Meet animal families around the world in new series from Nature
A new miniseries from Nature reveals the extraordinary and universal journeys of animal families around the world. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, Parenthood airs Wednesdays, February 4 through March 4, at 8pm on ThinkTV16 and will be available to stream on the PBS App. Watch a preview of the first episode: https://video.thinktv.org/video/about-parenthood-grasslands/.
Witness amazing stories of dedication and sacrifice as animal parents embark on the greatest of all challenges, parenthood. Parenthood features a diversity of critter families from across the world, from Shetland otters and Hanuman langurs to Sandgrouse and Potter wasps. Filmed over 3 years, on 6 continents, and in 23 countries, the five-part series tells the stories of these animals’ astonishing behaviors and how they’ve been shaped by the environments they inhabit.
“Parenthood is an extraordinary celebration of one of life’s great challenges: raising young,” said Jeff Wilson, producer, in a press release. “Working with the world’s best wildlife cinematographers and nature experts, we uncovered a huge number of fascinating and untold behaviors through incredible field craft and dedication.”
Animal parents are just like us – they are fiercely protective of their young, raising them against all odds in a variety of environments. From Africa’s grasslands to the world’s greatest oceans, each episode journeys to a different habitat, each with its own unique challenges. The stakes couldn’t be higher – success for parents of all species ensures the future of life on our planet.
“In an uncertain world, there are lessons to be learned from our animal characters that will resonate with all of us,” Wilson said.
Learn more about each of the episodes below:
Episode One – “Grasslands”
Premieres Wednesday, February 4, at 8pm on ThinkTV16
Animal parents must balance risk and reward to raise their young in grasslands. In Zambezi, wild dogs must focus the energy of their unruly teenagers for survival, and in India, an expecting langur learns parenting skills by babysitting.
Episode Two “Freshwater”
Premieres Wednesday, February 11, at 8pm on ThinkTV16
Animal parents must overcome freshwater’s constant changes. A frog dad scales giant Amazonian trees with tadpoles on his back, while an elephant mom must choose between the safety of her baby and the quest for water and food.
Episode Three “Oceans”
Premieres Wednesday, February 18, at 8pm on ThinkTV16
Ocean parents must master dedication and intelligence to raise their young. In Australia, an orca mother teaches her young how to hunt blue whales, while in Indonesia, a Banggai cardinalfish protects his young inside his mouth.
Episode Four “Jungles”
Premieres Wednesday, February 25, at 8pm on ThinkTV16
See how jungle animal parents raise children by mastering their environment. An orangutan spends eight years teaching her baby the ways of jungle living, and a crab becomes the ultimate chemist to create the perfect home for her crablets.
Episode Five “The Greatest Adventure”
Premieres Wednesday, March 4, at 8pm on ThinkTV16
Parenthood is the ultimate journey, full of danger. Lionesses teach their cubs how to survive by showing them how to tackle giant buffalo. Burrowing owls provide an underground nest for their chicks and mimic a rattlesnake’s sound to protect them.
Be sure to check out these other animal family stories from PBS:
Nature “Tusker: Brotherhood of Elephants”
Discover how male elephants play a key role in their societies, passing their wisdom on to younger males and keeping the social order. Watch it now on the PBS App: https://video.thinktv.org/video/tusker-brotherhood-of-elephants-whflvu/.
Animal Babies First Year on Earth
Follow six baby animals from across the globe as they navigate their habitats and overcome challenges in their first year of life. Watch it now with ThinkTV Passport: https://video.thinktv.org/show/animal-babies-first-year-earth/.
Nature “Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons”
Journey to Grand Teton National Park where Grizzly 399 is raising four new cubs in the face of human encroachment and a warming climate. Watch it now with ThinkTV Passport: https://video.thinktv.org/video/grizzly-399-queen-of-the-tetons-hkkhgw/.
Baby Animals Top 10
From the fastest and the slowest to the most huggable and the ones with the biggest bite, each baby animal has its own extraordinary talents. Watch it now with ThinkTV Passport: https://video.thinktv.org/show/baby-animals-the-top-10/.
Nature “Big Cats, Small World’
Travel to the shores of Botswana’s Gomoti River, where three big cats are raising their young in this crowded neighborhood. Watch it now with ThinkTV Passport: https://video.thinktv.org/video/landlords-big-cats-small-world-knplcn/.
