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Animal Documentaries (Movies)

Animals cute and cuddly, big and scaly, smart and stealthy, and everything in between make up this list of animal documentaries.

The cheetah children

Follows a cheetah family as the mother is rearing her offspring, protecting her cubs and teaching them to survive

The last rhino

Sudan is the very last male Northern White Rhino. His amazing story is told through the global cast of people involved in Sudan's life of 43 years. He was aged two when snatched from his mom's side in Central Africa and became a prized exhibit in a zoo behind the Iron Curtain while the rest of his kind was poached to extinction. Now Sudan is the focus of an eleventh hour battle to save his sub-species

Nature. Hotel armadillo

Meet all the amazing guests in Brazil's underground wildlife hotel

Fox tales

The resilient red foxes are able to change their behavior to successfully make a home in new environments at a rate that astounds even the scientists who have spent a lifetime studying them. Fox Tales reveals new research into everything from their first hours of life to their first steps into unchartered territory, to offer a visually rich and fascinating look into the secret life of red foxes

Natural born rebels

Thieving macaques using psychology to pull off scams. Delinquent cockatoos vandalizing urban residences. Swaggering peacocks lying about their sexual exploits. These are nature's greatest rebels, succeeding by breaking all the rules. Despite how it appears on the surface, researchers are discovering the complex and fascinating science behind why these animals behave the way they do

Nature's miniature miracles

Viewers will see the epic survival stories of the world's smallest animals

Kangaroo : a love-hate story

The untold love-hate story of Australia's most famous and contentious national icon is set in distinctive Australian landscapes. The film explores the complex and conflicting opinions around this unique marsupial that is at the target of the largest mass destruction of wildlife in the world

World's fastest animal

See the world through the eyes of nature's fastest animal: the peregrine falcon. Though once endangered in the US, this spectacular predator is now thriving again in American cities and on every continent but Antarctica. Join expert Lloyd Buck as he trains a captive peregrine and puts its hunting skills to the test. What's the secret behind the peregrine falcon's blistering speed?

Animals with cameras . Season 1

This Nature miniseries showcases animals as the cinematographers. Wild animals were outfitted with specially designed cameras that allowed extraordinary access to their environments and lives

Bird brain

Challenges preconceptions about the intelligence of birds. Presents evidence of problem solving skills in varieties of crows, ravens, and parrots, as well capabilities such as postponement of reward, empathy, and the ability to read facial expressions

H is for hawk : a new chapter

Helen Macdonald's bestseller H Is for Hawk told the story of a grieving daughter who found healing in training a goshawk. The goshawk is one of Mother Nature's own fighter jets, capable of finding and killing its prey with the speed of a lightning bolt. Now Macdonald digs deeper into the world of these raptors by following a family in the wild while raising and training a new goshawk of her own

Naledi : one little elephant

The incredible story of a baby elephant who was born into a rescue camp in the wilderness of Botswana. When she is suddenly orphaned at one-month-old, it is up to the keepers who look after the herd to keep her alive. This one elephant's tale remains both intimate and epic, a journey of tragedy and triumph, because when her entire species faces extinction, one life means everything

Animal misfits : odd, bizarre and unlikely creatures

Alongside the fastest, strongest, smartest animals are nature's misfits, odd, bizarre and unlikely creatures that seem ill-equipped for survival. Somehow they manage to cling to life and in some cases even thrive. Revealing some surprising details about how evolution really works, demonstrating that all animals are remarkably well-adapted to their chosen way of life

Hippos : Africa's river giants

"The hippopotamus has long been an enigma: an aquatic mammal that cannot swim, a vegetarian that is also the most dangerous animal in Africa. All hippos are utterly dependent on water, but in Botswana, hippos face an unparalleled challenge as deep floodwaters dry to dust in a matter of months. The documentary goes beneath the surface to show how hippos protect their families and face their enemies, revealing an animal that is highly sensitive and surprisingly intelligent." --container

