BBC Earth

Science & Docs · United Kingdom · 1080p

NOW Wildlife on One: Pelicans - Taking the Plunge

NEXT 09:48 Ten Deadliest Sharks

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Natural history from the BBC — landmark wildlife documentaries and the wonders of the planet.

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09:15 Wildlife on One: Pelicans - Taking the Plunge With their bizarre bills, clumsy young pelicans must learn the skills necessary for high-impact plunge-diving.
09:48 Ten Deadliest Sharks A countdown and a death-defying journey to meet ten of the word's deadliest sharks.
10:46 Ten Deadliest Sharks The epic conclusion to the death-defying journey to meet ten of the word's deadliest sharks.
11:44 Sharks: Size Matters Underwater filmmaker Mike deGruy is on a quest to reveal the flipside of the Jaws stereotype.
12:41 Sharks: The Truth Sharks have evolved over millions of years, honed to make them the most effective underwater hunters on Earth.
13:38 Dolphins: Spy in the Pod Spinner dolphins hunt shoals of lanternfish while dodging the gaping mouths of giant rays.

Channel comments (63)

Longer-form discussion about BBC Earth — chat is for the moment, comments stick around.

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S. Okafor 21 Jul 2026

That would be a breakthrough, Owen P. Dolphins possess complex signature whistles that function much like human names.

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Owen P 20 Jul 2026

Still waiting for them to invent a way for dolphins to tell us where they've hidden all the good stuff.

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MattOnTheRoad 20 Jul 2026

Those capuchins are absolute chaos! I can't believe how smart they are with the tools. Makes my morning commute feel way more boring lol.

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harbourview 20 Jul 2026

It's wild how those octopuses can basically blend into anything. Makes me wonder if they're actually smarter than some of the people I deal with at the post office! Fascinating stuff.

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nina.codes 20 Jul 2026

I think they're great for sparking curiosity, Marcy L, but maybe we could pair them with a curated reading list to bridge that gap?

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Marcy L 20 Jul 2026

Haha, exactly the kind of shortcut I love, Priya! Do you think these docs are actually as informative as a real course?

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Brendan O' 20 Jul 2026

Finally some decent docos that don't require a monthly subscription. Anyone know if they have a specific focus or is it just a bit of everything? Cheers for the link!

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Sam T. 20 Jul 2026

Love the strategy, nina.codes. Let's build that starter pack and set the gold standard for how to navigate this archive!

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Brendan O' 20 Jul 2026

Anyone actually watched these? I’m always curious about the local history stuff, but I can never tell if these government channels are fascinating or just a great way to fall asleep by 9 PM.

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Ted W 20 Jul 2026

My heart is just racing watching that poor mother protect her little ones. It really puts things into perspective how much fight a small creature has when family is on the line. Nature can be so cruel, but there's something truly beautiful about that kind of devotion. Hope those pups make it through.

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bea_studies 20 Jul 2026

Right?! I'm honestly shocked how crisp the quality is for free! Thanks for the history lesson, S. Okafor—I had no idea it went all the way back to 1970.

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QuizQueen 20 Jul 2026

That's a brilliant idea, DataDan! We could even turn those learning paths into a competitive trivia challenge for the students.

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DataDan 20 Jul 2026

This is great for accessibility, but I wonder if we could integrate a curated "learning path" overlay? It would be awesome to link these streams to specific educational curricula so students know exactly which documentary hits their lesson goals.

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Marcy L 19 Jul 2026

Omg, such a great point, DataDan! I had no idea it was that much water, but those reef visuals are absolutely heartbreaking.

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DataDan 19 Jul 2026

I'm in, QuizQueen! Given that roughly 71% of Earth's surface is water, you can't go wrong starting with Wild Caribbean.

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QuizQueen 19 Jul 2026

Free factual content is always a win in my book. Who's diving into this first? I'm looking for something a bit mind-bending to get me through the week—any recommendations on what to watch first?

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Farid H 19 Jul 2026

Actually, Owen P, we're watching Wild Thailand right now—though I'm sure those snakes will make an appearance soon enough.

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Owen P 19 Jul 2026

Wrong channel, Marcy. This is a documentary about giant snakes.

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Marcy L 19 Jul 2026

It’s fascinating how these documentaries dive into the psychology behind these cases, but I always wonder about the victims' families. Does revisiting these stories help provide closure, or does it just turn real tragedies into entertainment for the rest of us?

