including falcons, raccoons and horseshoe crabs.

18 The Otters of Yellowstone

Mar 15, 1998

Spanning three states, Yellowstone is America's most famous national park, with a cast of charming inhabitants set against stunning scenery. This film follows a family of river otters through the year as they learn to fish, fend off attacking coyotes and travel great distances around the beautiful park.

19 The Forbidden Fruit

Mar 22, 1998

Following the success of David Attenborough's PRIVATE LIFE OF PLANTS, a further chance to see flora from unusual perspectives. Time-lapse technology and high-speed cameras show how plants use animals, humans and the elements to spread seeds.