Prairie dog manor

Take an in-depth look at the unique behaviors and relationships of the prairie dogs that inhabit the Valles Caldera National Preserve in northern New Mexico. Through a blend of documentary footage and narration, each episode takes the audience on a first-person journey following a select few of the prairie dogs

The wonderful world of puppies and kittens

The magical series reveals what it's like to be a puppy or kitten during the most important, experimental year of their lives. Witness the world through their eyes and discover that beneath their cute visage lies a world of drama, love, learning, and courage

Eagle power

Eagles dominate the skies. But what makes these predators so special? Researchers put one eagle to the test, and stunning up-close footage reveals her incredible strength, eyesight, and flying skills

Cat and dog tales

Cat tales: "They may have stolen many hearts--and the internet--but cats can be perplexing pets. As much cuddly and playful as they are aloof and uncaring, they've often raised the question: Did humans ever really domesticate felines? And what more can science tell us about a relationship that predates history?" --container

Animal babies : first year on Earth

The first year of life is the toughest. Four cinematographers follow six iconic baby animals as they face the challenges of surviving their first year on Earth. For these animal babies, it is the story of what it takes to survive in the wild

Nature's biggest beasts

Being big can have its advantages, but it also comes with sizeable challenges. Take the world's largest lizard, the Komodo dragon, whose huge appetite means it must take on prey ten times its weight, or the tallest of them all, the giraffe, who with such a long neck must control immense blood pressure. Nature's biggest beasts must go to extraordinary lengths to thrive. For them, size does matter

Equus : story of the horse

From the moment humans mounted horses 6,000 years ago, these magnificent animals helped shape the world by allowing mankind to explore, conquer, and flourish on horseback. Join anthropologist Niobe Thompson on a global journey to examine the evolution of horsepower, discover the mysterious origins of the incredible partnership, and witness the enduring love of 400 breeds of horses today

Nature. Dogs in the land of lions

Follow the unforgettable journey of an African wild dog family, filmed over two years in Zimbabwe. When lions kill her mate, a wild dog mom suddenly must raise two generations of pups all on her own without the help of a pack. Witness their rarely seen behavior, from tender moments with newborn pups, to the thrills of hunting wildebeest, to close encounters with their greatest enemy - the lion

Super cats

Not only are cats the world's top predators, but they are emotional and intelligent as well as social and devoted parents. Featuring 31 species of cats spread over 14 countries, this miniseries introduces behaviors captured on film for the first time, using the latest camera technology and scientific research

Charlie and the curious otters

Otters are playful, adaptable and champion swimmers - they have captivated cameraman Charlie Hamilton James for the last 25 years. He has filmed them more than anyone else. Now, through the eyes of three orphaned river otters, a set of groundbreaking experiments and some incredible wild encounters, Charlie wants to reveal their survival secrets and exactly why he believes they are so special

Scavenger hunt : an unlikely union

Follows condor biologists in remote Northern Arizona as they uncover the reason behind the decline of North America's largest flying land bird. The issue of lead poisoning from spent ammunition is analyzed from the perspective of the conservationist hunter. It is revealed that lead bullet fragmentation is an important issue for all species of scavengers, and for humans as well

March of the penguins

In the Antarctic, every March since the beginning of time, the quest begins to find the perfect mate and start a family. This courtship will begin with a long journey - a journey that will take them hundreds of miles across the continent by foot, one by one in a single file. They will endure freezing temperatures, in brittle, icy winds and through deep, treacherous waters. They will risk starvation and attack by dangerous predators, under the harshest conditions on earth, all to find true love

Wolves

Follow one of the most tenacious species and humans' closest predator across remote landscapes and catch a glimpse of a way of life known only to a handful of scientists

The trouble with wolves

Looks at the controversial reintroduction of the gray wolf in Yellowstone and the surrounding states

Extreme animal weapons : Nature's arms race

From lobster claws and dog teeth to bee stings and snake fangs, every creature depends on a weapon. Showcasing astonishing wildlife cinematography, Extreme Animal Weapons investigates the riddle of outsize weaponry, uncovers a bold new theory about what triggers an animal arms race, and explores the secrets that underlie nature's battleground

