In this final part of the series, Professor Iain Stewart looks at a new force that is shaping the planet - us. It's easy to think of the human impact on the planet as a negative one, but as Iain discovers, this isn't always the case. It is clear that humans have unprecedented control over many of the planet's geological cycles; the question is, how will the human race use this power?
24th Feb, BBC 2 - 8PM This is the emotional story of one young killer whale's quest for companionship after he was separated from his family. Luna was just two years old when, alone and confused he found himself on the rugged, wild coast of Vancouver Island. Following his tumultuous life, the film records the human friendships he developed and the trouble this led him into. From death threats, to numerous capture attempts by the government, the filmmakers watched as people tried to determine his fate. Luna shows us how quickly our lives can once again cross with the natural world.
Producer SUZANNE CHISHOLM
Series Editor TIM MARTIN
Narrator MICHAEL PARFIT
Wildlife series following the lives of the meerkat's bigger, more streetwise cousin, the banded mongoose.
The 'banded brothers' family of mongooses own the best territory in Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National Park, but other mongoose mobs want a piece of the action. To keep hold of their patch, the bandeds need to be a big, strong group, and a regular supply of new recruits is maintained by the breeding females. A new litter from three of the older females has been born and they make their first foray above ground, but not all is right in the banded mongoose's world.
The oldest female, Diva, is still pregnant. It's an unusual situation, and when Diva's pups are born they will face an uphill struggle to survive. To add to the problems, the new pups need babysitting at the den. Other mongoose mobs such as the banded mongoose's arch enemies the striped mongoose are taking advantage and muscling in on the banded's prize territory.
A fresh look at some of the most supreme predators in the animal kingdom, looking at how some of the most lethal creatures in the wild survive a typical day - relying on their instincts, speed, and tactics is often not enough, and luck can mean the difference between life and death.
A cheetah, a dragonfly and a peregrine falcon go head-to-head in race to eat. The first to get his or her daily intake of food is the winner. The three contenders have one thing in common - when it comes to hunting they all use speed to help catch their prey. The cheetah is the fastest land mammal reaching speeds of 71mph, the dragonfly is the fastest insect with a top speed of 35mph and the peregrine falcon can fly at over 200mph making it the fastest animal on earth ever.
It's action all the way, with a few surprises thrown in for good measure, in a typical hunting day in the lives of these natural born hunters. Steve Backshall and Barney Harwood commentate on the action as it happens.
My episode 'Wind' is broadcast tonight. To celebrate I thought I'd share a visual trick that we're all very proud of...
Super Aerial Pull-Out: From presenter to entire continent
7 steps to creating a COOL Visual Trick - as seen in tonights 'How Earth Made Us: WIND'
Step 1. WATCH: How Earth Made Us 'Wind' - BBC 2, 21:00
With spectacular images, surprising stories and a compelling narrative, Professor Iain Stewart tells the epic story of how the planet has shaped human history. In this episode Iain sets sail on one of the fastest racing boats ever built to explore the story of our turbulent relationship with the wind. Travelling to iconic locations including the Sahara desert, the coast of West Africa and the South Pacific, Iain discovers how people have exploited the power of the wind for thousands of years. The wind is a force which at first sight appears chaotic. But the patterns that lie within the atmosphere have shaped the destiny of continents, and lie at the heart of some of the greatest turning points in human history.
Alternatively you can watch this clip from about one minute in...
Once you've recovered from the exhiliration continue with step 2...
2. Fly somewhere really awesome with a Cineflex - a gyro-stabalised camera-mount.
3. Fly upwards as smoothly as possible above your presenter
