Big BeastsNever so big. Never so close.
Travel from freezing poles to tropical rainforests to meet nature’s most captivating giants, who prove being big comes with enormous challenges.
The Grey Whale
Apr 21, 2023
Embarking on an epic journey for food, a mother whale leads her calf on the longest migration of any mammal.
The Elephant Seal
Apr 21, 2023
A four-ton elephant seal returns to his breeding beach on the cusp of summer—and quickly learns the competition for females is fierce.
The Giant Otter
Apr 28, 2023
In the Brazilian Pantanal—a wetland larger than England—a six-foot otter attempts to raise her cubs in the shadow of hungry jaguars.
The Gorilla
May 5, 2023
Makumba is one of the best studied gorillas in the world. Now past his prime, he must find new ways to maintain his status as king of the jungle.
The Hippo
May 5, 2023
In Earth's largest inland delta, Africa's deadliest mammal fights to keep his family afloat as the dry season approaches.
The Brown Bear
May 5, 2023
Rocky Mountain summers are fleeting, leading local bears to gain weight, sharpen defenses, and engage in a dynamic fight for domination.
The Ostrich
May 12, 2023
A blazing sun scorches the African savanna, where the planet's biggest bird protects his eggs and giraffes struggle to fuel their towering bodies.
The Orangutan
May 12, 2023
In Borneo, apes and monkeys train their babies in the treetops, but with gravity against them, the stakes are high—and crocodiles lurk below.
The Tiger
May 19, 2023
Monsoon season drives giants toward higher ground, and big cats battle it out to claim dwindling territory in an Indian valley.
The Polar Bear
May 19, 2023
Subzero temperatures force polar bears to bulk up—but as summer returns and the planet grows warmer, they find themselves on thin ice.
