Secrets of Nature (13 episodes)

Subject: A series that explores interactions between organisms in the main ecosystems of Africa. Habitats range from deserts to rainforests and almost everything in between. The series highlights the human impact on the biodiversity of islands in the western Indian Ocean.
Date: 2002
Directors: Claudio Velásquez Rojas and Francois Odendaal.
Cameras: Riaan Laubscher, Sean O’Sullivan, Andrew Newby, Peet Joubert and Glen Thomas.
Broadcaster/ commissioned:
SABC 3 South Africa, Broadcast during prime time.
Additionally sold and broadcasted all over the world.
Length: 13x24 minutes

Episodes:

1. The Hunters.
   A portrait of the adaptations that make it easier to hunt and capture prey.
   
   
2. The Quest for a Meal.
   The large spectrum of adaptation to obtain energy in the plant and animal kingdom.
   
   
3. Nature Timeless Bonds.
   About associations between organisms that can be detrimental or beneficial for one or both of them.
   
   
4. Nature Timeless Rites.
   Loose and close associations between organisms that give them some survival advantages.
   
   
5. Underwater Castles.
   Coral reefs are one of the most diverse marine ecosystems on the planet along the tropical latitudes. The hard coral is made of an ever growing group of tiny polyps that secrete calcium carbonate and depends on the symbiotic photosynthetic algae to grow.
   
   
6. Tidal Forests.
   The realm of the mangrove forest with unique trees adapted to salt water. A rich place for marine life and resources for people living in tropical coasts.
   
   
7. Ancient Forests.
   The old forests of Madagascar, which was part of Africa and drifted away millions of years ago, host a unique flora and fauna that evolved in these forests in relative isolation from the African continent. Madagascar is a treasure of biodiversity that is rapidly disappearing with massive extinctions of animals and plants.
   
   
8. Ankarana, Place of the Rock.
   This is a Jurassic limestone Massif in Madagascar that million of years ago was a living coral atoll. Now is an exposed mountain with razor sharp pinnacles and more than 140 km of massive underground caves. The Antakarana people respect this mountain and its inhabitants. They still use sacred caves to bury their ancestors.
   
   
9. Cold Current of Plenty.
   The cold nutrient-rich Benguela Current running along the Southern Africa coast supports unprecedented marine life along the shore, open oceans and lagoons. The scarce rains along the mostly desert coast transform the landscape into a kaleidoscope of flowering plants.
   
   
10. A Season of New Life in the Benguela.
    The main upwelling in the Benguela increases as Spring approaches. The increased productivity of the sea at this time triggers the breeding season of many marine birds along the Benguela. Large colonies of Cape Gannets and cormorants congregate in granite off shore islands in a frenetic breeding urge. The seals also thrive in these waters.
    
    
11. Aldabra and Island Refuge.
    Aldabra is a World Heritage Site and the largest atoll in the world with a unique flora and fauna. It supports 150 000 giant land tortoises compared to only 10 000 found in the Galapagos Islands. The atoll is surrounded by pristine mangroves with large bird colonies and pristine coral reefs. Aldabra is home of the robber crab that is the largest living land arthropod on the planet.
    
    
12. A Tale of Two Islands.
    This is an episode that compares and analyses the conservation status of two islands in the Western Indian Ocean. On one side Madagascar is facing an unprecedented environmental crisis due to deforestation on the other side Seychelles has a strong protection policy of its natural resources in place recognizing its value for the future of the country and the world.
    
    
13. The Living Thirstland.
    This episode deal with the Namib Desert. This is one of the oldest Deserts in the world with high diversity of plants and animals. This is also the land of the Ovahimba and Topnaars a group of people in tune with the harsh but beautiful landscape.