Animal Planet Documentaries
Season 1
TV-G
A collection of stand alone documentaries from the Animal Planet Channel
Where to Watch Season 1
47 Episodes
- Chernobyl: Life in the Dead ZoneE1
Chernobyl: Life in the Dead ZoneWhat would happen if the world were suddenly without people – if humans vanished off the face of the earth? How would nature react - and how swiftly? This is science fact, not fiction. This habitat is REAL. The species we see are not cartoon characters, but representatives of a living legacy, involved in a genuine drama still unfolding today. The film takes place at the site of the world's worst nuclear accident, hastily abandoned by panic-stricken humans 20 years ago. On April 25/26th 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant located 80 miles north of Kiev in the former USSR (now Ukraine) lost control of one of its 4 reactors. At 1:23am the resulting chain reaction created a series of explosions. A devastating fireball blew off the reactor's heavy steel and concrete lid. In the immediate aftermath more than 30 died. Highly radioactive fall-out flooded everything within a 20-mile radius: 35,000 cattle and 135,000 people had to be evacuated. Only wild animals remained. While humans have made life in this land impossible for themselves, animals have found a way. They have not just survived: they have thrived. - Dragons: A Fantasy Made RealE3
Dragons: A Fantasy Made RealThe Last Dragon, known as Dragons : A Fantasy Made Real in the United States, and also known as Dragon's World in other countries, is a docudrama made by Animal Planet that is described as the story of "the natural history of the most extraordinary creature that never existed". It posits the theoretical evolution of dragons from the Cretaceous period up to the 15th century, and theories about what dragon life and behaviour might have been like if they had existed and evolved. It uses the premise that the ubiquity of dragons in world mythology suggests that dragons could have existed. They are a species that are scientifically feasible and could have evolved, although they did not. The dragons featured in the show were designed by John Sibbick. The program switches between two stories. The first uses CGI to show the dragons in their natural habitat throughout history. The second shows the story of a modern day scientist at a museum, Dr. Tanner, who believes in dragons. When the frozen remains of an unknown creature are discovered in the Carpathian mountains, Tanner, and two colleagues from the museum, undertake the task to examine the specimen to try to save his reputation. Once there, they discover that the creature is a dragon. Tanner and his colleagues set about working out how it lived and died. - The World's Biggest and Baddest BugsE4
The World's Biggest and Baddest BugsIn this two hour special, Entomologist Ruud Kleinpaste is on a mission to find the biggest and baddest bugs on earth. He'll do almost anything in order to demonstrate his love and enthusiasm for insects including covering himself with killer bees, enduring painful bullet ant stings and getting up close and personal with a goliath bird-eating spider. Ruud will do his best to put bugs in terms that we can understand. To prove that size does matter, when it comes to hercules beetles, he'll battle a sumo wrestler over a slice of pizza. Stunts like these show that Ruud is the ultimate bug PR man, and he'll do what it takes to make you respect his clients. - The Last Rhino
E6The Last RhinoIn a Southeast Asian jungle, a rare glimpse at one of the most exotic and endangered species in the world. It's the Sumatran rhino. Hunted by poachers to the brink of extinction, this rhino named Torgamba, rescued by scientists from certain death, will be shipped halfway around the world and back, all in a last ditch effort to avoid becoming the last rhino. In the early 1980's on the island of Sumatra, this rhino, who was about four years old, lived in quiet obscurity until 1985... when fate opened up the outside world to him. A male rhino just reaching maturity, he was named after the rainforest of Torgamba, which his ancestors had wandered for countless generations before him. Back in 1985, no one could foresee that Torgamba would play such a critical role in the effort to save his species. After all, few humans had ever observed a Sumatran rhino outside a zoo. This is the most extensive footage ever shown of the secretive rhinos in their native habitat, thanks to special sanctuaries recently carved into the jungle in Indonesia and Malaysia for Torgamba and a select few of his companions. - Help! I'm Becoming a Cat Lady!E7
