No one in nature has mastered the art of deception like mantises. These seemingly innocent creatures are among the most feared predators in the insect world. Find out how they live, how they breed and who their biggest enemies are... They're killers. They kill their prey with incredible precision. They fight kung-fu style and are considered a symbol of vigilance in Japan. Who are they? Mantises, of course. They have an unmistakable, uniquely bendable head in the shape of a triangle. Two large eyes unerringly measure their prey. The thoracic part of their body is greatly elongated and studded with sharp protrusions that can stab an unfortunate victim with the speed of a switchblade. Mantises have a reputation for being stealthy creatures, especially as they are rarely seen. They are perfectly adapted to their environment, whether moving among leaves, flowers, tree bark, sandy soil or even flowering orchids.
narration
No one in nature has mastered the art of deception like mantises. These seemingly innocent creatures are among the most feared predators in the insect world. Find out how they live, how they breed and who their biggest enemies are... They're killers. They kill their prey with incredible precision. They fight kung-fu style and are considered a symbol of vigilance in Japan. Who are they? Mantises, of course. They have an unmistakable, uniquely bendable head in the shape of a triangle. Two large eyes unerringly measure their prey. The thoracic part of their body is greatly elongated and studded with sharp protrusions that can stab an unfortunate victim with the speed of a switchblade. Mantises have a reputation for being stealthy creatures, especially as they are rarely seen. They are perfectly adapted to their environment, whether moving among leaves, flowers, tree bark, sandy soil or even flowering orchids.
2018-01-01
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This astounding documentary delves into the mysteries of the Tunguska event – one of the largest cosmic disasters in the history of civilisation. At 7.15 am, on 30th June 1908, a giant fireball, as bright the sun, exploded in the sky over Tunguska in central Siberia. Its force was equivalent to twenty million tonnes of TNT, and a thousand times greater than that of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. An estimated sixty million trees were felled over an area of over two thousand square kilometres - an area over half the size of Rhode Island. If the explosion had occurred over London or Paris, hundreds of thousands of people would have been killed.
0.0The vast savannah of the Serengeti. A large part of the genus Panthera lives here. Better known as the "actual big cat". They are among the largest cat species on earth. Among them is the lion, the true predator beneath the vast African sky. 'The King of Africa', male specimens of which weigh up to 270 kg, captured in breathtaking images that show the fascinating world of the big cats. Funny, tragic and spectacular recordings also document the fastest animal in the world, the cheetah, follow leopards on your trail and experience the first days of a black panther.
5.0Lost Worlds looks at untouched aspects of nature in parts of the world where humans rarely tread. From plants, to animals, to geology, this artfully photographed documentary presents facets of the biological world that you are not likely to see anywhere else.
7.3An exploration of technologically developing nations and the effect the transition to Western-style modernization has had on them.
7.0In this special documentary that inspired a two-season television series, scientists and other experts speculate about what the Earth, animal life, and plant life might be like if, suddenly, humanity no longer existed, as well as the effect humanity's disappearance might have on the artificial aspects of civilization.
6.3Ocean Oasis is a fascinating journey into the bountiful seas and pristine deserts of two remarkably different, but inextricably linked worlds — Mexico's Sea of Cortés and the Baja California desert.
7.4The largest predator on the planet, the sperm whale, is your host for an amazing exploration of the final frontier – the world at the bottom of the ocean. From the makers of the Walking With series comes this incredible marine tour, in which you'll witness a rarely seen world of hidden mountain ranges, majestic canyons, volcanoes and the beautiful and often deadly creatures that inhabit the deep sea.
0.0A poetic journey through the inner world of a grieving filmmaker who tries to find solace in talking to her ghost. Different stages of grief are visually linked to seasonal changes in nature. The filmmaker finds reflections of her mindscape in the surrounding scenery and wildlife.
Learn to become a true survivor in the wild as this amazing guide teaches invaluable skills against the Seven Enemies that threaten your life. This must-have program program includes life-saving tips, practical survival skills and other priceless information that can save your life out in the wild!
0.0Did Cartier dream of making a country from this land of a million birds? In his records of his exploration he certainly marvelled at seeing the great auks that have since disappeared from Isle aux Ouaiseaulx, the razor-bills and gannets that are gone from Blanc-Sablon, and the kittiwakes from Anticosti, all the winged creatures of all the islands which he described as being "as full of birds as a meadow is of grass". And that's not even counting the countless snow geese.
Hidden deep within the Pony Pasture Rapids Park of Richmond, Virginia there lives a creature whose ancestors span back a half a billion years. This short film explores the life history of an ancient species, Fairy Shrimp, that survive in harsh habitats here and around the world.
0.0In Southern Bahia, seven indigenous women invite to reflection, sharing their mythology, ancestry and paths to living well.
0.0Hand processed expired Kodak 7291, Camera: Beaulieu R16, Lens: Angenieux 12-120mm with +3 Diopter, Polarising filter for the clouds. Hand processed in C-41 chem using a Lomo UPB-1A tank. Still haven't mastered removal of the rem-jet anti-halation layer (thats all the white 'static' on the film). The film expired about 40 years ago.
0.0The true story of the birth, growth and coming of age of a leopard cub in Africa's Serengeti plain. The journey of "The Leopard Son" begins at his mother's side where he discovers, through play, essential skills for survival in the wild. As it is with humans, there inevitably comes the day when a child must leave his mother to go out on his own.
6.6Coral Reef Adventure follows the real-life expedition of ocean explorers and underwater filmmakers Howard and Michele Hall. Using large-format cameras, the Halls guide us to the islands and sun-drenched waters of the South Pacific to document the health and beauty of coral reefs. Featuring songs written and recorded by Crosby, Stills & Nash.
5.2The story of the evolution of tropical rain forests, their recent and rapid destruction, and the intense efforts of scientists to understand them even as they disappear. This film gives viewers a better appreciation of the importance of tropical rain forests on a global scale.
6.4A scientist explains how the savagery and efficiency of the insect world could result in their taking over the world.
10.0Every year, on the steppes of the Serengeti, the most spectacular migration of animals on our planet: Around two million wildebeest, Burchell's zebra and Thomson's gazelles begin their tour of nearly 2,000 miles across the almost treeless savannah. For the first time, a documentary captures stunning footage in the midst of this demanding journey. The documentary starts at the beginning of the year, when more than two million animals gather in the shadow of the volcanoes on the southern edge of the Serengeti in order to birth their offspring. In just two weeks, the animal herd's population has increased by one third, and after only two days, the calves can already run as fast as the adults The young wildebeest in this phase of their life are the most vulnerable to attacks by lions, cheetahs, leopards or hyenas. The film then follows the survivors of these attacks through the next three months on their incredible journey, a trip so long that 200,000 wildebeest will not reach the end.