The Life of Mammals

The Life of Mammals (2002-2003)

EndedDocumentary showNature

David Attenborough presents a nature documentary series looking at why mammals are the most successful creatures on the planet.

Network
Scheduleevery Wednesday at 20:00 (60 min)

Last Episode

Food for Thought
Season 1Episode 1060 min

Food for Thought

David Attenborough concludes his documentary series with a programme about our closest animal relatives, the intelligent great apes, and finds out how their large brains enabled one of their kind, an upright ape, to go on to dominate the planet. David travels to the forests of Borneo to meet a remarkable orangutan with a passion for DIY and a talent for rowing boats. He shifts continent to Africa and takes part in a special nut-cracking lesson with a group of chimps learning survival skills. He discovers how food - and the ways apes find it - has been key to the evolution of our large brains.

Filmed for the first time, the chimps of Ngogo hunt down monkeys to supplement their vegetarian diet with meat. Our ancestors must have also hunted for meat, but with one crucial difference - they did so on two feet. David meets an extraordinary group of wading chimps that give us a unique window into our past, the moment when we took a step away from being apes and a step towards humanity. As soon as they stood upright, humans began to manipulate their environment, transforming the very surface of the planet by domesticating plants and animals. This most successful of all mammals has been able to increase the supply of food beyond that which occurred naturally. As a result the number of human beings could increase. David travels to the ruins of the capital of the Maya people to trace the rise and fall of an entire human civilisation. The temples of Tikal used to be the highest buildings in the Americas until the skyscrapers of New York were built. So why did the Maya civilisation collapse? Will modern city-dwellers suffer a similar fate?

Feb 5, 2003

Recent Episodes

EpisodeNameAirdate
S01E10Food for ThoughtFeb 5, 2003
S01E09Social ClimbersJan 29, 2003
S01E08Life in the TreesJan 22, 2003
S01E07Return to the WaterJan 15, 2003
S01E06OpportunistsJan 8, 2003
View all episodesView all seasons

Frequently Asked Questions  Warning: Spoilers

When did 'The Life of Mammals' premiere?

'The Life of Mammals' premiered on November 20, 2002.

Who narrated 'The Life of Mammals'?

Sir David Attenborough narrated 'The Life of Mammals'.

How many episodes were there in the first season of 'The Life of Mammals'?

The first season of 'The Life of Mammals' consisted of ten episodes.

What is the focus of 'The Life of Mammals'?

'The Life of Mammals' explores the behavior and habitats of various mammal species around the world.

Which episode of 'The Life of Mammals' focuses on primates?

The third episode of 'The Life of Mammals' titled "Chisellers" focuses on primates.

What is the running time of each episode of 'The Life of Mammals'?

Each episode of 'The Life of Mammals' has a running time of approximately 50 minutes.

Which episode of 'The Life of Mammals' showcases mammals in the polar regions?

The seventh episode of 'The Life of Mammals' titled "Return to the Water" showcases mammals in the polar regions.

What is the name of the episode that explores the evolution of mammals?

The first episode of 'The Life of Mammals' titled "A Winning Design" explores the evolution of mammals.

Which episode of 'The Life of Mammals' focuses on marsupials?

The fourth episode of 'The Life of Mammals' titled "Meat Eaters" focuses on marsupials.

How many continents are covered in 'The Life of Mammals'?

'The Life of Mammals' covers mammals from all seven continents.

Which episode of 'The Life of Mammals' explores the challenges faced by mammals in urban environments?

The ninth episode of 'The Life of Mammals' titled "Life in the Trees" explores the challenges faced by mammals in urban environments.

What is the name of the episode that delves into the lives of bats?

The fifth episode of 'The Life of Mammals' titled "Insect Hunters" delves into the lives of bats.

Which episode of 'The Life of Mammals' focuses on mammals in the African savannah?

The sixth episode of 'The Life of Mammals' titled "Social Climbers" focuses on mammals in the African savannah.

What is the name of the episode that explores the relationship between mammals and their young?

The second episode of 'The Life of Mammals' titled "Insect Hunters" explores the relationship between mammals and their young.

Which episode of 'The Life of Mammals' showcases the diversity of mammals in the rainforest?

The eighth episode of 'The Life of Mammals' titled "Food for Thought" showcases the diversity of mammals in the rainforest.

What is the name of the episode that focuses on the adaptations of desert-dwelling mammals?

The tenth episode of 'The Life of Mammals' titled "Life in the Undergrowth" focuses on the adaptations of desert-dwelling mammals.

Cast

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Characters

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Also known as

  • David Attenborough - Az emlősök élete (Hungary)

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