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Mammals

Episode 3 of 10

David Attenborough looks at how mammals dominate the planet through having warm blood and caring for their young, including Weddell seals, caribou and humpback whales.

Mammals dominate the planet. They do it through having warm blood and by the care they lavish on their young. Weeks of filming in the bitter Antarctic winter reveal how a mother Weddell seal wears her teeth down keeping open a hole in the ice so she can catch fish for her pup.

A powered hot air balloon produces stunning images of millions of migrating bats as they converge on fruiting trees in Zambia, and slow-motion cameras reveal how a mother rufous sengi exhausts a chasing lizard. A gyroscopically stabilised camera moves alongside migrating caribou, and a diving team swim among the planet's biggest fight as male humpback whales battle for a female.

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58 minutes

Last on

Fri 4 Oct 2024 01:25
BBC Four

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Reptiles and Amphibians

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Fish

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Clips

See all clips from Mammals (5)

Chapters

  • Mammals

    Opening Titles

    Duration: 00:22

  • Survival

    The Weddell seal must teach its newborn to live in the Antarctic. Also, the sengi creates pathways to help catch and escape prey and the aye-aye can only use its hearing when hunting in the dark.

    Duration: 09:59

  • Migration

    Barren land forces eight million reindeer to move north, finding food as they travel. The fruit bats, however, take to the sky, where they can fly up to a 1000km in a few nights.

    Duration: 10:00

  • Fighting

    A wounded hyena calls to her clan to help her challenge a pride of lions, and families of polar bears fight each other for food.

    Duration: 08:32

  • Strength in Numbers

    There's some sibling rivalry when the coatis go hunting for the first time, whilst the meerkats are more organised and disciplined.

    Duration: 05:59

  • The Female of the Species

    An inexperienced elephant mother must learn quickly so she can protect her young and the female humpback whale makes her presence known when looking for a mate.

    Duration: 12:30

  • Life on Location - The Heat Run

    The team attempt to film the humpback whale's mating contest; this requires local knowledge, hours on the water and a big slice of luck.

    Duration: 10:34

Credits

Narrator David Attenborough
Executive Producer Michael Gunton
Producer Ted Oakes

Broadcasts

  • Mon 26 Oct 2009 21:00
    BBC HD & BBC One except Northern Ireland
  • Mon 26 Oct 2009 22:35
    BBC One Northern Ireland
  • Tue 27 Oct 2009 20:00
    BBC Four
  • Sat 31 Oct 2009 16:35
    BBC HD
  • Sun 1 Nov 2009 18:00
    BBC One
  • Mon 2 Nov 2009 00:00
    BBC HD
  • Fri 6 Nov 2009 00:55
    BBC One except Northern Ireland
  • Wed 11 Nov 2009 00:45
    BBC One Northern Ireland
  • Sat 20 Feb 2010 19:00
    BBC Four
  • Wed 28 Apr 2010 23:50
    BBC HD
  • Sat 23 Oct 2010 19:00
    BBC Four
  • Sat 17 Sep 2011 19:00
    BBC HD & BBC Four
  • Sun 18 Sep 2011 00:35
    BBC HD
  • Sun 18 Sep 2011 02:20
    BBC Four
  • Mon 8 Jul 2019 20:00
    BBC Four
  • Tue 9 Jul 2019 03:00
    BBC Four
  • Wed 3 Feb 2021 15:00
    BBC Two except Scotland
  • Wed 27 Sep 2023 19:00
    BBC Four
  • Thu 3 Oct 2024 19:00
    BBC Four
  • Fri 4 Oct 2024 01:25
    BBC Four