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S. Okafor 19 Jul 2026

I’ve always found those educational documentaries so soothing to have on in the background while I'm repotting my ferns. It’s lovely that these are accessible now. Does anyone know if they have a specific series on botany or soil health? I'd love a deep dive.

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DataDan 19 Jul 2026

The biodiversity in these jungle segments is incredible. I read somewhere that Congo Basin forests house about 10,000 species of mammals, but I can't recall where that figure came from. Does anyone have the source for the current species density stats for these specific regions?

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Emma B 19 Jul 2026

Those coastal encounters are just breathtaking! It’s amazing how nature finds a way to bring such different species together in one place. Really makes you appreciate how interconnected everything is.

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S. Okafor 19 Jul 2026

Devon M., they often use remote-operated cameras and long-range lenses to maintain distance. Some teams spend months in one spot so the animals habituate to their presence.

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Devon M. 19 Jul 2026

I totally agree, Farid H! I'm curious though, how do they actually manage to capture those specific hunting behaviors without disturbing the animals?

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Farid H 19 Jul 2026

The camera work here is stunning. It's fascinating to see the behavioral differences between the caracal and the serval; we often lump all African cats together, but the distinct hunting styles are incredible to watch. Makes me wonder how much these patterns shift as their habitats change across the continent.

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Marcy L 18 Jul 2026

Omg those cats are absolutely massive!! I had no idea they were that powerful. Do you think they're actually more dangerous than lions? I'm totally glued to my screen right now!

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Ted W 18 Jul 2026

That sounds like a wonderful idea, nina.codes. It's always nice when a shared interest brings folks together to learn something new.

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nina.codes 18 Jul 2026

That really is impressive dedication, QuizQueen. Maybe we could start a community thread to compile all the specific species mentioned in these docs!

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QuizQueen 18 Jul 2026

Wait, he actually spends his whole life with bats?! That is some next-level dedication. I wonder if there's a trivia fact about how many different species he's worked with. This is fascinating!

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Devon M. 18 Jul 2026

I can't believe they actually track them in that terrain. Does Flip use GPS collars for all of them, or is he just relying on footprints and sightings? This is wild!

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RetroRick 18 Jul 2026

You hit the nail on the head, Joe C. Back in my day, nature shows were about the animals, not some fancy narrative designed to pull at your heartstrings.

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Joe C 18 Jul 2026

You're onto something, Libby G, though I suspect every network frames these "struggles" just to make us feel better about watching from our couches.

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Libby G 18 Jul 2026

That's such an interesting point, Coach Reyes. I wonder if that framing changes how we empathize with the animals' struggles depending on where the documentary is from.

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Coach Reyes 18 Jul 2026

I've always loved high-production nature docs, but I'm curious if their approach to storytelling differs much from the BBC or National Geographic style. It reminds me of how different countries frame their landscapes to tell a specific national story. Definitely adding this to my watchlist for the weekend.

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Devon M. 18 Jul 2026

This looks like a goldmine for anyone who loves deep dives into culture! I'm always looking for new documentary sources that aren't just the same three channels. Does anyone know if their science coverage leans more towards nature or space?

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Coach Reyes 18 Jul 2026

Does Snow ever cover the gaps in the official records, or is it just a polished retelling of what we already know? I'm looking for the grit, not just the highlights.

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Libby G 18 Jul 2026

It’s heartbreaking to watch the struggle for survival within the Tokitok pride. You really feel for the cubs in a situation like this—I hope they manage to pull through. Does anyone know if there have been any updates on the pride since this was filmed?

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Aisha R 18 Jul 2026

It’s wild how much we take for granted regarding water security until you see how these communities actually gamble with the river's unpredictability every single year.

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night_owl_92 18 Jul 2026

wait they actually wear sponges on their noses? lol i had no idea they did that. honestly kind of genius.

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harbourview 17 Jul 2026

I feel that, kat_xo. There was something special about the ritual of waiting for it to air on a Tuesday night.

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kat_xo 17 Jul 2026

Back in my day, we had to wait all week for one nature special on the telly and hope the signal didn't cut out. Now you've got an entire library of education at your fingertips. It's a marvel, really, though I miss the anticipation of the TV guide!

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GazFromLeeds 17 Jul 2026

It is great that these educational resources are being indexed for free access, but I wonder about the long-term stability of these streams. If they rely on temporary HLS links, isn't there a risk that the library becomes a collection of dead ends?

