DVD
Trials Of Life

Presenter: David Attenborough
BBC Worldwide
RRP: £29.99
BBCDVD1428
Certificate: E
Available 27 September 2004


On the coast of Christmas Island a beach is painted crimson by the bodies of a million scarlet crabs, all choosing the same moment to lay their eggs in the sea. In East Africa an elephant calf is born and the females in the herd crowd around the newcomer, collaborating in looking after their young. On a Patagonian beach sea-lions lounge in supposed safety as a tall wave, concealing the huge presence of a killer whale, thunders towards the shore. David Attenborough examines these stories and many more as he surveys the entire animal kingdom...

Trials of Life looks at animal behaviour, examining why creatures behave as they do and showing that their lives are a series of problems to be faced and overcome. You may think that this collection has already been released. However, this four disc version is the first time that this series has been available in its uncut version.

This series starts by looking at the first trial that a new-born creature must survive - that of being born. The second episode looks at the art of surviving childhood, and so on into adulthood and mating to provide the next generation.

Many interesting and educational aspects of the animal kingdom are examined throughout this series. These include inter-species working relationships. Some are symbiotic whilst others are parasitic. One of the most interesting symbiotic relationship is between one species of bird and man. This rather strange relationship sees the bird enticing humans to follow it, sometimes for miles, to a bees nest where there is honey on offer. Because the bird can't get to the honey, it employs humans to retrieve some for his own use hoping that in return he will leave some behind for the bird.

Another area of interest is that of fighting within the same species - over territory, food and mates. With the larger, more vicious animals, they never usually come to blows, but if they do they still manage to hold back from seriously harming each other - if it can be avoided. This also looks at the life of chickens and examines the origin of two well known human sayings: "pecking order" and "hen pecked". Hens have a peck order which they follow. When feeding, the more dominant birds will peck the lower birds out of the way (hence pecking order) and the lowest bird in the group will be pecked by the most birds (hence hen pecked).

It was also interesting to discover that vervets, a species of monkey, have the nearest form of communication to man's speech. They have specific calls that each represent a single word. And did you know that barnacles have the longest penis in comparison to their size? That's one to trot out at the next dinner party you attend.

There are many heart-warming as well as chilling scenes - the killer whales' attacking a collection of sea-lions is probably the most unnerving, as the whales play with their prey - tossing the poor sea-lion calves around in the sea like toys.

The only extra included in this collection is a 50 minute "making of" documentary which includes interviews with some of the experts who helped the BBC crew get the amazing shots that they did. It also reveals that this series took three years to film. But, I think you'll agree, the results were certainly worth it.

As with Attenborough's other wildlife programmes, Trials of Life is not only entertaining and educational, some of the photography is stunningly beautiful. Your life will certainly be enriched for watching this series.

Pete Boomer

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