Including Wild Animal Babies and Two Sisters, One Body
PATRICK ARYEE explores the challenges of growing up in the animal kingdom
NEW
WILDLIFE
Wild Animal Babies
Sunday, Sky Nature HD, 8pm
TWO YEARS AGO, biologist Patrick Aryee went in search of the biggest creatures ever to walk the Earth for Sky One’s Big Beasts: Lands of the Giants. For his new threepart series, he has chosen subjects that are rather smaller. In Wild Animal Babies, he travels around the world to find out how different species go about raising their offspring and examines the ways in which they have adapted to improve their chances of survival.
‘Of course, the thing that draws us in is these cute, cuddly babies,’ says Aryee, who starts by looking at animals that raise one offspring at a time. ‘But behind all that, it’s a shout-out to the parents, so that’s what we’re looking at – not only the babies themselves, but the different parenting strategies of the adults.’
Here, he tells us how some of the devoted animal parents he filmed tackle the tough job of bringing up their young in the wild, and some of the dangers their offspring face…
Meerkats
‘Once old enough, meerkat pups go foraging with the group. The pup that shouts loudest gets the most food, because their cries release the stress hormone in adults, encouraging them to feed the youngster.’
Sea turtles
‘Olive ridley sea turtles have the strategy of hatching at the same time, to help as many to survive as possible. The predatory vultures eat their fill, and the rest of the turtles can make it to the sea.’
Sea otters
‘THE MOTHER CAN CARRY THE YOUNG OTTER ON HER BELLY, BUT SHE NEEDS IT TO STAY BUOYANT WHILE SHE DIVES TO HUNT FOR FOOD. SO SHE FLUFFS THE PUP’S FUR TO GET AIR INTO IT, AND THAT HELPS IT TO FLOAT.’
Elephants
‘IT SOUNDS LUDICROUS, BUT ELEPHANT CALVES HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO USE THEIR TRUNKS. THEIR MOTHERS ALSO SPEND A LONG TIME TEACHING THEM WHERE
THE FRUITING TREES ARE, AND WHERE WATER CAN BE FOUND.’
Kangaroos
‘The female kangaroo has adapted to be able to look after more than one offspring. She could have a joey out of the pouch, one inside suckling, and already be pregnant with another one.’
Bears
‘The fact that young bears can climb trees so well is their saving grace. If they detect danger, they climb as high as they can until Mum comes back. The strategy helps them survive in the wild.’
Puffins
‘BLACK-BACKED GULLS WILL EAT PUFFIN CHICKS, SO THE PUFFLINGS HAVE TO REMAIN SUPER-QUIET
AND FLEDGE UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS, WHEN THE GULLS AREN’T ACTIVE AND THEY CAN MAKE IT SAFELY OUT TO SEA.’