Meet the wildlife living closer than you think. Click the hotspots, watch the clips, and read the fact files for nine amazing animals. For students ages 8–14
Which woodland animals scamper through the trees, forage for food, or quietly explore the undergrowth? From quick-footed foxes to busy squirrels, woodlands are home to an amazing variety of wildlife, each with its own way of life.
Meet the animals that share our woodlands and neighborhoods, from hedgehogs and badgers to deer, ducks, and raccoons. Explore their habitats, discover what they eat and how they raise their young, and uncover the remarkable adaptations that help them survive. You’ll also learn how these animals interact with their surroundings and why protecting their habitats matters.
The elephant’s distant ancestors emerged during a major turning point in animal evolution, when cells began specializing and working together to create more complex bodies. This clip from BBC’s Evolution episode "The Elephant" explores how specialization allowed cells to take on different roles, paving the way for tissues, organs, and an explosion of new body shapes — including the tiny ancient ancestor that would eventually give rise to elephants.
The video then examines another evolutionary breakthrough: the development of gills. As early animals adapted structures originally used for feeding to absorb more oxygen, they gained more energy from food and could grow larger and more complex. This innovation helped fuel the evolution of the diverse body forms found in animals today.
In The Unique Plants and Animals of Cloud Forests, meet the rare Andean bear, climbing to the top of the canopy to reach food. While he struggles at first, because the only fruit is on the thinnest branches, a more experienced bear arrives to teach him how to reach it. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In All About Australian Animals, narrator Sir David Attenborough reveals how the animals living on Australia as it broke away from Gondwanaland have evolved in isolation from the rest of the world. Red flying foxes are newer residents who flew along the chain of volcanic islands linking Asia and Australia. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Young Animals of the Antarctic and the Arctic, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows the journey of young animals growing up in two of the harshest environments on Earth — the Antarctic and the Arctic. Penguin chicks rely on their parents for food and protection as they grow, but not all survive. By early summer, the surviving chicks are strong and independent. In the Arctic, two polar bear cubs, now independent, briefly reunite before setting off on their own into the icy wilderness. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Animals of the Silent and Snowy Taiga, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows a lynx as it travels hundreds of miles in search of prey, while a moose munches on conifer needles. See how animals survive in this harsh and beautiful climate. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Sneak a Peek at the Miniature Animals of the South American Forests, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how the world’s smallest deer is on alert as the smallest cat in the Americas stalks it! Fortunately for the deer, the cat finds moths to feast upon. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Fascinating Animals That Inhabit Mountain Streams, narrator Sir David Attenborough investigates the unusual adaptations of animals that inhabit the rushing waters of mountain streams. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In How the Snow Affects Animals, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how predators stalk a herd of markhor goats. When snow starts to fall, the golden eagle is hindered, but the snow leopard is helped. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Animals in the Snowmelt, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how a mountain forest springs to life, and animals of all kinds feed and seek mates. Meanwhile, a giant panda cares for her newborn in a cave. Watch as the mother nurses, cleans, and protects her cub. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Young Animals in the Desert, narrator Gordon Buchanan explores the different ways baby animals get food and water. Many different animals in the Kalahari Desert, both mammals and birds, are shown and discussed including baby ostriches and cheetahs. In many situations, young animals have to be resourceful in order to seek out enough food and water to survive. This video is excerpted from BBC's Animal Babies, a heartwarming show that follows the first breaths, first steps and first feeds of some adorable baby animals, revealing the challenges they face to survive in some of the toughest but most beautiful places on the planet.
Meet the wildlife living closer than you think. Click the hotspots, watch the clips, and read the fact files for nine amazing animals. For students ages 8–14
Which woodland animals scamper through the trees, forage for food, or quietly explore the undergrowth? From quick-footed foxes to busy squirrels, woodlands are home to an amazing variety of wildlife, each with its own way of life.
Meet the animals that share our woodlands and neighborhoods, from hedgehogs and badgers to deer, ducks, and raccoons. Explore their habitats, discover what they eat and how they raise their young, and uncover the remarkable adaptations that help them survive. You’ll also learn how these animals interact with their surroundings and why protecting their habitats matters.
The elephant’s distant ancestors emerged during a major turning point in animal evolution, when cells began specializing and working together to create more complex bodies. This clip from BBC’s Evolution episode "The Elephant" explores how specialization allowed cells to take on different roles, paving the way for tissues, organs, and an explosion of new body shapes — including the tiny ancient ancestor that would eventually give rise to elephants.
The video then examines another evolutionary breakthrough: the development of gills. As early animals adapted structures originally used for feeding to absorb more oxygen, they gained more energy from food and could grow larger and more complex. This innovation helped fuel the evolution of the diverse body forms found in animals today.
In The Unique Plants and Animals of Cloud Forests, meet the rare Andean bear, climbing to the top of the canopy to reach food. While he struggles at first, because the only fruit is on the thinnest branches, a more experienced bear arrives to teach him how to reach it. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In All About Australian Animals, narrator Sir David Attenborough reveals how the animals living on Australia as it broke away from Gondwanaland have evolved in isolation from the rest of the world. Red flying foxes are newer residents who flew along the chain of volcanic islands linking Asia and Australia. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Young Animals of the Antarctic and the Arctic, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows the journey of young animals growing up in two of the harshest environments on Earth — the Antarctic and the Arctic. Penguin chicks rely on their parents for food and protection as they grow, but not all survive. By early summer, the surviving chicks are strong and independent. In the Arctic, two polar bear cubs, now independent, briefly reunite before setting off on their own into the icy wilderness. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Animals of the Silent and Snowy Taiga, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows a lynx as it travels hundreds of miles in search of prey, while a moose munches on conifer needles. See how animals survive in this harsh and beautiful climate. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Sneak a Peek at the Miniature Animals of the South American Forests, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how the world’s smallest deer is on alert as the smallest cat in the Americas stalks it! Fortunately for the deer, the cat finds moths to feast upon. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Fascinating Animals That Inhabit Mountain Streams, narrator Sir David Attenborough investigates the unusual adaptations of animals that inhabit the rushing waters of mountain streams. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In How the Snow Affects Animals, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how predators stalk a herd of markhor goats. When snow starts to fall, the golden eagle is hindered, but the snow leopard is helped. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Animals in the Snowmelt, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how a mountain forest springs to life, and animals of all kinds feed and seek mates. Meanwhile, a giant panda cares for her newborn in a cave. Watch as the mother nurses, cleans, and protects her cub. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Young Animals in the Desert, narrator Gordon Buchanan explores the different ways baby animals get food and water. Many different animals in the Kalahari Desert, both mammals and birds, are shown and discussed including baby ostriches and cheetahs. In many situations, young animals have to be resourceful in order to seek out enough food and water to survive. This video is excerpted from BBC's Animal Babies, a heartwarming show that follows the first breaths, first steps and first feeds of some adorable baby animals, revealing the challenges they face to survive in some of the toughest but most beautiful places on the planet.