Watch David Attenborough's Rise of the Animals

David Attenborough's Rise of the Animals is a documentary series that premiered in 2013 on BBC Two. Hosted by the legendary broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough, this three-part series examines the evolution of the animal kingdom from the simplest single-celled organisms to the complex and diverse array of creatures that exist today.

Using a combination of stunning footage, cutting-edge computer graphics, and interviews with leading scientists, Attenborough offers a comprehensive overview of the animal kingdom's rise to dominance over millions of years. Along the way, he explores how key evolutionary innovations such as eyes, limbs, and wings helped animals conquer new environments and out-compete their rivals.

The first episode, "From the Seas to the Skies," focuses on the early evolution of life on Earth, charting the rise of simple organisms such as sponges and jellyfish, and how they eventually gave way to more complex creatures like fish, reptiles, and birds. Attenborough explores how the emergence of fins and gills in sea creatures led to the development of limbs and lungs in land-dwelling animals, as well as the evolution of flight in birds.

In "Explosion of Life," the second episode, Attenborough examines the astonishing diversity of life that emerged during the Cambrian period, around 500 million years ago. This was a time of rapid innovation, as animals began to develop a wide range of physical features such as hard shells, exoskeletons, and complex nervous systems. Attenborough also explores how the rise of predators and prey led to the development of new defenses and strategies for survival.

The final episode, "Victors of the Dry Land," looks at how animals adapted to life on land, from early amphibians to modern mammals. Attenborough explores how the earth's changing climate and geography shaped the evolution of different groups of animals, from the giant reptiles of the Mesozoic era to the small, agile mammals that eventually became the dominant species on Earth.

Throughout the series, Attenborough emphasizes the importance of conservation and the urgent need to protect the Earth's biodiversity. He highlights the threats that climate change, habitat destruction, and overfishing pose to the animal kingdom, and urges viewers to take action to protect the planet.

Overall, David Attenborough's Rise of the Animals is a fascinating journey through the history of life on Earth, filled with breathtaking footage and insightful scientific analysis. It's a must-watch for anyone interested in the natural world and the forces that shaped the animal kingdom into what it is today.