Planet Earth (TV series) 4039424 226157182 2008-07-17T02:10:09Z Escarbot 1554195 robot Adding: [[nl:Planet Earth (documentaire)]] Modifying: [[sv:Planet Earth (TV-serie)]] {{otheruses4|the TV series|the film based on the series|Earth (2007 film)}} {{Infobox nature documentary | bgcolour = | show_name = Planet Earth | image = [[Image:Pe main.jpg]] | caption = Series title card | picture_format = [[576i]] ([[SDTV]])<br/>[[1080i]]&nbsp;/&nbsp;[[1080p]]&nbsp;([[HDTV]]) | audio_format = Stereo (SDTV) [[Dolby Digital]] 5.1 ([[HD DVD]] and [[Blu-ray Disc]]) | runtime = 50 minutes | creator = BBC | developer = | producer = | executive_producer = [[Alastair Fothergill]] | presented = | narrated = [[David Attenborough]] [[Sigourney Weaver]] (US version) | music = [[George Fenton]] | country = [[United Kingdom]] | language = [[English language|English]] | network = | first_run = [[BBC One]] [[BBC HD]] | first_aired = [[5 March]] [[2006]] | last_aired = [[10 December]] [[2006]] | num_episodes = 11 | website = http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/planetearth/ | imdb_id = 0795176 | tv_com_id = }} '''''Planet Earth''''' is an [[Emmy Award]] and [[Peabody Award]]-winning [[BBC]] [[nature documentary]] series narrated by [[David Attenborough]] and produced by [[Alastair Fothergill]]. It was first broadcast in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] from [[5 March]] [[2006]]. The [[United States|American]] version is narrated by [[Sigourney Weaver]]. The series was co-produced with [[Discovery Channel]] and the [[NHK]] in association with the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]], and was described by its makers as "the definitive look at the diversity of our planet". It was also the first of its kind to be filmed entirely in [[High-definition television|high-definition]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/02_february/01/earth.shtml | publisher [[BBC]] | title = BBC Press Office - Planet Earth | accessdate = 2007-03-13 | date = [[2006-02-01]]}}</ref> The series was nominated for the Pioneer Audience Award for Best Programme at the 2007 BAFTA TV awards.<ref>[http://www.obsessedwith.tv/nominees.html www.obsessedwith.tv: 2007 BAFTA Nominees for Pioneer Audience Award]</ref> == Background == The programmes were made over five years by producer Alastair Fothergill and his team, who were responsible for the successful ''[[The Blue Planet]]'' (2001). The narrator, David Attenborough, worked on them while also embarking on the last in his '[[The Life Collection|Life]]' series, ''[[Life in Cold Blood]]''. The series' music is composed by [[George Fenton]]. Filming involved visiting 62 countries and 204 different locations.<ref name="radiotimes">''[[Radio Times]]'': [[4 November]]–[[10 November]] [[2006]]</ref> ''Planet Earth'' had a production budget of around £13 million or $25 million.<ref name="dvdtimes">{{cite web | url = http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=63820 | title = ''Planet Earth'' (BD & HD DVD) in April | publisher = DVD Times | accessdate = 2007-03-13}}</ref> There are 11 episodes. The first gives a general overview of the series, by describing each of the environments that are looked at in more detail in later programmes. However, the method used to communicate this — a 'journey' from one end of the Earth to the other — serves to demonstrate the rich variation that exists on the planet as a whole. Each of the remaining 10 episodes focuses on one of the [[Earth]]'s natural habitats and examines its indigenous features, together with the breadth of fauna found there. Several animals and locations are shown that have hitherto never been filmed, using innovative camera technology. Previously unseen animal behaviour includes: [[Gray Wolf|wolve]]s chasing [[Reindeer|caribou]] observed from above; [[snow leopard]]s pursuing [[markhor]] in the [[Himalayas]]; [[grizzly bear]] cubs leaving their den for the first time; [[Crab-eating Macaque]]s that swim underwater; and over a hundred [[sailfish]] hunting en masse.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/02_february/01/earth_firsts.shtml | publisher = [[BBC]] | title = BBC Press Office - Planet Earth firsts | date = [[2006-02-01]] | accessdate = 2007-03-13}}</ref> [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] is used for some transitional sequences. Some sequences, particularly in episodes 6–11, are notable for their potentially disturbing content. Examples include a lone [[elephant]] being brought down by [[lion]]s and a [[polar bear]] unsuccessfully attacking a [[walrus]] colony and subsequently being overcome by hunger, exhaustion and injury. Fothergill confirmed that he asked BBC presentation for an appropriate warning before transmission in such cases: {{cquote2|quote=The thing is, we have to tread a fine line between showing nature as it really is and not offending the sensibilities of viewers. I think it's an enormous mistake to try and sanitise nature, but I can assure you that there's plenty of footage that we shan't be showing.<ref name="radiotimes" />}} Apart from David Attenborough's closing narration, the series rarely makes explicit reference to the world's environmental problems. Attenborough indicated that this was intentional: {{cquote2|quote=This new series is more a celebration of our planet, not a lament about the state of it. It shows what is still there. In some areas there is no doubt that we are doing damage to our world but, at the same time, there is a vast amount of uncharted and untouched wilderness.