Help! I'm Becoming a Cat Lady!From the woman who thinks of her cats as her babies to the shut-in trying to save the world one cat at a time, dating coach Alyson Mischel brings her expertise to cat ladies of all types to help them get off the couch and into the world of dating. - Hero Dogs of 9/11E18
Hero Dogs of 9/11For the first time, this documentary reveals the unknown true stories of survivors and the working dogs who saved lives at Ground Zero during the September 11, 2001 crisis and aftermath. More than three hundred dogs were part of the rescue and recovery operation, going where it was impossible for humans to follow. The occasional dog collapsed from exhaustion but none of them gave up. Most of these four-legged heroes are now retired but they leave behind a story that must be told. Blind office worker Michael Hingson had to trust his seeing-eye dog Roselle on a treacherous descent of 78 flights of stairs to escape only moments before the towers collapsed. Lt. David Lim of the NY Port Authority Police was called to duty with his explosive detector dog Sirius. Genelle Guzman-McMillan, the last remaining survivor of 9/11, was pinned under the rubble for 27 hours after the buildings collapsed before being found by recovery dogs. - Diving With the Dinosaur FishE24
Diving With the Dinosaur FishThe hunt for a mythic animal once thought to have been extinct for 65 million years: the coelacanth. It can be found 120 metres beneath the ocean off the wild coast of South Africa. French scientists and South African scientists teamed up with experienced Trimix divers, including Peter Timm, who discovered the coelacanths in Sodwana Bay in 2000 and award-winning underwater photographer Mr Laurent Ballesta and his advanced technical dive team to bring you this eye-opening documentary. - The Cannibal in The JungleE26
The Cannibal in The JungleTHE CANNIBAL IN THE JUNGLE follows the story of an American scientist who was convicted of killing and cannibalizing two colleagues in the jungles of Flores, Indonesia in 1977. Branded “The American Cannibal” by the press during his trial, Dr. Timothy Darrow defended himself by claiming a mythic human-ape creature was responsible for the murders. - Gorilla DoctorsE28
Gorilla DoctorsA documentary following a group of doctors from the department of primatology at the University of California whose work sees them follow families of gorillas, deep in the mountains. Their work consists of performing routine check-ups, administering medicines and sometimes even operating in the jungle it's both incredibly risky and extremely important work, with only 880 mountain gorillas left in the world, the gorilla doctors are determined to save the species from dying out completely. - I Was Bitten: The Walker County IncidentE29
I Was Bitten: The Walker County IncidentWhat evil lurks in the woods of Walker County? There have been rumors of creatures similar to Bigfoot, and of large cats known as the Sipsey Creature or the Wampus Cat. There could be a new mysterious beast out there near Jasper. A two-hour Animal Planet special airing Friday night at 6 p.m. Central Time will look into the story of a man who has been "diagnosed as 'Patient Zero'" after he claims he was attacked by "something unspeakable" in the woods. - Extinct Or Alive: The Tasmanian TigerE39
Extinct Or Alive: The Tasmanian TigerThe ferocious Tasmanian Tiger was declared extinct 80 years ago, yet sightings are still reported. A trio of experts venture into Tasmania's undeveloped wilderness in search of one of the most unique and terrifying predators ever to walk the earth. - Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Alive with MagicE42
Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Alive with MagicDisney’s Animal Kingdom: Alive with Magic will feature interviews with the creators and caretakers of this theme park who share conservation messages, reveal immersive encounters with wildlife, as well as peek into the natural habitats of the animals who call Disney’s Animal Kingdom home. The TV special also showcases the can’t-miss attractions and entertainment at Disney’s Animal Kingdom as it transforms from a day-into-nighttime park. There’s also exclusive footage of the new Pandora – The World of Avatar, including interviews with iconic filmmaker James Cameron whose vision of flying on a banshee and sailing through a bioluminescent rainforest becomes a reality.
