Darwin's Amazing Animals

A sea creature more at ease on land? Ink-credible! The octopus oliveri hides along the rocky shoreline, waiting to ambush passing crabs. And just watch those 8 arms and legs start running and jumping!

Snow fairies are real and oh so cute! Join the Darwin team as the film crew heads north to Hokkaido to discover a range of behaviors of this long-tailed tit subspecies that will leave you spellbound.

A mysterious fish from the depths has lured the Darwin team into the chilly waters off Northern Japan for a closer look. The result: shocking dining habits and terrifying battles over spawning rights.

The rising number of white-tailed eagles in Japan's far north is resulting in more road accidents and other adverse consequences. A team of specialists is coming to the rescue of these regal raptors.

The Japanese tree frog harbors many secrets with its chorus of croaks, soaring leaps and perfect landings. But a "ribbiting" vanishing act? Any local will tell you: find the nearest vending machine!

Deep in the Hokkaido Prefecture wilderness lives one of the biggest and rarest owls on earth. Habitat loss nearly drove the Blakiston's fish owl to extinction. But caring hands are helping their numbers rise.

Reports of an ocean-going raptor in the skies around Tokyo's Tama River Triangle has the Darwin team on the move. While filming, a cute but elusive creature displays its underwater hunting skills.

Japan's fabled ninjas have met their match in the chubby hazel grouse. This fluffy ball of feathers has lots of tricks up its wings including feigning injury and vanishing acts to make your head spin!

Declared extinct in the wild in Japan in the 1980s, the crested ibis has made a dramatic comeback following an artificial breeding and release program. But in the end, Mother Nature has the last word.

New Guinea is a haven for butterflies with nearly 1,000 species. Moving through dense jungle in search of the largest of them all, the Darwin team wonders how something so big can be so hard to find!

At some point all young male lions must leave their birth prides and venture into the unknown. What destiny awaits them? A long-term survey is underway to better understand their long road to the top.

Driven from their respective prides, 3 young male lions set off on very different paths toward their destinies. In Part 2 of our series, the Darwin team documents this inevitable rite of passage.

The 15-meter long Bryde's whale lives in the waters off Thailand in Southeast Asia. What's interesting about this mammal is that it can do magic! First, it surfaces and opens its giant mouth. Then, just like magic, small fish start jumping in. Finally, the whale closes its mouth and swallows them whole. Why do the fish leap into the whale's mouth? For the first time ever, a team of researchers attempts to crack the mystery. Using a life-size model as well as a small video camera attached to the whale, the team conducts an in-depth study to reveal a surprising hunting secret.