<ref>''Planet Earth'' DVD cover notes</ref>}} However, the subject of [[conservation movement|species conservation]] and man's effect on the world's [[ecosystem]]s is addressed in the companion series, ''Planet Earth: The Future''. == Broadcast details == Each programme has a running time of approximately 58 minutes. This includes ''Planet Earth Diaries'', a 10-minute featurette that details the filming of a particular event. The show was heavily trailed on the BBC's television and radio channels both before and during its run. All eleven installments had a 9pm Sunday screening on [[BBC One]] and in most cases were followed by an early evening repeat the next Saturday on [[BBC Two]]. Besides being BBC One's featured "One to Watch" programme of the day, its ratings were consistently high, averaging between seven and nine million viewers for each Sunday transmission. In the UK, the series was split into two parts. Episodes 1–5 were shown [[5 March]]–[[2 April]] [[2006]] with the remainder broadcast from [[5 November]] [[2006]], following a further repeat run of part one on [[BBC Four]]. Part two premiered on Sundays at 9pm on both BBC One and [[BBC HD]] with a second repeat on BBC Four the following week. As a promotion for the autumn series, "Great Plains" received its first public showing at the [[Edinburgh International Television Festival]] on [[26 August]] [[2006]]. It was shown on a giant screen in Conference Square. The music that was featured in the BBC trailers for the series is the track "[[Hoppípolla]]" from the album ''[[Takk...]]'' by [[Iceland]]ic [[post-rock]] band [[Sigur Rós]]. Following the advertisements, interest was so widespread that the single was re-released. In [[Australia]], however, it was replaced by "Jupiter", the fourth movement of [[Gustav Holst]]'s orchestral suite ''[[The Planets]]''. The U.S. trailer featured different theme music: "The Time Has Come" from ''Epic Score'', composed by Gabriel Shadid and Tobias Marberger.<ref name="soundtrack" /> Along with its 2005 dramatisation of ''[[Bleak House (TV serial)|Bleak House]]'', the BBC selected ''Planet Earth'' for its trial of high-definition broadcasts.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4753607.stm | title = BBC steps up high-definition plan | publisher = [[BBC News]] | date = [[2006-05-09]] | accessdate = 2007-03-13}}</ref> The opening episode was its first ever scheduled programme in the format, shown [[27 May]] [[2006]] on BBC HD. On [[25 March]] [[2007]], the series began its run on American television on [[Discovery Channel]], garnering massive ratings and critical acclaim. It was the most watched show on Discovery since ''[[The Flight That Fought Back]]'' on [[11 September]] [[2005]]. The show was broadcast on Sundays in one 3-hour block followed by four 2-hour blocks. It was also transmitted in high definition on the then [[Discovery HD Theater]] at the same time as its SD premiere; it then followed on [[The Science Channel]] and [[Animal Planet]]. However, it was heavily edited for time, commercials as well as content. Sigourney Weaver replaced David Attenborough as the narrator. == Episodes == <!-- Please note that this article uses British spelling throughout: so "instalment" and not "installment". Thank you. --> {{quotation|A hundred years ago, there were one and a half billion people on Earth. Now, over six billion crowd our fragile planet. But even so, there are still places barely touched by humanity. This series will take you to the last wildernesses and show you the planet and its wildlife as you have never seen them before.|David Attenborough's opening narration}} === 1. "From Pole to Pole" === : ''Originally transmitted: [[5 March]] [[2006]] (UK), [[25 March]] [[2007]] (US)'' The first episode illustrates a 'journey' around the globe and reveals the effect of gradual climatic change and seasonal transitions en route. During [[Antarctica]]'s winter, [[emperor penguin]]s endure four months of darkness, with no food, in temperatures of –70[[°C]]. Meanwhile, as spring arrives in the [[Arctic]], polar bear cubs take their first steps into a world of rapidly thawing ice. In northern [[Canada]], the longest overland migration of any animal — over 2000 miles — is that of three million [[reindeer|caribou]], which are hunted by wolves, and one such pursuit is shown. The forests of eastern [[Russia]] are home to the [[Amur leopard]]: with a population of just 40 individuals, it is now the world's rarest cat. This is primarily because of the destruction of its habitat, and Attenborough states that it "symbolises the fragility of our natural heritage." However, in the [[tropics]], the jungle that covers 3% of the planet's surface supports 50% of its animals. Also depicted is the one-second strike of a [[great white shark]] as it pounces on a [[pinniped|seal]], slowed down forty times. Other species shown include [[New Guinea]]'s [[bird of paradise|birds of paradise]], [[African Wild Dog|African hunting dogs]] in their efficient pursuit of [[impala]], [[African elephant|elephants]] in Africa migrating towards the waters of the [[Okavango Delta]], a seasonal bloom of life in the otherwise arid [[Kalahari Desert]], and 300,000 migrating [[Baikal teal]], containing the world's entire population of the species in one flock. The ''Planet Earth Diaries'' segment shows how the wild dog hunt was filmed unobtrusively with the aid of the ''[[Heligimbal]]'': a powerful, gyro-stabilised camera mounted beneath a [[helicopter]]. === 2. "Mountains" === : ''Originally transmitted: [[12 March]] [[2006]] (UK), [[25 March]] [[2007]] (US)'' The second instalment focuses on the [[mountain]]s. All the main ranges are explored with extensive aerial photography. [[Ethiopia]]'s [[Erta Ale]] is the longest continually erupting [[volcano]] — for over 100 years. On the nearby highlands, [[gelada]]s (the only primate whose diet is almost entirely of [[grass]]) inhabit precipitous slopes nearly three miles up, in troops that are 800-strong: the most numerous of their kind. Alongside them live the [[critically endangered species|critically endangered]] [[Ibex|walia ibex]], and both species take turns to act as lookout for predatory [[Ethiopian Wolf|Ethiopian wolves]]. The [[Andes]] have the most volatile weather and [[guanaco]]s are shown enduring a flash blizzard, along with an exceptional group sighting of the normally solitary [[Cougar|puma]]. The [[Alps|Alpine]] summits are