Inside Nature's Giants

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Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

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In the Press

"This is a rare thing - a hardcore biological science documentary that will both entertain and enlighten almost anyone who watches... Watch it. It's amazing."
Charlie Brooker, The Guardian

"Death has always been what’s missing from natural history films, and Inside Nature’s Giants brings death back to life. Long may it continue to chop up nature’s long, short, tall and ugly."
AA Gill, Times Online

"Who’d have thought they could make must-see telly out of dead animals?"
AA Gill, The Times

"( Whale) No monster movie could ever match this for true wonder."
Evening Standard

"It's eye poppingly different, fascinating, completely unlike any other natrual history programme."
Julian Bellamy, Head of Programming, C4

"Elephant- It was one hell of a ride. and for that matter one hell of a hide."
Andrew Billen, The Times

"This is epic television - seamlessly mixing entertainment with information."
Broadcast Award 2010 Judge

"A true TV event, an original way into natural history."
Broadcast Award 2010 Judge

"A unique programme. It bridged insight and entertainment."
Broadcast Award 2010 Judge

The Series

Inside Nature's Giants dissects the largest animals on the planet to uncover their evolutionary secrets.

Most wildlife documentaries tell you how an animal behaves, but by dissecting the animal and studying its anatomy we can we can see how it actually works.

Experts in comparative anatomy, evolution and behaviour put some of the most popular and enigmatic large animals under the knife. Veterinary scientist, Mark Evans, interprets their findings, biologist Simon Watt tests the animals' physiology in the field and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins reflects how evolutionary history has determined the animals' unique anatomy.

Episode 1 - The Elephant How did evolution overcome the challenges of being as big as an elephant? And how did the elephant get the most versatile limb on the planet - the trunk?

Episode 2 - The Whale Experts dissect a 20 metre, 50 tonne fin whale that has died after being stranded off the coast of Ireland. It's a race against time as whale anatomist Joy Reidenberg flies in from New York before the animal's decomposition causes it to explode on the beach.

Episode 3 - The Crocodile Veterinary scientist Mark Evans joins experts in anatomy, evolution and behaviour in a bid to get under the skin of the crocodile, as biologist Simon Watt travels to Florida to test the huge strength of the massive reptile's bite: the most powerful in the animal kingdom.

Episode 4 - The Giraffe Creationists question how this extraordinary creature could have evolved such a long neck, but for Professor Richard Dawkins the anatomy of the world's tallest animal provides some of the best arguments in favour of Darwinian natural selection.

Credits

Executive Producer

David Dugan

Producer/Director

Jamie Lochhead
Julian Thomas

Presenter

Mark Evans
Simon Watt

Line Producer

Yvonne Bainton

Assistant Producer

Alex Tate
Tom Mustill

Researcher