Japan’s 7,000 islands stretch for over 2,400km, and cover an incredible range of climates. Winter in the central and northern islands can be savage, but summer in the sweltering southern islands couldn’t be more different. Armies of crabs patrol steamy mangroves, while on sub-tropical beaches, macaques prove the depth of their intelligence and adaptability by washing sandy food before they eat it.
This stunningly-beautiful series demonstrates that islands can be home to the most extreme examples of life, as nature evolves in the most dramatic way. Sometimes isolated for hundreds of thousands of years, pockets of individuals adapt to survive, fuelling a rapid and continuous development of new species. Some of the Zanzibar archipelago’s bizarre creatures have developed to an enormous size. The world’s largest crab scales trees in search of coconuts, and clouds of giant bats fill the skies at dusk. Under the cover of darkness, giant leatherback turtles visit Trinidad’s beaches to lay their eggs. Dominica’s volcanic heritage gives it fertile soils, making the island rich in flowering plants. Situated 1,000km west of Ecuador, the Galapagos archipelago has been so little exposed to humans, it allowed Charles Darwin to study and rethink the laws of nature. Join us for a celebration of these spectacular island locations, and the people and wildlife who call them home. Your nature audience is going to love this series!