always [[snow]]-covered, apart from that of the [[Matterhorn]], which is too sheer to allow it to settle. [[Grizzly bear]] cubs emerge from their den for the first time in the [[Rocky Mountains|Rockies]], while Himalayan inhabitants include [[rutting]] [[markhor]], [[golden eagle]]s that hunt migrating [[demoiselle crane]]s, and the rare [[snow leopard]]. At the eastern end of the range, the [[giant panda]] cannot hibernate due to its poor nutriment of [[bamboo]] and one of them cradles its week-old cub. Also shown is the Earth's biggest mountain [[glacier]]: the [[Baltoro Glacier|Baltoro]] in [[Pakistan]], which is 43 miles long and visible from space. ''Planet Earth Diaries'' demonstrates the difficulty of obtaining the first ever close-up footage of the snow leopards: a process which took over a year. === 3. "Fresh Water" === : ''Originally transmitted: [[19 March]] [[2006]] (UK), [[15 April]] [[2007]] (US)'' Broadcast [[19 March]] 2006, this programme describes the course taken by [[river]]s and some of the species that take advantage of such a habitat. Only 3% of the world's water is fresh, yet all life is ultimately dependent on it. Its journey begins as a stream in the mountains, illustrated by [[Venezuela]]'s [[Tepui]], where there is a tropical downpour almost every day. It then travels hundreds of miles before forming [[rapids]]. With the aid of some expansive helicopter photography, one sequence demonstrates the vastness of [[Angel Falls]], the world's highest free-flowing [[waterfall]]. Its waters drop unbroken for nearly 1,000 metres and are blown away as a mist before they reach the bottom. The erosive nature of rivers is shown by the [[Grand Canyon]], created over five million years by the [[Colorado River]]. In [[Japan]], the water is inhabited by the biggest amphibian, the two-metre long [[giant salamander]], while in the northern hemisphere, [[salmon]] undertake the largest freshwater migration, and are hunted en route by grizzly bears. Also featured are [[smooth coated otter]]s repelling [[mugger crocodile]]s and the latter's [[Nile crocodile|Nile cousin]] ambushing [[wildebeest]] as they cross the [[Mara River]]. [[Roseate Spoonbill|Roseate spoonbill]]s are numerous in the [[Pantanal]] and are prey to [[Spectacled Caiman|spectacled caiman]]. In addition, there are [[cichlid]]s, [[piranha]]s, [[river dolphin]]s and swimming [[Crab-eating Macaque|crab-eating macaque]]s. ''Planet Earth Diaries'' shows how a camera crew filmed a piranha feeding frenzy in [[Brazil]] — after a two-week search for the opportunity. === 4. "Caves" === [[Image:Planet earth Lechuguilla.png|thumb|340px|The [[Lechuguilla Cave]]]] : ''Originally transmitted: [[26 March]] [[2006]] (UK), [[22 April]] [[2007]] (US)'' This episode explores "planet earth's final frontier": the world of [[cave]]s. At a depth of 400 metres, [[Mexico]]'s [[Cave of Swallows]] is Earth's deepest [[Pit Cave|pit cave]] freefall drop, allowing entry by [[BASE jumping|skydivers]]. Its volume could contain [[New York City]]'s [[Empire State Building]]. Also featured is [[Borneo]]'s [[Deer Cave]] and [[Gomantong Cave]]. Inhabitants of the former include three million [[Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bat|wrinkle-lipped bat]]s, which have deposited [[guano]] on to an enormous mound. In Gomantong Cave, guano is many metres high and is blanketed with hundreds of thousands of [[cockroach]]es and other invertebrates. Also depicted are eyeless, subterranean creatures, such as the [[Texas blind salamander]] and ("bizarrely") a species of [[crab]]. Mexico's [[Cueva de Villa Luz]] is also featured, with its flowing stream of [[sulphuric acid]] and [[snottite]] formations made of living bacteria. A fish species, the [[Shortfin Molly]] (''Poecilia mexicana''), has adapted to this habitat. The programme ends in [[New Mexico]]'s [[Lechuguilla Cave]] (discovered in 1986) where [[sulphuric acid]] has produced unusually ornate, [[gypsum]] crystal formations. ''Planet Earth Diaries'' reveals how a camera team spent a month among the [[cockroach]]es on the guano mound in Gomantong Cave and describes the logistics required to photograph Lechuguilla. Permission for the latter took two years and local authorities are unlikely to allow another visit. === 5. "Deserts" === : ''Originally transmitted: [[2 April]] [[2006]] (UK), [[1 April]] [[2007]] (US)'' This instalment features the harsh environment that covers one third of the Earth: the [[desert]]s. Due to [[Siberia]]n winds, [[Mongolia]]'s [[Gobi Desert]] reaches extremes of temperature like no other, ranging from –40°C to +50°C. It is home to the rare [[Bactrian Camel|Bactrian camel]], which eats snow to maintain its fluid level and must limit itself to 10 [[litre]]s a day if it is not to prove fatal. [[Africa]]'s [[Sahara Desert|Sahara]] is the size of the [[United States|USA]], and just one of its severe [[dust storm]]s could cover the whole of [[Great Britain]]. While some creatures, such as the [[dromedary]], take them in their stride, for others the only escape from such bombardments is to bury themselves in the sand. Few rocks can resist them either and the outcrops shown in [[Egypt]]'s [[Farafra, Egypt|White Desert]] are being inexorably eroded. The biggest dunes (300 metres high) are to be found in [[Namibia]], while other deserts featured are the [[Atacama Desert|Atacama]] in [[Chile]], the [[Sonoran Desert|Sonoran]] in [[Arizona]], and areas of the Australian outback and [[Utah]]. Animals shown surviving in such an unforgiving habitat include elephants, [[lion]]s (hunting [[oryx]]), [[red kangaroo]]s (which moisten their forelegs with saliva to keep cool), nocturnal [[Fennec|fennec fox]]es, acrobatic flat [[lizard]]s feeding on [[black fly|black flies]], and duelling Nubian ibex. The final sequence illustrates one of nature's most fearsome spectacles: a billion-strong plague of [[desert locust]]s, destroying all vegetation in its path. ''Planet Earth Diaries'' explains how the hunt for the