| Amur Leopards are amazingly athletic; they can sprint up to 35 mph and can carry prey three times their weight into a tree (that's up to 600 pounds!). They can survive freezing cold Russian winters; their long hair acts as insulation and their long legs help them in the snow. Even though these animals are powerful, they face extinction because of man’s continued poaching and destruction of their habitat. They are critically endangered, less than 50 survive in the wild today. This program takes us to Kedrovaya Pad National Park, the oldest nature reserve in the Russian Far East, to meet some of these remarkable cats. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
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"Highly Recommended. Aphids have a fascinating behavior
and unique ecological niche, as this program vividly demonstrates. We follow
Dr. Masato Sorin, a biologist, as he studies the intricate ways of aphids
and their interactions with other animals, including humans. Aphids
constitute a vital base of an extended food chain encompassing many species
of insects, insect-eating animals and humans." -EMRO Review Aphids can multiply rapidly, spread viruses, and threaten the health of crops; but that does not mean they should be eliminated. Aphids are an essential part of the food chain. Ladybugs, spiders, lacewings and other beneficial insects eat aphids and cannot survive without them. Even humans rely on the biological success of these small insects. Because entire ecosystems are dependent on aphids, it is necessary to recognize the importance of this species. 08DR/CC Closed-Captioned JSCA 30 min. |
| This program introduces viewers to a group of people who have worked long and hard to create a bird sanctuary in Tokyo Bay, one of the world's busiest harbors. Here we see that their rewards are few but promising. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| Blakiston's Fish Owls are the world's largest owls. They once inhabited the whole island of Hokkaido in northern Japan, but now their numbers are in rapid decline. Deforestation is a major problem because the owls live in broadleaf trees. Over fishing is another contributing factor because salmon and trout are the owl's main food source. Today, only 100 owls are estimated to live in the wild. This program highlights one man's commitment to preserving these magnificent birds. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| Australian Brush Turkeys incubate their eggs in a large heap of organic matter. The male builds a large mound and several females lay their eggs in it. Heat given off by rotting vegetation incubates the eggs. The male constantly checks the temperature and adds or removes vegetable matter as needed. When it is time for the eggs to hatch, the male leaves the mound. The hatchlings dig themselves out and must quickly learn how to survive. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| Hairstreak butterflies have very delicate wings; they are also called "gossamer-wing" butterflies. They are small and have a wingspan of less than 2 inches. These butterflies also have an interesting connection with the ant world. Butterfly larvae produce a sugary substance that ants consume and in return the ants protect them from predators. This program explores this symbiotic relationship between these insects and also shows how an ant's burrow changes over a year's time. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
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Editor's Choice Award -Science
Books & Films "Highly Recommended. A glimpse of dragonflies has been capture in this program, filmed primarily in the field; the color photography and narrative are excellent. All parts of the life cycle are addressed. The details of flight, mating, and oviposition are shown in slow motion or close ups. A major part of enjoying nature involves knowing what to observe and how to interpret what is seen. This program documents a nascent beginning of arthropod ecotourism and hopefully will cultivate further opportunities to celebrate the small as well as the large in communities everywhere." -Science Books & Films Associated Article: Dragonfly Mating Game -National Geographic, April, 2006 Dragonflies are some of the world's most ancient creatures. Fossils prove they were flying more than 300 million years ago, which is more than 100 million years before the dinosaur age. Dragonflies are also Japan's most sacred insect; so it appropriate that this program takes viewers to Japan's Dragonfly Kingdom, a wetland park in Nakamura City, dedicated to conserve some 200 indigenous species (of 5,000 in the world), and the perfect place to see their unique egg-laying techniques. 08DR/CC Closed-Captioned JSCA 30 min. |
| The white-tailed eagle is a very large bird with a wingspan up over eight feet wide. They eat fish, sea birds, and ducks. Their hunting strategy is quite resourceful. They keep watch from a high perch and swoop down and pluck a fish from the water's surface-without getting wet! This program documents a family of white-tailed eagles nesting on the Japanese coastline, raising one chick; then suffering through the harshness of a difficult winter. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| In return for the treasure of its down, Icelandic farmers protect the common eider duck when it comes ashore once a year to raise its young. The eider farmers collect the first lining of down from the ducks' nests; then the female ducks reline their nests before laying their eggs. The ducks return to the same nesting place every year and the farmers go to great lengths to create a peaceful environment to attract as many birds as they can. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
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"Highly Recommended. Charismatic mega-fauna like the
tiger help to inspire support for saving species from extinction through
footage that connects viewers with the magnificent presence and beauty of
the animal. It is unusual, however, for the audience to enjoy a true
vicarious experience, one in which they feel they are working side by side
with the researchers - knowing what they know and seeing what they see. This
film delivers that sympathetic experience. The camera work and sound are
excellent, and the editing is beautifully crafted to form a seamless flow of
sight, sound, and information. Particularly useful for zoo research,
ecological studies, conservation, and diversity studies collections.
