ZDF Studios are the global distributors for two fascinating new nature science titles, "Wild: Senses" (4 x 52’) and "Wild: Medics" (4 x 52’). Produced by Off the Fence for its parent company, ZDF Studios, in association with ZDF and ARTE, the documentaries are the latest addition to the Wild strand following on from the international success of Wild Talk.
Ralf Rückauer, VP Unscripted, ZDF Studios highlighted the work of the production company: “Off the Fence have done it again by producing another two brilliant Wild series, beautifully filmed and full of intriguing stories. These titles are made for primetime to be enjoyed by all the family," commented.
A mesmerising series that merges blue-chip natural history with cutting-edge technology and the latest scientific research, "Wild: Senses" unlocks the extraordinary diversity of animal perception. The four-part documentary takes an in-depth look at how creatures have evolved incredible adaptations to see, hear, touch, taste and feel the world around them.
Themed around the five senses, "Wild: Senses" is fast-paced and family-friendly offering a vivid sensory journey into the natural world. Harnessing the latest technology, scientists can listen in on the secrets of animal sound discovering, for instance, that baby turtles ‘sing’ in their eggs. From heat-sensing vipers that detect the warm blood of their victims and platypus with its 40,000 electroreceptors in its bill that can identify signals produced by its prey to salmon using smell to navigate back to the stream of their birth, the series offers a feast of unique and bizarre stories.
Meanwhile, "Wild: Medics" travels across the globe to observe how and why clever animals of every description are self-medicating with natural remedies and cures. What can we learn from the natural world healers - and could nature’s medicine cabinet provide the magic cure for human healthcare in crisis?
Across four episodes, the series explores the themes of self-medicating, natural highs fertility, and de-stressing. Starting with Nature’s Pharmacy, animals exhibit remarkable instincts in selecting natural remedies such as chimpanzees chewing leaves to rid parasites and elephants consuming clay to soothe their stomachs. Episode 2, Natural Highs, sees dolphins passing around a puffer fish for a mellow high and crazed lemurs using millipedes to send them into a trance. Fertility shows how some species have developed unique ways to improve their chances to extend their bloodlines; orchid bees concocting alluring perfumes to birds building herbal nests to give their chicks an immune system boost. Nature’s Spa looks at how animals have developed strategies to cope with tension, aches and pains. From Japanese macaques lowering their stress hormone levels in the monkey version of a hot tub to cleaner fish serving their predator customers and creating a thriving hub of activity with only one rule; don’t bite the cleaner fish!