elusive Bactrian camels necessitated a two-month trek in Mongolia. === 6. "Ice Worlds" === : ''Originally transmitted: [[5 November]] [[2006]] (UK), [[1 April]] [[2007]] (US)'' The sixth programme looks at the regions of the [[Arctic]] and [[Antarctica]]. The latter contains 90% of the world's ice, and stays largely deserted until the spring, when visitors arrive to harvest its waters. [[Snow petrel]]s take their place on [[nunatak]]s and begin to court, but are preyed on by [[South Polar skua]]s. During summer, a pod of [[humpback whale]]s hunt [[krill]] by creating a spiralling net of bubbles. The onset of winter sees the journey of [[emperor penguin]]s to their breeding grounds, 100 miles inland. Their eggs transferred to the males for safekeeping, the females return to the ocean while their partners huddle into large groups to endure the extreme cold. At the northern end of the planet, Arctic residents include [[musk ox]]en, who are hunted by [[Arctic fox]]es and [[Arctic Wolf|wolves]]. A female [[polar bear]] and her two cubs head off across the ice to look for food. As the sun melts the ice, a glimpse of the Earth's potential future reveals a male polar bear that is unable to find a firm footing anywhere and has to resort to swimming — which it cannot do indefinitely. Its desperate need to eat brings it to a colony of [[walrus]]. Although it attacks repeatedly, the herd is successful in evading it by returning to the sea. Wounded and unable to feed, the bear will not survive. Meanwhile, back in Antarctica, the eggs of the emperor penguins finally hatch. ''Planet Earth Diaries'' tells of the battle with the elements to obtain the penguin footage and of unwelcome visits from polar bears. === 7. "Great Plains" === : ''Originally transmitted: [[12 November]] [[2006]] (UK), [[8 April]] [[2007]] (US)'' This episode deals with [[savanna]], [[steppe]], [[tundra]], [[prairie]], and looks at the importance and resilience of [[grass]]es in such treeless ecosystems. Their vast expanses contain the largest concentration of animal life. In [[Outer Mongolia]], a herd of [[Mongolian gazelle]] flee a [[wildfire|bush fire]] and has to move on to new grazing, but grass can repair itself rapidly and soon reappears. On the Arctic tundra during spring, millions of [[Bird migration|migratory]] [[Snow Goose|snow geese]] arrive to breed and their young are preyed on by Arctic foxes. Meanwhile, [[time-lapse]] photography depicts moving herds of caribou as a calf is brought down by a chasing wolf. On the [[North America]]n prairie, [[American Bison|bison]] engage in the ritual to establish the dominant males. The [[Tibetan Plateau]] is the highest of the plains and despite its relative lack of grass, animals do survive there, including [[yak]] and [[kiang|wild ass]]. However, the area's most numerous resident is the [[pika]], whose nemesis is the [[Tibetan fox]]. In tropical [[India]], the tall grasses hide some of the largest creatures and also the smallest, such as the [[pygmy hog]]. The final sequence depicts the African savannah and [[African elephant|elephant]]s that are forced to share a waterhole with a pride of thirty lions. The insufficient water makes it an uneasy alliance and the latter gain the upper hand during the night when their hunger drives them to hunt and eventually kill one of the pachyderms. ''Planet Earth Diaries'' explains how the lion hunt was filmed in darkness using [[infrared]] light. === 8. "Jungles" === : ''Originally transmitted: [[19 November]] [[2006]] (UK), [[15 April]] [[2007]] (US)'' The next instalment examines [[jungle]]s and [[Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests|tropical rainforests]]. These environments occupy only 3% of the land yet are home to over half of the world's species. [[New Guinea]] is inhabited by almost 40 kinds of [[bird of paradise|birds of paradise]], which avoid conflict with each other by living in different parts of the island. Some of their elaborate courtship displays are shown. Within the dense [[canopy (forest)|forest canopy]], [[sunlight]] is prized, and the death of a [[tree]] triggers a race by saplings to fill the vacant space. [[Ficus|Fig]]s are a widespread and popular food, and as many as 44 types of [[bird]] and [[monkey]] have been observed picking from a single tree. The sounds of the jungle throughout the day are explored, from the early morning calls of [[siamang]]s and [[orangutan]]s to the nocturnal cacophony of courting [[tree frog]]s. The importance of [[fungus|fungi]] to the rainforest is illustrated by a sequence of them fruiting, including a [[parasitism|parasite]] called [[cordyceps]]. The mutual benefits of the relationship between carnivorous [[pitcher plant]]s and red [[crab spider]]s is also discussed. In the [[Republic of the Congo|Congo]], roaming [[African Forest Elephant|forest elephants]] are shown reaching a clearing to feed on essential [[clay]] minerals within the mud. Finally, [[chimpanzee]]s are one of the few jungle animals able to traverse both the forest floor and the canopy in search of food. In [[Uganda]], members of a 150-strong community of the primates mount a raid into neighbouring territory in order to gain control of it. ''Planet Earth Diaries'' looks at filming displaying birds of paradise, focusing mainly on the filming of the [[Parotia|Six-plumed Bird of Paradise]]. === 9. "Shallow Seas" === : ''Originally transmitted: [[26 November]] [[2006]] (UK), [[8 April]] [[2007]] (US)'' This programme is devoted to the shallow seas that fringe the world's [[continent]]s. Although they constitute 8% of the oceans, they contain most marine life. As humpback whales return to breeding grounds in the tropics, a mother and its calf are followed. While the latter takes in up to 500 litres of milk a day, its parent will starve until it travels back to the poles to feed — and it must do this while it still has sufficient energy left for the journey. The coral reefs of [[Indonesia]] are home to the biggest variety of