Steve Backshall: What Do Animals Actually Do While We're Sleeping?

Tucked right beside the high-rises of a modern metropolis sits a hidden paradise overflowing with nature. Long-tailed monitor lizards glide through shallow waters looking for their next meal while brightly colored kingfishers drop from the sky at breakneck speeds to snatch fish right out of the lake. Life here stays unpredictable as dedicated conservation teams work behind the scenes to rescue abandoned ducklings, balance delicate water chemistry, and clear out invasive threats trying to ruin the ecosystem. Watch wild courtships unfold, baby birds take their very first steps into the wild, and territorial battles break out in this stunning look at Singapore's urban wilderness sanctuary. Any queries, please contact us at: owned-enquiries@littledotstudios.com

At the center of our planet, the equatorial sun drives a cycle of extreme transformation that splits the Amazon into two entirely different worlds. For half the year, heavy rains and melting snow from the Andes Mountains overwhelm the flat terrain, submerging hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of rainforest under fifteen meters of water. This creates a strange, beautiful liquid realm where monkeys and fish compete for the same forest canopy harvest, arowanas leap into the air to hunt tree-dwelling insects, and giant river wolves take over the hunting grounds of the jaguar. But as the floodwaters recede, the ultimate test of survival begins. The long, brutal dry season turns paradise into isolated, stagnant death pools stripped of oxygen. To survive this period of absolute famine, the wild residents must rely on bizarre evolutionary tactics. The massive pirarucu uses an ancient lung-like organ to breathe air directly from the atmosphere, while the heavy-eating tambaki fish and giant manatees must slow down and live entirely off the fat reserves they accumulated during the times of plenty. From fierce territory battles

Life in the African savannah forces animals to improvise, resulting in some of the most complex co-living arrangements on Earth. From massive weaver bird nests weighing over a ton to underground burrow networks stretching meters deep, different species share space to survive harsh climates and relentless predators. Aardvarks spend their nights tearing through concrete-like soil, unintentionally constructing shelters for warthogs, porcupines, and bee-eater birds seeking safety. Meanwhile, tiny termites build thermal-regulated fortresses that attract squatters like dwarf mongooses, egg-eating snakes, and rock monitors. Every resident plays a role in keeping these animal skyscrapers standing. When an overbuilt nest collapses or an invading ant army breaks through a termite wall, these communities rebuild from scratch, proving that cooperation is the ultimate survival strategy in the wild.

Deep inside the busy urban center of Singapore lies a secret ten hectare woodland paradise packing wild drama into every corner. Up in the canopy, a young long tailed macaque learns how to navigate the treetop gym while dodging threats from above. On the forest floor, the world smallest bee uses a sticky resin trap to defend its honey against relentless ant invaders. Scientists scale ancient trees to save critically endangered plant species, while rare night creatures come out to fight for mates under the dark cover of dusk. From stealthy raptors hunting overhead to high stakes insect battles hidden in plain sight, this urban rainforest holds survival stories you never expected to find in the middle of a modern city.

A hidden paradise sits right on the border between Switzerland and Italy, where massive glacial forces carved dramatic fjords into towering peaks. Millions of years before picturesque villages clung to these cliffs, this peaceful Alpine region was a tropical ocean lagoon filled with prehistoric monsters and coral reefs. Spring brought a dramatic transformation to the steep shorelines, awakening rare wildlife from deep winter sleep. Tucked away in the shadow of the mountains, local fishermen keep ancient traditions alive along the water while winemakers look to the past for inspiration. High above the water, herds of wild horses run free across high mountain pastures once winter snows clear away. Below the surface, secret missions take place in the freezing depths where local families age their vintage wines under intense natural pressure. From the emergence of ancient dragonflies to hidden nature reserves bursting with life, this changing landscape bridges the gap between wild Mediterranean nature and rugged Alpine tradition.

At the center of our planet lies a line of fire and ice where the sun burns with intense radiation while snow sits on volcanic peaks. This documentary follows the incredible journey across the cold equator, from the high altitude deserts of the Andes to the nutrient-rich depths of the Galapagos Islands. You will see how life persists in a landscape that experiences every season in a single twenty-four-hour cycle. Witness the Spectacle Bear, a living relic of the Ice Age, navigating tropical forests, and the Marine Iguana, a creature capable of shrinking its own bones to survive starvation. From the rapid wingbeats of high-altitude hummingbirds to the massive coral spawning events in Southeast Asia, this story captures the pulse of a world driven by the sun and cooled by ancient polar currents. This is a look at the most biodiverse region on Earth, where animals must adapt to the most extreme environmental paradoxes ever recorded.