David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities

Hybrids can be bizarre, and they can be deadly. In this engrossing natural history documentary, David Attenborough looks at two hybrid animals that owe their existence to humans. The pizzly bear (a cross between a polar and grizzly bear) has come into being because of global warming, and the killer bee was brought into existence because of the transfer of African bees to South America.

Some animals have an extraordinary ability to find their way. As David Attenborough learns in this fascinating natural history documentary, the dung beetle, revered by ancient Egyptians, uses the sun, the moon and even the Milky Way to move a ball of dung in the right direction. Pigeons are often considered feeble birdbrains, but they have incredible memories that can recall complex travel routes.

The giant panda gives birth to the smallest baby of any mammal and must care for it for many months. The kiwi lays one of the largest eggs in the bird world, which produces a very well-developed chick. In this curious nature documentary, David Attenborough asks why pandas don’t give birth to more robust young and why do kiwis produce a single egg that is almost too big to lay?

Can animals count? It’s a question that has intrigued scientists for a long time, as David Attenborough learns in this engaging nature documentary. Just over a hundred years ago, a German horse called Hans was declared a mathematical genius, but all was not as it seemed. And strangely, some bamboos around the world flower at the same time no matter where they are. Could they be counting the years?

The shells of birds and tortoises have proved to be evolutionary winners. In this intriguing natural history documentary, David Attenborough discovers that the ostrich egg is so strong it's possible for a person to stand on it without breaking. So, how does the chick break out of this fortress? The tortoise shell was a mystery until it was revealed that it offers a lot more than just protection.

Siamese Fighting Fish are so aggressive they will fight its own reflection until it is exhausted. And as David Attenborough finds in this compelling nature documentary, research shows the fighting behavior depends on the personality of the fish. Male kangaroos are solid blocks of muscle with a kick that can kill. Why do these animals fight and what skills must a winner have?