ocean dwellers. Examples include banded sea [[bungarus|krait]]s, which ally themselves with [[goatfish]] and [[white trevally|trevally]] in order to hunt. In [[Western Australia]], [[dolphin]]s 'hydroplane' in the shallowest waters to catch a meal, while in [[Bahrain]], 100,000 [[Socotra Cormorant|Socotra cormorant]]s rely on [[shamal (wind)|shamal]]s that blow sand grains into the nearby [[Persian Gulf]], transforming it into a rich fishing ground. The appearance of [[algae]] in the spring starts a food chain that leads to an abundant harvest, and [[sea lion]]s and [[dusky dolphin]]s are among those taking advantage of it. In [[Southern Africa]], as [[squid|chokka squid]] are preyed on by [[short-tail stingray]], the [[Cape fur seal]]s that share the waters are hunted by the world's largest predatory fish: the [[great white shark]]. On [[Prince Edward Islands|Marion Island]] in the [[Indian Ocean]], a group of [[king penguin]]s must cross a beach occupied by fur seals that do not hesitate to attack them. ''Planet Earth Diaries'' shows the difficulties of filming the one-second strike of a great white shark. === 10. "Seasonal Forests" === : ''Originally transmitted: [[3 December]] [[2006]] (UK), [[22 April]] [[2007]] (US)'' The penultimate episode surveys the [[Pinophyta|coniferous]] and [[deciduous]] seasonal woodland habitats — the most extensive forests on Earth. Conifers begin sparsely in the Arctic but soon dominate the land, and the [[taiga]] circles the globe, containing a third of all the Earth's trees. Few creatures can survive the Arctic climate all year round, but the [[moose]] and [[wolverine]] are exceptions. 1600 kilometres to the south, on the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] coast of North America, conifers have reached their full potential. These include some of the world's tallest trees: the [[sequoia|redwood]]s. Here, a [[Pine Marten|pine marten]] is shown stalking a [[Western Gray Squirrel|squirrel]], and [[great grey owl]] chicks take their first flight. Further south still, in the [[Valdivian temperate rain forests|Valdivian forests]] of [[Chile]], a population of smaller animals exist, including the [[pudú]] and the [[kodkod]]. During spring in a European broad-leaved forest, a [[mandarin duck]] leads its day-old family to leap from its tree trunk nest to the leaf litter below. On a summer night on North America's east coast, [[Magicicada|periodical cicada]]s emerge en masse to mate — an event that occurs every seventeen years. After revisiting Russia's [[Amur Leopard|Amur leopard]]s in winter, a timelapse sequence illustrates the effect of the ensuing spring on the deciduous forest floor. In [[India]]'s teak forests, a [[grey langur|langur monkey]] strays too far from the [[chital]] that act as its sentinels and falls prey to a [[tiger]]. ''Planet Earth Diaries'' explains how aerial shots of the [[baobab]] were achieved by the use of a [[cinebulle]], an adapted [[hot air balloon]]. === 11. "Ocean Deep" === : ''Originally transmitted: [[10 December]] [[2006]] (UK), [[25 March]] [[2007]] (US)'' The final instalment concentrates on the most unexplored area of the planet: the deep ocean. It begins with a [[whale shark]] used as a shield by a shoal of bait fish to protect themselves from [[yellowfin tuna]]. Also shown is an [[oceanic whitetip shark]] trailing rainbow runners. Meanwhile, a 500-strong school of [[dolphin]]s head for the [[Azores]], where they work together to feast on scad mackerel. Down in the ocean's furthest reaches, some creatures defy classification. On the sea floor, scavengers such as the [[Japanese spider crab|spider crab]] bide their time, awaiting carrion from above. The volcanic mountain chain at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean also sustains life through the bacteria that surround its sulphide vents. There are thought to be around 30,000 undersea volcanoes, some of them taller than [[Mount Everest]]. Their sheer cliffs provide anchorage for several corals and sponges. Nearer the surface, the currents that surround these [[seamount]]s force nutrients up from below and thus marine life around them is abundant. Off the [[Mexico|Mexican]] coast, a large group of [[sailfish]] encircle another shoal of bait fish. The hunters change colour as a message of their intentions, since an attack could also be fatal to others of their number. The last sequence depicts the largest animal on Earth: the [[Blue Whale|blue whale]], of which 300,000 once roamed the world's oceans. Now fewer than 3% remain. ''Planet Earth Diaries'' shows the search in the [[Bahamas]] for oceanic whitetip sharks. {{quotation|"Our planet is still full of wonders. As we explore them, so we gain not only understanding, but power. It's not just the future of the whale that today lies in our hands: it's the survival of the natural world in all parts of the living planet. We can now destroy or we can cherish. The choice is ours."| David Attenborough, in closing}} ==''Planet Earth: The Future''== The latter episodes were supplemented by ''Planet Earth: The Future'', a series of three 60-minute films that highlight the conservation issues surrounding some of the featured species and environments. The programmes are narrated by Simon Poland and the series producer was Fergus Beeley. The series began transmission on BBC Four after the ninth episode, "Shallow Seas".