Biology, Environment

Of all the big cats, the lion is one of the most terrifying -- but there's one man who isn't scared at all. He's Kevin Richardson, and he's dedicated his career to understanding, conserving and living alongside these majestic beasts. Join Kevin in My Lion Family as he shows you the mighty lion in a fascinating new light. (www.youtube.com)

Explore an illustrated timeline of events in geologic history—divided by geologic eras and periods—detailing the geology, transformations, and extinctions within each timeframe. (www.pbs.org)

Successful lions need to be brutal and use any means to quash would-be kings. These are not random acts of violence, but vital behaviour to secure their own genetic future. (www.youtube.com)

For Centuries. wolves have been characterized as bloodthirsty beasts and the bane of helpless livestock. determined to overcome this misconception, filmakers Jamie and Jim Dutcher-creators of the Emmy Award Winning Wolves at Our Door, spean six years in a tented camp in the wilderness of Idaho-living with a pack of wolves! (www.youtube.com)

Around the globe, unique and fascinating species face extinction from hunting and habitat destruction, which affects vulnerable animals in every kind of environment. Biologists, conservationists, wildlife preservation centers and zoological parks work to breed and shelter rare and critically endangered animals when and where they can, but many species are down to the last few individuals and face an increasingly uncertain future. For some, however, the future is all too clear. Lonesome George, a Pinta Island tortoise from the Galapagos Islands, is the very last of his kind.

In the animal kingdom, there's no shortage of bizarre behaviour. This episode burrows high and low ground to unearth some of the creepiest creatures who crawl on this planet! They range from those that fend off prey by squirting blood from their eyeballs, to others who eat their partner's right after mating, to others who raise their offspring in the carcasses of dead animals. And that's just a sampling of over 20 species whose antics you can hardly believe...or turn away from. (www.youtube.com)

Dive deep into the realm of creepy aquatic creatures to uncover the world's most bizarre water-dwelling tenants. Among them, a fish with a transparent head shows off everything it's got. Hermaphrodite flatworms battle to determine which among them will be male or female. A master-of-disguise octopus camouflages itself as a rock, a plant and even as a snake, to capture prey or elude pursuit. A lizard literally walks on water, while a fish "walks" on dry land to find a mate, and that's just for starters. (www.youtube.com)

National Geographic: Naked Science - Killer Lakes: Since the death of 1,700 people near Lake Nyos in Africa, scientists have uncovered a terrifying series of hazards in lakes across the world. (www.youtube.com)

Broadcast (2010) "Dogs Decoded" reveals the science behind the remarkable bond between humans and their dogs and investigates new discoveries in genetics that are illuminating the origin of dogs—with surprising implications for the evolution of human culture. Other research is proving what dog lovers have suspected all along: Dogs have an uncanny ability to read and respond to human emotions. Humans, in turn, respond to dogs with the same hormone responsible for bonding mothers to their babies. How did this incredible relationship between humans and dogs come to be?

Broadcast (2008) At a research site in Fongoli, Senegal, a female chimpanzee breaks off a branch, chews the end to make it sharp, then uses this rudimentary spear to skewer a tasty bushbaby hiding inside a hollow tree. The footage represents an astonishing breakthrough for primate researchers: It's the first time anyone has documented a chimpanzee wielding a carefully prepared, preplanned weapon. (www.youtube.com)