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Last broadcast on Sun, 25 Oct 2009, 23:40 on BBC One (Northern Ireland only) (see all broadcasts).
Synopsis
In nature, living long enough to breed is a monumental struggle. Many animals and plants go to extremes to give themselves a chance.
Uniquely, three brother cheetahs band together to bring down a huge ostrich. Aerial photography reveals how bottle-nosed dolphins trap fish in a ring of mud, and time-lapse cameras show how the Venus flytrap ensnares insect victims.
The strawberry frog carries a tadpole high into a tree and drops it in a water-filled bromeliad. The frog must climb back from the ground every day to feed it.
Fledgling chinstrap penguins undertake a heroic and tragic journey through the broken ice to get out to sea. Many can barely swim and the formidable leopard seal lies in wait.
Clips (8)
Cheetah
Cheetahs are the fastest animals on land, reaching speeds of almost 65mph. See them hunting springbok in the Kalahari desert.
Hippopotamus
Find out how hippos can shape the course of the Okavango river delta and watch them fighting to the death as the waters of the Nile recede.
Atlantic sailfish
Sailfish are energy super-efficient hunters. Watch them capitalise on the seasonal glut of bait fish.
Killer whale
Killer whales, or orcas, are the largest members of the dolphin family. Listen to the sounds made by a pod of these deadly marine predators.
Common bottlenose dolphin
Common bottlenose dolphins are intelligent and sociable animals. Watch how they have learnt an ingenious fishing trick in Western Australia.
North Pacific giant octopus
The arm span of the North Pacific octopus can reach up to 10m. These massive octopus make the ultimate sacrifice when tending their eggs.
Wildlife Finder: watch footage of the North Pacific giant octopus
Chapters
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Challanges of Life
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Hunting
The bottlenose dolphin, a pack of cheetah brothers and the chameleon all display their own individual ways of catching their prey.
2 00.19 -
Escaping the threat
Animals must come up with different ways to out-smart their bigger adversaries; including a particular fish that can simply fly away.
3 10.37 -
Food gathering
The capuchin monkey must have patience when gathering and preparing nuts and the Venus flytrap proves that plants aren't always the food.
4 17.08 -
Attracting a mate
A particular type of fly must use his stalk eyes, a hippo must fight the dominant male and the grebe must be a good dance partner, all in the name of reproduction.
5 23.31 -
Motherly love
The giant octopus and the Strawberry frog both demonstrate their utter devotion to their young, resulting in death for one of them.
6 33.01 -
Parenting techniques
Chinstrap penguin chicks are forced to find their own food with many dangers around them, including the leopard seal, whilst the orangutan mother will spend eight years with her young.
7 40.27 -
Life on location
A behind the scenes look at the making of Life, including the filming of Antartic killer whales, which have never been filmed before hunting off the Antartic penninsula.
8 47.56 -
End titles
9 57.59
Credits
- Narrator
- David Attenborough
- Executive Producer
- Michael Gunton
Broadcasts
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Mon 12 Oct 200921:00
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Mon 12 Oct 200921:00
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Mon 12 Oct 200922:35
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Tue 13 Oct 200920:00
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Sat 17 Oct 200917:30
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Sun 18 Oct 200922:55
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Fri 23 Oct 200901:00
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Sun 25 Oct 200923:40
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