<ref name="part two">{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/10_october/12/planet_future.shtml | title = BBC Press Office - Planet Earth Part Two | publisher = [[BBC]] | date = [[2006-10-12]] | accessdate = 2007-03-13}}</ref> === 1. "Saving Species" === Broadcast [[26 November]] [[2006]], the first programme asks if there really is an extinction crisis facing certain species. Alastair Fothergill, series producer of ''Planet Earth'', admits that making the series was a bittersweet experience since some creatures were filmed with the knowledge that their continued existence is under threat. David Attenborough believes that conservation of the natural world is something that can unite humanity if people know enough about it. Cameraman Martyn Colbeck relates that every single day during a six-week African visit to film for "Jungles", he and his crew were awakened by the sound of gunshots. Poaching can quickly wipe out a population, and David Greer of the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]] explains that in 2005 his team confiscated 70 guns in the area — a 700% increase from 1999 . Other featured animals at risk include the [[ibex|walia ibex]], the [[snow leopard]], the [[boto]], and [[saiga antelope]]. The attack of a polar bear on a walrus colony on dry land in "Ice Worlds" was a rare occurrence. Footage is shown from a BBC ''Wildlife Special'' made ten years ago that show the bears hunting smaller prey on frozen ice. Species have always become extinct, but now, the viewer is told, the rate of extinction is accelerating and it will "really reach biblical proportions within a few decades." Mankind is urged to respect [[biodiversity]]: it is estimated that if a monetary value could be put on all that the world's ecosystems do for humanity, it would total some [[US dollar|US$]] 30 trillion. === 2. "Into the Wilderness" === Broadcast [[3 December]] [[2006]], the second part looks at man's potential effect on the world's areas of wilderness. As the human population has grown, only a quarter of Earth's land now remains uninhabited (aside from [[Antarctica]]). Although around 12% is protected, this may be enough — providing such places are not just 'enclosures' and bordering territories are also managed. [[Ethiopia]]'s [[Semien Mountains]] are increasingly encroached upon for farming land, and this example leads to the question of overpopulation. Some interviewees argue that it is not just about numbers: how humans consume their resources is also important. However, others believe that the world would be greatly more sustainable if the population level was reduced to about half its current level. [[Jonathon Porritt]] believes that this could be achieved simply: by good education on [[family planning]]. Consumption of fresh water is highlighted: there are now 40,000 more [[dam]]s in existence than in 1950. The controversy over drilling for oil in the [[Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]] is discussed by both its advocates and opponents. [[Biophilia hypothesis|Biophelia]] is also examined, and David Attenborough believes that a child's innate love of wildlife, for whatever reason, is being lost in adulthood. An answer to [[deforestation]] is found in [[Costa Rica]], where farmers are paid to allow their pasture to revert to forest for its water services. The programme also deals with [[climate change]], which is now happening at a faster rate than ever before. === 3. "Living Together" === Broadcast [[10 December]] [[2006]], the last programme deals with the future of conservation. It begins by looking at previous efforts. The 'Save the Whale' campaign, which started in the 1960s, is seen to have had a limited effect, as whaling continues and fish stocks also decline. In the 1990s, as head of the [[Kenya]] Wildlife Service, [[Richard Leakey]] took on the poachers by employing armed units. Although it was successful in saving elephants, the policy was detrimental to the [[Maasai]] people, who were forced from their land. The need for "fortress" areas is questioned, and the recently highlighted [[Raja Ampat]] [[coral reef]] in [[Indonesia]] is an example. The more tourism it generates, the greater the potential for damage — and inevitable coastal construction. [[Sustainable development]] is viewed as controversial, and one contributor perceives it to currently be a "contradiction in terms". [[Trophy hunting]] is also contentious. Those that support it argue that it generates wealth for local economies, while its opponents point to the reducing numbers of species such as the [[markhor]]. [[Ecotourism]] is shown to be beneficial, as it is in the interests of its providers to protect their environments. However, in some areas, such as the [[Borneo]] rainforests, the great diversity of species is being replaced by [[monoculture]]s. The role of both [[religion]] and the media in conservation is argued to be extremely important. Contributors to the programme admit a degree of worry about the future, but also optimism. == DVD and books == [[Image:planetearthdvd.jpg|right|thumb|''Planet Earth'' DVD © BBC]] A five-disc DVD boxed set of the complete series (BBCDVD1883) was released in the UK for [[DVD region code|regions 2 and 4]] ([[PAL]]) on [[27 November]], [[2006]]. It is presented in 5.1-channel [[Dolby Digital]] [[surround sound]] and [[aspect ratio (image)#16:9 standard|16:9 widescreen]] video. The bonus features include ''Planet Earth Diaries'' (ten minutes of behind-the-scenes footage for each episode, as on their original broadcasts) and ''Planet Earth: The Future'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/923038/Planet_Earth_Box_Set/Product.html |publisher=[[Play.com]] |title=Planet Earth DVD Box Set |accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref> the three documentaries as detailed above. [[BBC Worldwide|2 entertain]], which publishes and distributes BBC programming on DVD, produced four-disc [[High-definition television|high-definition]] versions of ''Planet Earth'' on [[Blu-ray Disc]] and [[HD DVD]] in the [[United States|US]]. The boxed sets were released on [[24 April]] [[2007]], just after the series ended its run on the Discovery Channel.