Seven Worlds, One Planet

Pacific walruses have been forced to spend more time ashore due to dwindling pack ice. To avoid overcrowding and to evade polar bears, many walruses scramble up cliffs. However, never make it back to the ocean, falling to their deaths and eventually being scavenged by their predators. Such events can lead to the death of over 200 walrus in just a few days.

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Following their winter hibernation, and while most of their habitat is still covered in snow, Kamchatka brown bears travel great distances to reach areas where high volcanic activity keeps grasses snow-free. At such places, despite being mostly solitary creatures, Kamchatka brown bears tolerate one another, even engaging in play.

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Troops of Hubei golden snub-nosed monkeys huddle together to keep warm in the depths of winter in Shennongjia, China. The food that remains at this time, such as bark, moss and lichen, is hardly enough to sustain the group. This scarcity leads to fierce disputes between troops in the area. We see the lead male of one troop defend his territory against an invading troop. Eventually, even the females join in the fight; ultimately, they are able to ward off the invaders.

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Migratory birds, such as the spotted flycatcher, pass through the Lut Desert in Iran each year. While searching for food, the flycatcher spots what looks like a spider in the shade of the canyon walls. Upon approaching it, however, it is ambushed and killed by an incredibly well-camouflaged spider-tailed horned viper.

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The spider-tailed horned viper is endemic to the Lut Desert of Iran. This recently discovered species exhibits some remarkable mimicry. Its tail has been modified with movable scales to look like a spider's legs and its tip like a spider's abdomen. It lies in wait in canyon walls, ready to ambush unsuspecting birds that migrate through the area.

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During the breeding season, male Sarada lizards use the bright colours on their fan-throats to attract females and will fight off other males for the highest platform from which to perform. The lizard sitting on the biggest rock is more conspicuous and has an advantage over his rivals.

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A baby Bornean orangutan spends seven years depending on its mother - the longest childhood except that of humans. It spends much of this time learning to forage for food sources such as termites and, in the upper reaches of the canopy, ripe mangoes. As it climbs, when the gaps between branches are too wide, the baby is able to use its mother's body as a bridge.

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The Sumatran rhinoceros is among the smallest species of rhino, being only a fifth of the size of its African relatives. It is a gardener of its forest, eating fruits and spreading the seeds of its preferred foods through its droppings. These rhinos "sing", sending loud vocalisations through the forest to locate a possible mate, but its calls are often unanswered due to its dwindling population - today, there are fewer than 70 left in the wild.

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Reaching lengths of up to 20 metres, the whale shark is the largest fish in the world. This gentle giant swims slowly through the water, harvesting plankton as it goes. Whale sharks in Indonesia, where there is a ban on hunting the species, have developed a special relationship with local fishermen, who happily share their catch with the sharks. Many whale sharks come from far away seeking these fishermen, suggesting that the protection of the species has allowed for their numbers to increase.

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