Dolphins : spy in the pod

Dolphins are one of the most social and playful animals on the planet. They develop strong family and group relationships and often work work with other species to find a meal, while having plenty of fun along the way. This series explores the unexpected and often never-seen-before aspects of dolphin behavior using specially designed cameras and the latest technology

Octopus : making contact

What happens when a professor invites an octopus to live in his home? NATURE follows Dr. David Scheel as he links behavioral discoveries to amazing octopus stories around the world, from the Day octopus that can change color and texture, to the Coconut octopus who carries around its coconut shell to hide. But most fascinating is Scheel's and his daughter's evolving relationship with ₁Heidi.₂

Primates

Primates have been called the highest order of animal with big brains, adaptability, tool-usage, social structures, and personalities. Learn more about familiar species and discover new ones, such as the newly-found bald uakari and Tapanuli orangutan, as well as the scientists who work with them

Nature. A squirrel's guide to success

There are almost 300 species of squirrels that can glide through the air, outwit rattlesnakes, and survive the coldest temperatures of any mammal. Uncover the extraordinary abilities of these cheeky nut lovers as a filmmaker puts their problem solving to the test on a specially designed obstacle course. And see the world through the eyes of an orphan red squirrel called Billy

Nature. Forest of the lynx

Travel deep into the remote forests of the Kalkalpen National Park in Austria

Nature. Wolverine, chasing the phantom

Takes viewers into the secretive world of the largest and least known member of the weasel family to reveal who this dynamic little devil truly is. Hard-wired to endure an environment of scarcity, the wolverine is one of the most efficient and resourceful carnivores on Earth

Bears

Among the biggest land mammals on the planet, bears need a lot of resources to survive and must use all of their skills, brawn, and brains to get what they need, whether they're foraging for honeycombs or tasty plants, standing up to their rivals, or raising cubs. Follow the adventures of bears across the globe as they draw on their remarkable adaptations to survive in an ever-changing world. Find out what it really takes to be a bear

The mighty weasel

In Yorkshire, a unique English garden rigged with over 50 cameras gives a rare insight into the dramatic life of a mother weasel as she tries to raise her first family. Also, new science uncovers the problem-solving abilities of the honey badger, the secrets behind the ferret₂s legendary flexibility, and the wolverine₂s remarkable sense of smell

The whale detective

A filmmaker investigates his traumatic encounter with a 30-ton humpback whale that breached and almost landed on him while he was kayaking. What he discovers raises far bigger questions about humans' relationship with whales and their future

Remarkable rabbits

There are more than 100 domestic and wild kinds of rabbits and hares, from Flemish giants to snowshoe hares. Learn how hares are more than just a rabbit of longer ears and legs, how rabbits have managed to survive in ever-changing landscapes and how they turn the tables on their predators. Join scientists in the field as they work tirelessly to save rabbit species from the brink of extinction

Pandas : born to be wild

The giant panda may be one of the most recognizable endangered species on the planet, but the daily lives of wild pandas remain a mystery, until now. Over three years, two Chinese filmmakers trek through the steep forested trails of the Qinling Mountains to catch never-before-seen wild panda behavior. The film crew also follows a young panda born in captivity training to be a panda in the wild

The world's most wanted animal

Found in Africa and Asia, pangolins are the most poached and trafficked animal in the world. Based in Namibia, conservationist Maria Diekmann is working to save them. On an emotional journey, Maria travels to Asia to better understand the global issues facing pangolins, before joining forces with a Chinese megastar to bring awareness to the plight of a scaly mammal most people have never heard of

The story of cats

Cats are among the most feared and revered creatures on the planet. Their power, strength, and enigmatic nature have fascinated us for centuries. They are one of the most studied mammals in the world yet only now is their real identity being understood--from their incredible hunting abilities, to their unique physiology and remarkable behaviors. With nearly 40 different species, thriving in almost any environment, the cat is one of the most successful predators since the dinosaurs

Recipient of the National Medal, the nation's highest honor for libraries.