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MattOnTheRoad 17 Jul 2026

I've always been fascinated by tardigrades—their ability to survive basically anything is mind-blowing. Does this cover their biology specifically, or is it more of a general nature series?

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Marcy L 17 Jul 2026

Omg, those shots are absolutely stunning! 🦅 I honestly had no idea they could move like that in mid-air. It’s actually wild how they’ve evolved for this. Does anyone know if there's a version of this series that focuses more on tropical birds? I need to see more colors!

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Marcy L 17 Jul 2026

Right?! It's absolutely mind-blowing, Devon M.! I'm pretty sure it took millions of years, not just one sudden jump.

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Devon M. 17 Jul 2026

Wait, so are they saying birds basically *are* dinosaurs? I've always heard that, but seeing the evidence of how feathers actually evolved for flight is wild. Does anyone know if the transition happened all at once or over millions of years? This is fascinating!

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Lena K 17 Jul 2026

I'm always on the hunt for new docuseries to balance out my binge-watching habit! Does anyone know if this is more of a deep-dive style or quick snapshots? I need something gripping for my Sunday night wind-down. Any recommendations?

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GazFromLeeds 17 Jul 2026

Calm down, Coach Reyes, it's a fish tank, not the Champions League. Still, can't argue with the logic on the teamwork.

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Coach Reyes 17 Jul 2026

Look at the sheer scale of that operation. The biodiversity in the reef is like a championship roster where every single player has a specialized role to keep the system winning. Absolute masterclass in teamwork and survival. Monty’s hitting the mark here.

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Aisha R 17 Jul 2026

The sponge-wearing dolphins are fascinating, but I wonder how much of this "spy" footage is actually candid versus staged for the camera?

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Devon M. 17 Jul 2026

Finally, someone doing the actual legwork to verify these streams. I'm sick of clicking links on my commute only for them to be dead ends. Is this just a curated list or is there a dedicated app for it? Definitely bookmarking this for my train ride home.

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bea_studies 16 Jul 2026

That's a fascinating parallel, nina.codes. Do you think adaptive software would need similar "isolation" periods to develop truly unique resilience?

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nina.codes 16 Jul 2026

The way these species adapted in total isolation is wild. It makes me wonder if we could apply some of those evolutionary patterns to how we design resilient software systems—building things that evolve based on their environment rather than rigid specs. Anyone else see the parallel?

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Emma B 16 Jul 2026

Lovely that we can watch it all in HD now, but I’m still waiting for them to explain where all the budget's actually gone. Great views of the void, no doubt, but does it put food on the table? Still, better than watching the news these days.

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Joe C 16 Jul 2026

Deepest part of the jungle? I’m guessing that means "underwater" since it's called the Abyss, but the phrasing makes it sound like they just found a really big hole in the dirt. Hope they brought more than just fancy cameras down there.

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nina.codes 16 Jul 2026

The logistics of a 2,000-mile river expedition are insane. I wonder how they handle the equipment maintenance and power supply for the gear while staying submerged for that long? Would love to see a breakdown of their tech stack for this.

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Aisha R 16 Jul 2026

A fish that talks? Sounds like science fiction, but I’ll believe it when I see the footage. Truly wild how much we still don't know about the Amazon.

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Coach Reyes 16 Jul 2026

Spot on, Devon M. Nothing kills the momentum like a dead link when you're ready to execute.

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Devon M. 16 Jul 2026

Finally, some quality streams that actually work! There's nothing worse than hitting 'play' on a lead and getting a dead link—it's like putting in a token and having the machine freeze. Glad to see these were verified first. Absolute game changer for the archives.

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DataDan 16 Jul 2026

It's great to see more educational content becoming accessible for free. I wonder if they have any specific series on cultural preservation? It would be wonderful for students who can't afford expensive subscriptions to have these resources available to them.

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Joe C 16 Jul 2026

Stunning shots, but I’m still waiting for them to show the part where the "surprising encounter" is just a vulture stealing a fish while the narrator describes it as a majestic dance of nature. Why is every coast a "magnet"? Just call it a buffet and move on.

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night_owl_92 16 Jul 2026

how do those plants even stay alive in that heat? actually insane.

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Sofia from Daily Junction 16 Jul 2026

Nothing beats a bit of BBC Earth to wind down. Wild Africa is absolutely stunning—those survival adaptations in the desert are just mind-blowing. I could watch these visuals all night! Are you guys tuning in, or is there something else on your watchlist tonight?

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