Subject: Science: Environment

Nature's Treasures: Preserve and Protect Series

This series examines a diversity of animals and ecosystems, focusing especially on a large number of endangered species. Each program studies the interrelationship of the environment, animals, and human beings, and stresses the need to preserve and protect nature's treasures. (Formerly The Global Family Series) Produced by NHK Japan and TVO. Programs available on 39 individual DVDs, Digital Streaming Files or Videos; also in a 39-Disc Set. For pricing call in US: 800.876.2447/Intl. 603.434.9262 or e-mail
Also See: Animal Conservation Series; The Global Family: Evolution and Adaptation Series

List of Titles

Amur Leopard

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, Click for more

Aphids (cc)

"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 Click for more

Bird Refuge in Tokyo Bay

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. Click for more

The Blakiston Fish Owl

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 Click for more

Brush Turkey

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 Click for more

The Butterfly Farmers

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 Click for more

Dragonflies: Unique Breeding Strategies (cc)

Editor's Choice Award -Science Books & Films
"Highly Recommended. A glimpse of dragonflies has been captured 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, Click for more

Eagles Over the Ice

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 Click for more

The Eider Duck: Farming Down

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 Click for more

The Elusive Bengal Tiger

"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 Click for more

Fighting Back: A River Clings to Life

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 Click for more

The Firefly Squid: Light From the Depths

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 Click for more

Friend and Hunter of Mongolian Wolves

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 Click for more

Galapagos 1: Preservation or Profit?

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 Click for more

Galapagos 2: A Living Laboratory

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 Click for more

Horseshoe Crab, Living Fossil

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 Click for more

In Search of Arctic Whales

"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, Click for more

Kiwis: Birds From Another Time

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 Click for more

The Kuril Seals of Cape Erimo

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 Click for more

Last Refuge of the Spanish Lynx

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 Click for more

The Mangrove: Between Soil and Sea (cc)

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 Click for more

The Migration of the Red Crabs

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 Click for more

Northern Fur Seals

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 Click for more

Orangutan: People of the Trees

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 Click for more

Osprey, Sentinel of the Great Lakes

"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, Click for more

Otter - Clown of the Sea

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 Click for more

Pelican Passover

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 Click for more

Peregrine Falcon: The Feathered Missile

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 Click for more

The Renaissance of the Indian Rhinoceros

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 Click for more

Resurrection of the Animals

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. Click for more

Seabirds: A Tale of Two Islands

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. Click for more

Shorelines: The Endless Ribbon

"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, Click for more

Stone Age Apes

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. Click for more

Streaked Shearwaters: Sacred Birds of Spring

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. Click for more

The Time of the Caribou

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 Click for more

Under the Desert Sun

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. Click for more

Valley of the Elk

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.
Also See: Click for more

White Stork - Birds That Bring Happiness

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. Click for more

Winter of the Golden Eagle

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. Click for more