-EMRO Review In northern India a photographer finds a Bengal tiger he first saw as a cub; then discovers the many problems tigers face trying to survive in a national park. Sadly, Bengal tigers have been hunted almost to extinction. People kill them for sport, for their hides, and to make aphrodisiacs or traditional medicine. 08DR JSCA 30 min. Associated Program: India, the U.S. and the World Bank |
| In this program we learn how efforts to clean up the Tama River that passes through Tokyo, Japan, on its way to the sea have paid off, and once again carp and dace can be found in its upper reaches. The Tama is very important for locals and tourists alike; the river has more than 20 million visitors each year. People enjoy it for recreation and for the opportunity to get closer to nature. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| The program reports on the search for the rare firefly squid, which grow to a length of only three inches are and are found throughout the western Pacific Ocean. We discover that their tentacles light up with a ghostly blue color; also we learn of the tragedy of their reproduction. Female squid come to the surface to spawn (they usually live at depths of up to 1800 feet). After they deposit their eggs, they are often washed up on shore to die. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| The Mongolian wolf comes from Siberia, in the northern-central part of Asia, and is believed to be the spiritual ancestor of all Mongols. Hunters often kill them because they prey on sheep; however, in this program we meet a hunter who takes Mongolian wolf pups from their den and trains them like domestic dogs or to become part of the Mongolian Circus. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
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Associated Article: 28 Places to See Before You
Die -Smithsonian Magazine Tourism is damaging the ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands, and islanders face the dilemma of how to preserve the creatures and habitat that bring in revenue. This program shows how the growing demand for eco-tourism has grown very quickly, and if this trend continues, it will be impossible to maintain the protected islands as they are today. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| Any wildlife that found its way to the Galapagos Islands was forced to adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions. The best examples are Darwin's finches and giant land tortoises. There are 13 different species of finches in the Galapagos, which all look very similar in size and coloration. It is their beaks that set them apart (different beaks for different diets and songs). As for the tortoises, there are 15 races (of the same species), which can be divided into domed and saddle-backed groups. They are the largest land tortoises on earth. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| The horseshoe crab may have been the first creature to leave the ocean and "walk" on land. It is one of the Earth's oldest organisms; it emerged about 100 million years before the dinosaurs. Despite its' ancient history, oceanfront development in New Jersey may put this "living fossil's" existence in jeopardy. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
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"Recommended. This program is divided into three distinct
sections, but they blend together nicely. In addition to rare footage of
Narwhals with their spiral tusk (which we learn is actually their upper left
tooth), the program includes beautiful scenes of the Canadian arctic
including bull musk ox, polar bears, flowers, loons and snow geese. The
challenges of filming in this environment are painfully obvious as we
observe the Inuit guides pulling sleds over uneven ice floes and watch the
preparations necessary for getting underwater footage. White Beluga Whales
are very vocal and have very flexible necks, which makes for interesting
film footage. Through the course of this program viewers will learn about
some of the challenges faced by arctic whale populations and learn about
their biology and ecology as well. The footage is stunning and the clips and
