Showing posts with label Extinction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Extinction. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

* Lonesome George and the Battle for Galapagos (2007)

Documentary about Lonesome George, officially the loneliest animal on the planet until his death in June 2012. He was the last remaining Pinta Island giant tortoise in existence and now his race is extinct. He was an icon of his native Galapagos Islands and symbol of the battle to preserve their unique wildlife. The islands are at a critical point in their history - threatened by illegal fishing, the demands of a booming population and an ever-expanding tourism industry - yet the will within the islanders to protect Galapagos is strong. This is both the personal story of Lonesome George and of the local characters intent on turning around the fortunes of their unique tropical paradise.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

* Death Of The Megabeasts (2009)

A team of scientific detectives from around the world attempt to crack one of sciences most enduring mysteries - what killed the megafauna? Long after the extinction of the dinosaurs, extraordinary species of giant beasts roamed the earth, ruling the animal kingdom for hundreds of thousands of years. But suddenly, they vanished. Something happened which wiped them off the face of the planet forever. Recent discoveries could now help solve that mystery and offer insight into environmental problems today which threaten the world - and mankind.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

* Wild Burma: Nature's Lost Kingdom (2013)

For the first time in over 50 years, a team of wildlife filmmakers from the BBC's Natural History Unit and scientists from the world renowned Smithsonian Institution has been granted access to venture deep into Burma's impenetrable jungles. Their mission is to discover whether these forests are home to iconic animals, rapidly disappearing from the rest of the world - this expedition has come not a moment too soon.

Part 1:
On the first leg of their journey, wildlife filmmakers Gordon Buchanan and Justine Evans set out to discover whether the mountains of western Burma are home to a population of Asian elephants that could prove critical to the survival of the species. Finding elephants in a dense bamboo forest is a challenge. Notoriously grumpy, Asian elephants are likely to charge if caught unaware. It is a race against time as the world eyes up Burma's natural riches - what the team finds could change the future of Burma's wilds forever.

Part 2:
On the second leg of their journey, wildlife filmmakers Gordon Buchanan and Justine Evans, along with a team of scientists, head deep into the mountains of western Burma. This is where they hope to find the shy sun bear and two of the world's rarest and most beautiful cats: the Asian golden cat and the clouded leopard. Meanwhile, zoologist Ross Piper and the science team are on a mission to create a wildlife survey to present to the government of Burma to persuade them that these forests are so unique they must be protected. High on the forest ridges, Gordon finds evidence to suggest that Burma's wildlife might be in danger. Undercover filming in a border town known as the 'Las Vegas of the jungle' leads to a shocking discovery.

Part 3:
For the last leg of their journey, the team search for the most iconic animal of them all, the tiger. To find it, they must split up. Wildlife camerawoman Justine Evans and the science team head to the tangled jungles of northern Burma, one of the largest swathes of unbroken forest in Southeast Asia. Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan heads to the only other place in Burma where tigers may still exist, the far south. The forests of Karen State were once home to a thriving population of tigers, but this region has been isolated by war for over 60 years and little is known about the fate of the animals. The team must overcome intense physical hardship and tough field conditions to find the evidence they need to help preserve this unique and largely untouched wilderness. What they discover could change the future of Burma's forests forever.

* Crocpocalypse (2014)

Much like the saltwater crocodile in Australia, the American crocodile population in Florida is making a comeback. In 1975, the American crocodile and the saltwater crocodile were placed on the endangered species list in Florida due to overhunting and habitat destruction. The American crocodile population in Florida was down to around 200 and in the 30 years since then has grown to over 2,000. Biologists Mark Parry and Joe Wasilewski have been working tirelessly to help the populations in Florida rebound from near extinction. Paleontologist Greg Erickson joins Mark Parry as he explains how he’s helped this species repopulate in Everglades National Park and Joe Wasilewski shows us how an unlikely source of habitat has been a savior for these crocodiles.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

* Extinctions (2010)

In the not so distant future, various animals including the cheetah, the Asian elephant, the jaguar, the polar bear and the tiger are destined to disappear from the face of the Earth in what scientists call “The Sixth Extinction.” The question is what succession of circumstances or tragedies could possibly wipe them out? The list is long and terrifying. This series allows us to witness the destinies of these animals through their eyes, and raises awareness with regard to what is still doable to prevent the mass extinction process threatening our planet.”

Six Parts.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

* Extinctions (2010)

In the not so distant future, various animals including the cheetah, the Asian elephant, the jaguar, the polar bear and the tiger are destined to disappear from the face of the Earth in what scientists call “The Sixth Extinction.” The question is what succession of circumstances or tragedies could possibly wipe them out? The list is long and terrifying.

This series allows us to witness the destinies of these animals through their eyes, and raises awareness with regard to what is still doable to prevent the mass extinction process threatening our planet.”

* Mission Critical: Amphibian Rescue (2010)

The deadly chytrid fungus is ravaging amphibian populations worldwide, leaving behind a destructive path of incurable disease. Frog species that have survived on our planet for more than 200 million years are facing mass extinction at an alarming rate. But an ambitious new plan involving a modern day Noah's Ark, and Smithsonian biologist Brian Gratwicke, just might be a last hope for these species. Venture deep into the Panamanian jungle as scientists search for these endangered frogs and fight to bring them back from the brink of extinction.

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

* Facing Extinction (2013)

Terry Pratchett has one last adventure he wants to go on. Eighteen years ago Terry had a life-changing experience in the jungles of Borneo, where he encountered orangutans in the wild for the first time. Now he is going back to find out what the future holds for these endangered species, and discover a new threat to their habitat that could push them to the brink of extinction. His Alzheimer's will make the trip an incredible challenge both physically and mentally, as he contemplates the role of mankind in the eradication of the planet's species, and considers his own inevitable extinction. Terry is accompanied by his friend and assistant Rob Wilkins, as they investigate an Indonesian street market where endangered species are reportedly on sale, meet the world expert on orangutans, Dr Birute Galdikas, and journey into the rainforest in search of the former king of the orangutans, Kusasi.

* Attenborough's Ark (2012)

David Attenborough chooses his ten favourite animals that he would most like to save from extinction. From the weird to the wonderful, he picks fabulous and unusual creatures that he would like to put in his 'ark', including unexpected and little-known animals such as the olm, the solenodon and the quoll. He shows why they are so important and shares the ingenious work of biologists across the world who are helping to keep them alive.