<ref name="dvdtimes" /> Both the Blu-ray and HD DVD versions feature high-definition transfers (in [[1080i]] resolution, although these releases are sometime mistakenly labelled as [[1080p]]) of the original UK broadcast, as narrated by David Attenborough — even though the US Discovery Channel broadcast featured [[Sigourney Weaver]] as its narrator. The Blu-ray set contains four [[Blu-ray Disc#Technical specifications|single-layer BD-25]] discs,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MRAAJM/ |title=Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series (Blu-ray) |accessdate=2007-06-29 |date=[[2007-04-24]] |publisher=Amazon.com}}</ref> while the HD DVD set uses four [[HD DVD#Disc structure|dual-layer HD DVD-30]] discs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MRAAJW/ |title=Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series (HD DVD) |accessdate=2007-06-29 |date=[[2007-04-24]] |publisher=Amazon.com}}</ref> Except for a small amount of extremely hard-to-obtain footage,<ref>This information can be found on the back of the American HD boxed sets,</ref> the series was originally filmed entirely in high definition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MR9D5E/ |title=Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series: DVD |accessdate=2007-06-29 |date=[[2007-04-24]] |publisher=Amazon.com}}</ref> However, the high-definition releases omit the extra disc of bonus features that is present on the [[standard-definition television|standard-definition]] boxed set.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dvd.ign.com/articles/799/799271p2.html |title=Planet Earth: The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Review |accessdate=2007-06-29 |last=Iverson |first=Dan |coauthors=Christopher Monfette |date=[[2007-06-20]] |publisher=IGN DVD}}</ref> The Blu-ray region B boxed set and HD DVD boxed set (as sold in countries such as the UK and New Zealand <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Planet-Earth-Complete-BBC-Blu-ray/dp/B000SKNIWE |title=Planet Earth: Complete BBC Series (Blu-Ray) |accessdate=2008-02-22 |date=[[2007-11-12]] |publisher=Amazon.co.uk}}</ref>) includes a fifth disc containing two episodes from the BBC ''[[Natural World]]'' series, "Desert Lions" and "Snow Leopard: Beyond the Myth". It is not known exactly why the standard definition and high-definition versions have this differing content but given that the ''Natural World'' content is in 1080i it is hypothesised that the ''Planet Earth Diaries'' and ''Planet Earth: The Future'' were filmed in standard definition only, and that there was an intention to avoid standard definition material where possible in the Blu-ray release. Regardless, all iterations of the series on home video have sold extremely well: as of [[June 29]] [[2007]], the HD DVD and Blu-ray sets ranked twelfth and fourteenth, respectively, on Amazon.com's [http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/dvd/ DVD Bestsellers List], while the DVD boxed set was at number one. [[BBC Books]] has issued three publications. The accompanying book, written by Alastair Fothergill with a foreword by David Attenborough, was published in hardback on [[5 October]], [[2006]] (ISBN 0-563-52212-7). In addition, a 'behind the scenes' paperback, ''Planet Earth: The Making of an Epic Series'' by David Nicholson-Lord, was published on [[9 March]], [[2006]] (ISBN 0-563-49358-5). A second paperback, a companion to ''Planet Earth: The Future'' edited by Fergus Beeley and Rosamund Kidman Cox with a foreword by Jonathon Porritt, was also published on [[October 5]], [[2006]] (ISBN 0-563-53905-4). == Soundtrack == On [[November 20]] [[2006]] a CD was released with a compilation of the [[incidental music]] in ''Planet Earth''. The two-disc set was split between parts one and two of the series as originally transmitted. The music was composed by [[George Fenton]] and performed by the [[BBC Concert Orchestra]]. {{Infobox Album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums --> Name = Planet Earth | Type = [[Soundtrack]] | Artist = [[George Fenton]] | Cover = Planetearthalbumartwork.JPG | Released = [[November 20]], [[2006]]| Recorded = | Genre = Soundtrack | Length = 2:12:00 | Label = [[EMI]]| Producer = [[BBC]] | Reviews = | Last album = | This album = '''''Planet Earth''''' (2006) | Next album = |}} === Disc 1 === {| class="wikitable" ! # !! Track Title !! Track Length !! Episode Title |- | 1 || "Prelude" || 1:57 || "From Pole to Pole" |- | 2 || "The Journey of the Sun" || 3:28 || "From Pole to Pole" |- | 3 || "Hunting Dogs" || 3:26 || "From Pole to Pole" |- | 4 || "Elephants in the Okovango" || 3:07 || "From Pole to Pole" |- | 5 || "Diving into the Darkness" || 3:01 || "Caves" |- | 6 || "Stalactite Gallery" || 2:26 || "Caves" |- | 7 || "Bat Hunt" || 2:59 || "Caves" |- | 8 || "Discovering Deer Cave" || 3:49 || "Caves" |- | 9 || "Angel Falls" || 2:21 || "Fresh Water" |- | 10 || "River Predation" || 4:09 || "Fresh Water" |- | 11 || "Iguacu" || 2:06 || "Fresh Water" |- | 12 || "The Snow Geese" || 2:01 || "Fresh Water" |- | 13 || "The Geladas" || 2:39 || "Mountains" |- | 14 || "The Snow Leopard" || 4:00 || "Mountains" |- | 15 || "The Karakoram" || 1:54 || "Mountains" |- | 16 || "The Earths Highest Challenge" || 5:31 || "Mountains" |- | 17 || "Desert Winds / The Locusts" || 4:58 || "Deserts" |- | 18 || "Fly Catchers" || 1:42 || "Deserts" |- | 19 || "Namibia — The Lions and the Oryx" || 5:10 || "Deserts" |} === Disc 2 === {| class="wikitable" ! # !! Track Title !! Track Length !! Episode Title |- | 1 || "Plains High and Low" || 2:40 || "Great Plains" |- | 2 || "The Wolf and the Caribou" || 3:47 || "Great Plains" |- | 3 || "Tibet (Reprise) / Close" || 3:46 || "Great Plains" |- | 4 || "Surfing Dolphins" || 2:41 || "Shallow Seas" |- | 5 || "Dangerous Landing" || 3:20 || "Shallow Seas" |- | 6 || "Mother and Calf — The Great Journey" || 5:19 || "Shallow Seas" |- | 7 || "The Canopy / Flying Lemur" || 2:45 || "Jungles" |- | 8 || "Frog Ballet / Jungle Falls" || 3:37 || "Jungles" |- | 9 || "The Cordyceps" || 2:55 || "Jungles" |- | 10 || "Hunting Chimps" || 4:10 || "Jungles" |- | 11 || "The Redwoods" || 4:40 || "Seasonal Forests" |- | 12 || "Fledglings" || 3:43 || "Seasonal Forests" |- | 13 || "Seasonal Change" || 5:40 || "Seasonal Forests" |- | 14 || "Discovering Antarctica" || 2:42 || "Ice Worlds" |- | 15 || "The Humpbacks' Bubblenet" || 2:59 || "Ice Worlds" |- | 16 || "Everything Leaves but the Emperors" || 2:27 || "Ice Worlds" |- | 17 || "The Disappearing Sea Ice" || 3:45 || "Ice Worlds" |- | 18 || "Lost in the Storm" || 1:16 || "Ice Worlds" |- | 19 || "A School of Five Hundred" || 3:39 || "Ocean Deep" |- | 20 || "Giant Mantas" || 2:50 || "Ocean Deep" |- | 21 || "Life Near the Surface" || 2:06 || "Ocean Deep" |- | 22 || "The Choice Is Ours" || 3:13 || "Ocean Deep" |} == Overseas == The BBC pre-sold the series to several overseas broadcasters.