Video collections
Glacial retreat
Glaciers photographed by Ernest Shakleton's men are now in serious decline.
Glaciers photographed by Ernest Shakleton's men are now in serious decline.
Changing times
The transformation being seen at the poles will be felt far beyond this wilderness.
The transformation being seen at the poles will be felt far beyond this wilderness.
Polar bear darting
David Attenborough joins a team in Svalbard to give a polar bear a health check.
David Attenborough joins a team in Svalbard to give a polar bear a health check.
Risky strategy
Ringed seals are vulnerable to predators as they must stay close to breathing holes in the ice.
Ringed seals are vulnerable to predators as they must stay close to breathing holes in the ice.
Warmer waters
A warmer ocean may have a dramatic effect on the ice shelf.
A warmer ocean may have a dramatic effect on the ice shelf.
Polar fate
The fate of the poles will have a greater affect on the planet than any other aspect of global warming.
The fate of the poles will have a greater affect on the planet than any other aspect of global warming.
Polar bear trek
Forced to find food on barren land, a mother polar bear risks all.
When a mother polar bear finds the carcass of a bowhead whale it looks like she and her cubs might be in luck. But another family of polar bears has got there first and they don't feel like company. Will the mother stand her ground and feed her cubs, or try her luck elsewhere?
Too hot to handle
While Adelie penguins are in decline, gentoo penguins are moving in.
While Adelie penguins are in decline, gentoo penguins are moving in.
Scott's journey
The Antarctic plateau is the coldest and windiest place on Earth.
The Antarctic plateau is the coldest and windiest place on Earth.
Scott's hut
Herbert Ponting's photographs help capture the spirit from the age of polar exploration.
Herbert Ponting's photographs help capture the spirit from the age of polar exploration.
Magical lights
Scientists' study the auroras to protect the Earth from their effects.
Scientists' study the auroras to protect the Earth from their effects.
Finger of death
Winter reaches down into the depths as an icy brinicle is formed.
Winter reaches down into the depths as an icy brinicle is formed.
Penguins can fly
Female emperor penguins returning from a summer at sea are sleek and fat.
Female emperor penguins returning from a summer at sea are sleek and fat.
Small but tough
In the Arctic summer, meltwater from glaciers provides enough water for plants to grow.
In the Arctic summer, meltwater from glaciers provides enough water for plants to grow.
Frozen Planet - a world beyond imagination
Years in the making and narrated by David Attenborough this brand new series reveals a world as alien to most of us as the surface of the moon. These are places of breathtaking beauty and survival against all the odds, lonely lands that feed our imagination and whose wonders we may be witnessing for the last time. (The music featured in this clip is Heart of Courage by Nick Phoenix and Thomas Bergersen)
Years in the making and narrated by David Attenborough this brand new series reveals a world as alien to most of us as the surface of the moon. These are places of breathtaking beauty and survival against all the odds, lonely lands that feed our imagination and whose wonders we may be witnessing for the last time. (The music featured in this clip is Heart of Courage by Nick Phoenix and Thomas Bergersen)
Beluga body scrub
Large numbers of beluga whales gather in the shallows for an exfoliation treatment.
Large numbers of beluga whales gather in the shallows for an exfoliation treatment.
Sea canaries
In the Canadian Arctic beluga whales have a sing-song when the ice recedes.
In the Canadian Arctic beluga whales have a sing-song when the ice recedes.
Winters approach
Everything begins to freeze as autumn turns to winter.
Everything begins to freeze as autumn turns to winter.
Penguin spa
A mud bath brings a little light relief to the hot penguin chicks.
A mud bath brings a little light relief to the hot penguin chicks.
Stunning shapes
The last remnants of the ice world are carved into magical shapes by the suns warmth.
The last remnants of the ice world are carved into magical shapes by the suns warmth.
Stunning snowflakes
Two identical snowflakes have never been found.
Two identical snowflakes have never been found.
Wolves get lucky
A young bison is dealt a fatal blow.
A young bison is dealt a fatal blow.
Mammal success
The secret to mammalian dominance lies in their warm-bloodedness.
The secret to mammalian dominance lies in their warm-bloodedness.
Arctic to Antarctic
Arctic terns migrate 12,000 miles to fish where the sun doesn't set.
David Attenborough visits an Arctic tern colony in Spitzbergen. Parent birds can fish 24 hours a day because of the midnight sun in the Arctic summer. The terns migrate 12,000 miles from the Arctic to Antarctic and thus experience two summers a year. They return to exactly the same nest sites every year.
Lucky pups
There is a big difference between placental and marsupial mammals.
There is a big difference between placental and marsupial mammals.
Egg warmer
In frozen Alaska, snowy owls transfer heat to their eggs via a brood patch.
In frozen Alaska, snowy owls transfer heat to their eggs via a brood patch.
