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When Worlds Collide

Documentary examining the world of animal swarms, using the latest camera techniques to look into the heart of a superswarm and reveal how they view our world.

This two-part documentary reveals the awe-inspiring world of animal swarms, discovering what happens when superswarms invade people's lives and, using the latest camera techniques, going to the heart of the swarm to reveal how the creatures therein view our world.

Real-life footage from camcorders and mobile phones captures the amazing impact they can have. Killer bees mount an attack on an international football match in Costa Rica. In the US, the Illinois River boils with leaping silver carp, an alien species that has hijacked the river, smashing into boats and injuring people.

In South Australia, a sea of mice raids farms, consuming and destroying in their millions on a scale that defies belief. The largest swarm on Earth erupts from Lake Victoria - trillions of flies blanket villages, but the locals have learnt to turn the swarm into a highly nutritious fly burger. In Rome, cameras fly alongside ten million starlings, the largest swarm in Europe. Their mesmeric waves stop many residents in their tracks, but as they roost they smother the city in tons of excrement.

One man has learnt to control the ultimate swarm. He has become their 'queen bee' with startling results, learning to control what most people fear and to understand one of the most incredible forces of nature.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 10 Sep 2017 02:30

Credits

Role Contributor
Narrator David Tennant
Producer Philip Dalton
Producer Robert Pilley
Series Producer John Downer

Broadcasts

  • Sun 4 Jan 2009 21:00
  • Tue 6 Jan 2009 22:00
  • Thu 26 Feb 2009 02:35
  • Sat 28 Mar 2009 19:35
  • Mon 3 Aug 2009 20:00
  • Wed 27 Jan 2010 19:00
  • Sat 12 Jun 2010 21:15
  • Sat 19 Jun 2010 19:05
  • Sun 20 Jun 2010 03:00
  • Thu 22 Jul 2010 23:00
  • Thu 9 Sep 2010 20:00
  • Wed 17 Nov 2010 20:00
  • Tue 1 Feb 2011 20:00
  • Mon 4 Jul 2011 20:00
  • Sat 18 May 2013 19:00
  • Sun 19 May 2013 02:20
  • Sat 14 Jun 2014 19:00
  • Sun 15 Jun 2014 02:00
  • Wed 18 Jun 2014 23:00
  • Sat 8 Nov 2014 19:00
  • Tue 15 Dec 2015 20:00
  • Wed 16 Dec 2015 00:00
  • Mon 9 Jan 2017 20:00
  • Sat 9 Sep 2017 20:00
  • Sun 10 Sep 2017 02:30