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2005/04_april/planet_earth_presales.shtml | publisher = [[BBC]] | title = BBC Press Office - New Zealand and Scandinavian pre-sales for ''Planet Earth'' | date = [[2005-04-11]] | accessdate = 2007-03-13}}</ref> Among them are: * [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]], [[Australia]] * [[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]], [[Austria]] * [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]], [[Canada]] * [[VTR Globalcom|Vive! HD]], [[Chile]] * [[Croatian Radiotelevision|HRT]], [[Croatia]] * [[Danmarks Radio|DR]], [[Denmark]] * [[Norsk rikskringkasting|NRK]], [[Norway]] * [[YLE]], [[Finland]] * [[Westdeutscher Rundfunk|WDR]], [[Germany]] * [[TVB Pearl]] and [[TVB HD Jade]], [[Hong Kong SAR]] * [[RÚV]], [[Iceland]] * [[Discovery Channel]], [[India]] * [[Israel Broadcasting Authority]] (Channel 1), [[Israel]] * [[KBS]], [[Republic of Korea]] * [[Prime Television New Zealand|Prime Television]], [[New Zealand]] * [[TVP1]], [[Poland]] * [[Sociedade Independente de Comunicação|SIC]], [[Portugal]] * [[Channel One (Russia)|C1R]], [[Russia]] * [[MediaCorp TV12 Central|MediaCorp TV12 Arts Central]], [[Singapore]] * [[Slovenská televízia]], [[Slovakia]] * [[RTVSLO]], [[Slovenia]] * [[Sveriges Television|SVT]], [[Sweden]] * [[NTV Turkey|NTV]], [[Turkey]] The series was eventually sold to 130 countries.<ref name="radiotimes" /> In addition, [[BBC Worldwide]] and Greenlight Media secured financing for a $15m film version of ''Planet Earth'', to be distributed in several territories. This follows the earlier success of a theatrical edition of ''The Blue Planet'', entitled ''Deep Blue''.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2005/02_february/planet_earth_movie.shtml | title = BBC Press Office - ''Planet Earth'' set for movie release | publisher = [[BBC]] | date = [[2005-02-28]] | accessdate = 2007-03-13}}</ref> ''[[Earth (2007 film)|Earth]]'' was directed by Alastair Fothergill and Mark Winfield; it is of 90 minutes' duration and was released in autumn 2007.<ref name="part two" /> === US broadcast === In the [[United States|USA]], the series was broadcast on the Discovery Channel and in high-definition on [[Discovery HD Theater]] in 2007. The episodes were shown in a different order to the original, as follows: # "From Pole To Pole": [[25 March]][[2007]] at 8pm [[North American Eastern Time Zone|ET]] # "Mountains": [[25 March]] at 9pm ET # "Ocean Deep": [[25 March]] at 10pm ET # "Deserts": [[1 April]] at 8pm ET # "Ice Worlds": [[1 April]] at 9pm ET # "Shallow Seas": [[8 April]] at 8pm ET # "Great Plains": [[8 April]] at 9pm ET # "Jungles": [[15 April]] at 8pm ET # "Fresh Water": [[15 April]] at 9pm ET # "Seasonal Forests": [[22 April]] at 8pm ET # "Caves": [[22 April]] at 9pm ET * ''The Making of Planet Earth'': [[29 April]] at 8pm ET The U.S. version also features a new narrator: award-winning actress and conservationist [[Sigourney Weaver]]. The Discovery Channel DVD, Blu-ray, and HD DVD release contain this new narration, but the BBC's DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD releases in the USA feature the original version with [[David Attenborough]] as narrator. In addition, the ''Planet Earth Diaries'' segment was retitled ''Capturing the Shot'' in the Discovery Channel version. This will not air on the Canadian Discovery Channel, as it is owned by [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] and the Canadian rights were exclusively sold to [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]].<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/23/AR2007032301868.html The Washington Post: Tom Shales - Wonders Never Cease on ''Planet Earth'']</ref> Furthermore, the U.S. version includes different theme music: "The Time Has Come" from [http://www.epicscore.com/ Epic Score], composed by Gabriel Shadid and Tobias Marberger.<ref name="soundtrack">{{cite web | url = http://www.soundtrack.net/trailers/?cid=P&mid=29360 | title = Soundtrack.net: ''Planet Earth'' trailer}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's James Poniewozik named it one of the Top 10 New TV Series of 2007, ranking it at #4.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/article/0,30583,1686204_1686244_1691350,00.html Poniewozik, James; Top 10 New TV Series; time.com]</ref> == References == {{reflist|2}} == External links == * [http://www.bbc.co.uk/planetearth ''Planet Earth''] at [[bbc.co.uk]] * [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article732232.ece Alastair Fothergill discusses ''Planet Earth''], ''[[The Times]]'' * [http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/planet-earth/planet-earth.html Discovery Channel website] * [http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:mixonline.com/sound4picture/film_tv/audio_trailer_mixing_music/+%22Epic+Score,+by+L.A.-based+composer/mixer+Gabriel+Shadid+and+Swedish+promo+music+composer+Tobias+Marberger%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us Mixonline.com: Trailer mixing and music] {{David Attenborough Television Series}} [[Category:BBC television documentaries]] [[Category:BBC high definition programmes]] [[Category:Nature documentaries]] [[Category:Environmental films]] [[Category:Peabody Award winners]] [[de:Planet Erde]] [[it:Planet Earth]] [[he:עולם מופלא]] [[nl:Planet Earth (documentaire)]] [[ja:プラネットアース]] [[fi:Planeettamme Maa]] [[sv:Planet Earth (TV-serie)]] [[th:แพลนเน็ตเอิร์ธ]] [[zh:天與地 (紀錄片)]]