narration are woven together well." -EMRO Review This documentary takes us to Baffin Island in the Arctic Ocean, Nunavut Territory, Canada. Here we have the rare chance to see the elusive Narwhals with their long twisted unicorn-like tusks; next we follow the migration of pods of gleaming white Beluga Whales to the river estuaries of Hudson Bay where we witness their visibly social behavior. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Long ago, New Zealand lacked mammalian predators and the kiwi evolved into a flightless bird. Kiwis are still different in many ways: they have hair-like feathers, heavy bones, and long claws at the end of their wings. They also have a great sense of smell (most birds depend on sight) and kiwis can be heard sniffing around at night for food. Today, kiwis are listed as endangered and are threatened by people and predators. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| This program studies a group of seals living on a remote point of land in northern Japan and shows how they raise their young and teach them how to cope within their environment. These seals we discover have a limited migration and remain close to their breeding sites. Consequently, they are vulnerable to environmental problems and harmful human interaction. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| Spain's Donana National Park, located in the southern part of the country, has a long history of wildlife preservation the forests and woodlands have been protected since the 13th century and are truly pristine. In this program we see how the staff at the park use infrared cameras to record the activity of one of the park's crafty inhabitants, the lynx, in its natural habitat. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| Plants, fish, and crustaceans cope with the extremes of nature twice each day as coastal mangrove swamps are submerged in seawater; then drained and exposed to sunlight and wind. This documentary shows us how mangroves are important because they prevent soil erosion and allow for the movement of elements such as carbon and nitrogen. 08DR/CC Closed-Captioned JSCA 30 min. |
| Once a year on tiny Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, red crabs emerge from their forest homes and migrate to the shore to mate and cast their eggs into the sea. In this program we learn how a female will hold her eggs (up to 100,000) in her brood pouch until they have developed; she will then release her eggs during high tide to ensure their dispersal. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
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Associated Article: A Puzzle in the Pribilofs
-Smithsonian Magazine This program offers a profile of the life cycle of the vulnerable Northern Fur Seal, and also reminds viewer of the many threats to its survival. Today, there are less than one million fur seals in the wild. Commercial fishing vessels and nets kill seals. Over fishing also leads to decreased availability of food for fur seals. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| Deforestation and poaching in Thailand lead a primatologist to abandon her research in order to care for and reintroduce young orphan orangutans to the wild. In this program we discover that repopulating must go along with conservation of tropical rainforests if orangutans are to survive; also we learn it is estimated that there are only 15,000 to 25,000 orangutans left today. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
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"Highly Recommended! Why should we be concerned with the
plight of Ospreys? Similar to humans, these birds are at the top of the food
chain, and serve as living proof that we too are at the mercy of our
environment. In the 1970's the chemical DDT was sprayed in the Great Lakes
region, contaminating the lakes, fish, and anything that relied on those
resources for survival. The remnants of the chemical worked its way up the
food chain to the osprey. Other contributors to their endangerment included
the destruction of their natural habitats. This documentary realistically
depicts the essence of the osprey in its natural habitat. The footage taken
of ospreys nesting on the tops of power poles portrays a startling image.
