Wild Animal Babies
Patrick Aryee gets close to new arrivals in the animal kingdom...
SUNDAY 31 May, 8pm Sky Nature
Factual All three episodes will be on Sky Box Sets and NOW TV from Sunday 31 May
Who can resist a baby meerkat or turtle hatchling? Biologist Patrick Aryee reveals how baby animals’ first months are the most challenging, starting with lone offspring, including elephants and wildebeests, whose parents make huge sacrifices.
Wild Animal Babies
Sunday, 8pm Sky Nature All three episodes will be available on Sky Box
SETS/NOW TV from Sunday 31 May
Being a parent can be tough, but imagine the extra stress of having to make a 50-mile round trip to fetch food, or having flocks of predatory birds hungrily eyeing up your newborn.
In this three-part series, biologist Patrick Aryee explores the challenges of looking after babies in the animal kingdom, and the ways that different species have adapted to improve their chances of survival.
‘Of course, the thing that draws us in is these cute, cuddly babies,’ Patrick tells us. ‘But behind all that, it’s a shout-out to the parents, so that’s what we’re looking at – not only the babies, but the parenting strategies of the adults.’
Episode one focuses on animals who raise one offspring at a time. While this might sound easier than keeping tabs on a full litter, it means having to guard the child from harm at all costs. ‘You’re investing a lot of time and energy into this individual,’ says Patrick. ‘They’re going to spend a lot more time teaching it about their environment.’
New experiences
Creatures in this episode range from sea otters and puffins to meerkats and elephants. Patrick also visits a kangaroo sanctuary in Alice Springs, Australia, run by Chris ‘Brolga’ Barns – also known as ‘Kangaroo Dundee’.
‘We were filming with a red kangaroo, and she was quite relaxed,’ explains Patrick. ‘So Brolga gently opened up her pouch so we could have a look in. When do you ever get to see a joey in the pouch?’