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Challenges of Life

Episode 1 of 10

David Attenborough examines how living long enough to breed is a monumental struggle, and how many animals and plants go to extremes to give themselves a chance.

In nature, living long enough to breed is a monumental struggle. Many animals and plants go to extremes to give themselves a chance.

Uniquely, three brother cheetahs band together to bring down a huge ostrich. Aerial photography reveals how bottle-nosed dolphins trap fish in a ring of mud, and time-lapse cameras show how the Venus flytrap ensnares insect victims.

The strawberry frog carries a tadpole high into a tree and drops it in a water-filled bromeliad. The frog must climb back from the ground every day to feed it.

Fledgling chinstrap penguins undertake a heroic and tragic journey through the broken ice to get out to sea. Many can barely swim and the formidable leopard seal lies in wait.

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58 minutes

Last on

Tue 26 Sep 2023 00:45
BBC Four

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Reptiles and Amphibians

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Clips

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Chapters

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • Challenges of Life

    Opening titles

    Duration: 00:18

  • Hunting

    Duration: 10:18

  • Escaping the Threat

    Duration: 06:31

  • Food Gathering

    Duration: 06:23

  • Attracting a Mate

    Duration: 09:30

  • Motherly Love

    Duration: 07:26

  • Parenting Techniques

    Duration: 07:29

  • Life on Location

    Duration: 10:33

Credits

Narrator David Attenborough
Director Martha Holmes
Executive Producer Michael Gunton

Broadcasts

  • Mon 12 Oct 2009 21:00
    BBC HD & BBC One except Northern Ireland
  • Mon 12 Oct 2009 22:35
    BBC One Northern Ireland
  • Tue 13 Oct 2009 20:00
    BBC Four
  • Sat 17 Oct 2009 17:30
    BBC HD
  • Sun 18 Oct 2009 22:55
    BBC HD
  • Fri 23 Oct 2009 01:00
    BBC One except Northern Ireland
  • Sun 25 Oct 2009 23:40
    BBC One Northern Ireland
  • Sun 3 Jan 2010 18:00
    BBC HD & BBC One
  • Sat 6 Feb 2010 19:00
    BBC Four
  • Thu 15 Apr 2010 00:10
    BBC HD
  • Sat 9 Oct 2010 19:00
    BBC Four
  • Sat 3 Sep 2011 19:00
    BBC Four
  • Sat 3 Sep 2011 23:15
    BBC HD
  • Sun 4 Sep 2011 02:15
    BBC Four
  • Mon 5 Sep 2011 19:30
    BBC HD
  • Mon 24 Jun 2019 20:00
    BBC Four
  • Mon 1 Feb 2021 15:00
    BBC Two except Scotland
  • Mon 25 Sep 2023 19:00
    BBC Four
  • Tue 26 Sep 2023 00:45
    BBC Four

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