The program consists entirely of live footage, following scientists in their
efforts to rescue and protect the ospreys in their natural habitat. It
serves as an educational piece on the life of the osprey, but also as a
warning from environmentalists, that ospreys serve as an early indicator of
the contaminants that may soon infect humans." -EMRO Review The increase of chemicals like DDT and PCB in the Great Lakes' region, along with the loss of nesting sites, led to the rapid decline of osprey populations. In this program we discover how conservation plans are finally working and the osprey, or fish hawk, is returning to its old territories in Georgian Bay, often referred to as the "sixth great lake." 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| Sea otters live in cold waters but do not have blubber to keep warm. Instead, they rely on their fur, which is thicker than any other mammal's. Otters have been hunted almost to extinction for these fine pelts. Conservation programs have helped to protect otters and today otter's have their own reserve on Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| Being struck by jet fighters is just one of the risks the white pelican faces during its annual migration from Africa to the Danube delta in Romania. Up to 70,000 of these large water birds migrate each year, creating a haven for birdwatchers. This program shows white pelicans up close and reveals how they overcome incredible odds. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| Peregrine falcons are about half the size of a crow and the fastest bird alive, flying upwards to 200 miles per hour. They can be found throughout the world and usually nest on ledges. In this program we see that in spite of their great speed and flying ability, a falcon on a craggy cliff in north Japan is remarkably vulnerable to predators. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| Indian rhinoceroses are different than other rhinos because they have only one horn. They are huge animals with thick gray skin. In Nepal, their survival is very important to its people and government. This program takes viewers to Chitwan, the country's largest wildlife preserve, to see how a rhino is captured and relocated. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| Many threatened and endangered animals can be found in Israel. This program takes us to an animal preserve where efforts are being made to help animals such as the cony, ibex, leopard, hyena and ostrich. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Guillemots are small black birds with white wing patches and red feet. They are a member of the bird family that includes puffins and auks. On the Russian island of Tyuleni the Guillemot thrives; however, on Japan's Tenbai Island, an expanding human population has led to the near collapse of their seabird community. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
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"Recommended. This program illustrates some of the
human-caused problems that can occur in wetlands and estuaries worldwide. We
learn about the importance of wetlands as sites for primary producers and as
habitat for multiple species; also about problems that can be caused by
housing developments, shoreline modifications, outdated sewage treatment
plants, and the countless, sometimes confusing, laws designed to protect
estuaries and wetlands. The news is not all bad though - we learn of the
efforts of groups like MAPLE (Mutual Association for the Protection of Lake
Environment) and various government agencies to help minimize human impact
on shorelines and improve our stewardship activities. The film footage and
computer generated images are well integrated. The program points out the
lessons learned in Canada are applicable elsewhere as well." -EMRO
Review Shorelines sustain as much as 90 percent of the life found in any lake or river. In this program we study Canada's Rideau Water System in eastern Ontario and see the high environmental cost of clearing shorelines. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| Here we travel to Guinea, West Africa, to watch a family of chimps who use stones as tools to open nuts in order to feed. Like humans, chimps have opposable thumbs, which allow them to grip and utilize tools to their advantage. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| In this program we learn about the Streaked Shearwater, a coastal bird that establishes breeding colonies on islands and along the shore. Shearwaters are named for their ability to fly swiftly just above the ocean surface, which leads the fisherman of Japan's islands to schools of fish at sea. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| Caribou are found above the treeline in the Arctic; they are well adapted to the harsh climate. But because they only eat lichens in the winter, they must migrate great distances every year. In the spring, we see a herd of caribou arrive for the calving season and then retreat south past native communities that depend on them for winter food. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| In this illuminating program many of the plants and animals that thrive in the world's seemingly inhospitable deserts reveal many fascinating strategies for survival and reproduction. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
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Associated Article: End of the Road?
-Smithsonian Magazine The Grand Teton National Park in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is a winter refuge for wild elk. This ecosystem supports the largest elk herd remaining in the world (about 3,000). In this program we see how wildlife managers must juggle increasing numbers and a shrinking habitat. 08DR JSCA 30 min. Associated Program: Winter Ecology |
| White storks are symbols of happiness and good luck. Because of this, many people welcome the sight of stork nests in their communities. Today, the birds are threatened because of diminishing wetlands, but their behavior has inspired some clever schemes to help preserve their habitat. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |
| Documentarians used remote-control cameras to watch the nesting habits of a family of golden eagles in Northern Japan in the middle of winter. Eaglets weigh only three ounces when they are born and stay in the nest for up to eleven weeks before they fledge. Sadly, only one nesting chick usually survives to spring. 08DR JSCA 30 min. |