Sexy armpits
Male buff-breasted sandpipers show their armpits to try impress the females.
Male buff-breasted sandpipers show their armpits to try impress the females.
Arctic plants
Plants struggle to survive in the freezing polar regions.
Plants struggle to survive in the freezing polar regions.
Formation of an iceberg
An iceberg is born that dwarfs the largest of our buildings.
An iceberg is born that dwarfs the largest of our buildings.
Fair shares
A deer carcass will feed a lynx family, eagle owl and wolverine.
A deer carcass will feed a lynx family, eagle owl and wolverine.
Hungry owl
A great grey owl's long and feathered legs help it hunt in the snow.
A great grey owl's long and feathered legs help it hunt in the snow.
Penguin wrappers
Penguins evolved in the tropics, but most have adapted to cold climates.
Penguins evolved in the tropics, but most have adapted to cold climates.
Moss menagerie
A minute colony survives the freezing cold of the South Orkney Islands.
A minute colony survives the freezing cold of the South Orkney Islands.
Bleak continent
Antarctica can be drier than the Sahara yet algae still survives.
Antarctica can be drier than the Sahara yet algae still survives.
Swimming polar bears
As the polar ice melts, polar bears are forced into the water to get to land.
As the polar ice melts, polar bears are forced into the water to get to land.
Small comfort
Harp seal pups brave the harsh Arctic after just four days of mother's milk.
Harp seal pups brave the harsh Arctic after just four days of mother's milk.
Wave washing
The world's most sophisticated method of hunting.
The world's most sophisticated method of hunting.
Criminal penguins
Some penguins turn to a life of crime to build the perfect nest.
Some penguins turn to a life of crime to build the perfect nest.
Polar seasons
A year in the life of the polar regions.
A year in the life of the polar regions.
Extreme growth
Lichens and algae add colour to the harsh Antarctic environment.
Lichens and algae add colour to the harsh Antarctic environment.
Frozen life
David Attenborough visits the coldest place in the world.
David Attenborough visits the coldest place in the world.
Weighty wanderers
The world's largest seabird chicks.
The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any living bird, and what better way to show off these outsize albatross chicks, than to have Sir David sit next to one? Fortunately the chick was well behaved - they are known to use projectile vomit as a way to ward off unwanted visitors!
Bull beachmasters
Bull elephants fight for control of their harems.
Voted as one of the favourite David Attenborough moments, this clip shows exactly how big a bull elephant seal is, by the simple method of having Sir David stand next to one as he delivers his narration - and then to rapidly retreat as it decides it's not too keen on him!
Alone in a crowd
A king penguin knows its chick's voice among the masses.
A king penguin knows its chick's voice among the masses.
Southern exposure
Antarctica's snow petrels breed farther south than any other bird.
Antarctica's snow petrels breed farther south than any other bird.
December gathering
More than a million Atlantic fur seals head to South Georgia to breed.
More than a million Atlantic fur seals head to South Georgia to breed.
High waters
Macaroni penguins brave raging seas to bring food to their chicks.
Macaroni penguins brave raging seas to bring food to their chicks.
Weddell's world
Weddell seals weather the harsh Antarctic conditions.
This clip represent the Natural History Unit's expertise and willingness to get to and film extreme and inaccessible places. Not only did they go to Antractica at a time when all other wildlife is heading north to warmer climes, they then sent cameramen underwater to get beautiful shots of seals under the ice cap.
Barren ice
The Antarctic Plateau is the most desolate place in the world.
The Antarctic Plateau is the most desolate place in the world.
Splendid isolation
Antarctica remains a remote and lonely yet spectacular place.
Antarctica remains a remote and lonely yet spectacular place.
Boreal forest aerials
New perspectives on the biggest forest on the planet, from the air.
A variety of aerial equipment is used in this sequence: satellite images show the global scale of the boreal forests; the HD heligimbal long lens system, operating from high above so as not to blow the snow off the trees, zooms in for a flyover; finally, the Cinebulle filming balloon drifting barely above tree level completes an intimate picture of this vast and silent landscape.
Southern lights
Timelapse of one of the world's most beautiful phenomena.
Getting the long exposure timelapse of the Aurora was extremely challenging. With the really spectacular displays occurring only on a few days, cameraman Wade Fairley experimented extensively on night scenes first to work out timing and exposure. As he shot on 500 ASA film, there was no way of reviewing the footage to check if the dancing effect had been captured.
Arctic melt
Extreme seasonal change in the world's greatest wilderness.
With the melting sea ice becoming unreliable and impossible to walk on, the sequence had to be filmed largely from the air. The heligimbal camera system allowed for stabilised tracking shots over the fragmenting sea ice and the glacial waterfalls. Shooting from so high above prevents the polar bear's normal behaviour from being disturbed. Time-lapse illustrates the constant flux of the ice as it breaks up.
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