7pm THIS WILD LIFE: Crocodile In Crisis - Nature/Documentary
Wildlife expert Saba Douglas-Hamilton, together with her husband Frank and their three young children, move to the romantic Samburu National Reserve in Kenya to run a safari camp for the first time. But life out there isn't easy. There are monkeys in the kitchen, floods threatening the camp and, with no fences to keep out the wildlife, elephants are regular house guests. This series follows their ups and downs as the family struggles to keep guests, elephants, lions and even crocodiles smiling.
IN THIS EPISODE: Saba is called away to rescue an injured crocodile and the camp team comes face to face with a bull elephant in a dramatic search for a young child lost in the bush. It's a nail-biting adventure for Saba and her warrior friends.
7:30pm WONDER OF ANIMALS: Bears - Nature/Documentary
Bears can live in practically every habitat on Earth, from tropical jungles to the Arctic Ocean. Wherever they are found, they are capable of surviving extreme conditions and extracting the highest-quality food.
Detailing the latest research, Chris Packham explores the specialized adaptations that have enabled bears to thrive, including how a polar bear's hollow fur allows it to feed throughout the grueling Arctic winter, whilst a state of 'walking hibernation' sees it through the summer months.
8pm NATURE: India's Wandering Lions - Nature/Documentary
As India’s population booms, her legendary wildlife has been squeezed almost out of existence. The commitment of the Indian people to preserve their wildlife is surprising – leading even to bringing back what has been lost. Against a backdrop of teak forest, farmland and villages, this film explores the extraordinary story of Asia’s last lions and their recovery from near extinction. From a mere 20 individuals a century ago, they now number over 400. But the lions have outgrown their sanctuary and spilled out into the surrounding countryside and villages. Yet here, a unique relationship has developed between lions and people, revealing a story not of continual conflict as we might expect, but one of survival and tolerance.
9pm MOUNTAIN GORILLA: Kingdom In The Clouds - Nature/Documentary
Patrick Stewart narrates a landmark three-part series on the world's last mountain gorillas. The largest gorilla family in the world is starting the perilous journey down to feed on the fresh shoots of bamboo. They run the risk of being caught in illegal snares and Cantsbee, the dominant silverback, will have his work cut out keeping them all safe, especially those closest to him. Meanwhile on the other side of the Rwandan volcanoes a young gorilla has been deserted by her mother. She turns to her silverback father for guidance and protection, but is he up to the job? In Uganda, Marembo the teenage silverback has come of age. He has lived 15 years under the watchful eye of dominant silverback Rukina but now feels it is time to make the break on his own.
