Planet Earth Nature Documentary Series Opens Eyes

Animals are probably one of the most diverse living things on Earth. Even so, many of us never get to witness the true beauty that makes up our Earth. That is until now. Discovery Channel helps bring some of Earth's rarest and uniquest animals to life in the amazing documentary series "Planet Earth".

The first part of this 11 part series titled "From Pole to Pole" documents the lives of several animal species which inhabit some of the harshest environments located around the Earth's northern and southern poles. One such animal is the emperor penguin which survives for months without food in the brutal cold of the Antarctic. Other animal life demonstrated in this amazing episode include the rare Amur leopard, a mother polar bear and her cubs, African elephants, and an extraordinary shot of a great white shark as it is snatches a seal in its' jaws.

"Mountains" is the second part this striking series which goes in depth with the animals that make their homes in the mountain ranges of such places as the Himalayas, Mount Everest, the Rockies, and the Alps. The "Planet Earth" crew also made their way across contrasting locations of a volcano and a mountain glacier. Some of the wildlife captured in this episode included wolves, a type of mountain goat called an Ibex, snow leopards, Grizzly bears, and a heartwarming scene of a giant panda mother who embraces her new born cub.

The third part to this series, "Fresh Water", follows the lives of animals which inhabit the cold waters of such places as Brazil, Venezuela, and Japan. River dolphins, otters, Japan's Giant Salamander, piranhas, and the curious macaques monkeys are a few of the fresh water animals documented in this episode. Another interesting aspect of this particular part of "Planet Earth" is the amazing footage of the wild rivers that flow and help create some of Earth's most amazing creations, such as the Grand Canyon.

The fourth part of the "Planet Earth" series titled "Caves" focuses on many of Earth's hidden and rarely seen tunnels and caves. Some of the most astonishing locations featured include the Cave of Swallows, Lechuguilla Cave, and the bacteria inhabiting sulfuric springs of Cueva de Villa Luz. Rare creatures, such as the Texas blind salamander, have adapted and made their homes in these harsh environments. Other animals that inhabit these caves include the cave angel fish, bats, and Cave Swiftlets, a type of bird whose nest are a popular Chinese delicacy. The striking cave formations, which includes the highly acidic snottite, help add to the mysterious and unique atmosphere of this episode.

"Deserts" is the fifth episode in this series that demonstrates the unforgiving conditions of the White Desert, the Atacama, the Gobi Desert, and the Australian outback. Animal life of lions, the Bactrian camel, elephants, the small Fennec fox, and the llama resembling guanacos are some of the animals captured in this installment of "Planet Earth". Red kangaroos are also featured and are probably one of the most adapted to this harsh weather. By resting in the shade, licking their forelegs, panting, and staying less active, the red kangaroos prove that animal adaptation helps contribute to the survival of many of Earth's desert animals.

Part six of this nature series titled "Ice Worlds" introduces us to the animals that inhabit Antarctica and the Arctic. Some of the animals filmed in these wintry environments include Arctic foxes, humpback whales, emperor penguins, various types of Antarctic birds, and polar bears. The polar bear hunt for food is probably the most heart wrenching scene of the entire "Planet Earth" series. This particular scene shows his struggle as he swims several miles across the cold Arctic waters without rest in his search for food. After finding several resting walruses, the polar bear makes a desperate attempt to capture and kill his prey. Unfortunately, his efforts are futile and in the end his tired and worn body loses to the monstrous force of the walruses. Hungry, tired, and wounded, the polar bear eventually curls up, and dies alongside his enemies.

"Great Plains" is the next part to this fascinating series that follows the lives of such animals as the pika, lions, the pygmy hog, elephants, the Mongolian gazelle, and the oddly faced Tibetan fox. This episode explores the grasslands of the African savannah, the Tibetan Plateau, and the prairies of North America. The brutality often found when a predator's survival instinct takes hold is also captured when night vision cameras catch a pack of lions as they hunt in the darkness of night for elephants.

The eighth episode in the "Planet Earth" series called "Jungles" revolves around the unique animal and plant life found in the tropical rain forests and jungles of such places as Uganda, Congo, and New Guinea. Tree frogs, orangutans, pitcher plants, chimpanzees, fungi, and the eccentric birds of paradise are only a few of the diverse plant and animal species that inhabit these jungle walls. A truly bizarre yet interesting scene involves fungi who infest and take control of their host, which is later shown through the life of an ant. Co-existence and influence of animals and plants seems to be the main theme of this particular episode.

The ninth installment of this series is titled "Shallow Seas", and it ventures into the waters of such places as Australia, Africa, and even the Indian Ocean. Sea kraits, chokka squid, king penguins, the Cape fur seal, humpback whales, and the pygmy seahorse are some of the animals that make up these vast shallowly waters. The Cape fur seal, for example, is described as both the prey and predator in this episode. While the seal is first shown as a victim of another shark attack, it is later shown as a hunter as it strategically preys upon king penguins.

"Seasonal Forests" is the tenth part of the "Planet Earth" series that brings to light some of the smallest animals on Earth. A few of these rare creatures include a small deer called the pudú and the elusive small cat called a Kodkod which inhabits Argentina. Other animals and plants discussed in this episode include the wolverine, the mandarin duck, the mighty redwood trees, langur monkeys, and conifer trees. One of the most extraordinary scenes displays the massive emergence that occurs every 17 years of periodical cicadas. Fortunately, these insects help feed many of the animals that make their home in North America's forests.

The eleventh and final episode of the "Planet Earth" series called "Ocean Deep" displays some of the most breathtaking images ever captured on film. Oceanic creatures such as the deep sea octopus, the blue whale, the oceanic whitetip shark, and the whale shark are only a few of the many sea species that inhabit these oceanic depths. A stunning scene that truly proves the uniqueness of sea life is displayed in a gorgeous light show put on by a vampire squid. By using its' photophores, or organs that produce light, this squid demonstrates flashes of light that contrast beautifully against the oceans dark depths.

An added addition is a set of very informative programmes called "Planet Earth: The Future". These particular episodes go more in depth on environmental issues, such as conservation. A wonderful addition to an excellent documentary series.

The "Planet Earth" camera crew spent years trying to capture animal life in such a way that demonstrates the true beauty of life in the open wild. The amount of time and effort that each individual who worked on this documentary is truly awe inspiring. "Planet Earth" doesn't only showcase some of the most unique animals, but it also brings up controversial topics like global warming. "Planet Earth" is a gorgeous series that demonstrates the beauty of our planet's animals, but to sustain such unique and diverse creatures, it ultimately depends on how we choose to co-exist with all of Earth's living things.