Aired Thursday December 2, 8:00am - 9:00amon BBC Two HD

The Mating Game

Series 1 Episode 4: Freshwater: Timing Is Everything

Freshwater covers only a tiny fraction of the earth's surface, but it is a vital meeting place for many animals - the stage on which millions gather to find a mate. Yet with so little of it available, and often only briefly, the challenge for most individuals is how to overcome intense competition when your rivals are just as dependent on the precious freshwater for their success. Whether it is from melting ice, torrential rain or shrinking wetlands, the cycle of freshwater is the trigger for spectacular mating rituals and fierce combat. The start of the rains in South Africa triggers a violent battle between male giant African bullfrogs. Rare hooded grebes in Patagonia perform one of nature's more comical dances to seduce their partner, and a male cichlid fish builds a home for his harem from old snail shells, but a sneaky dwarf has the last laugh there.

Category
Documentary / Miniseries / Nature
Original air date
2021-10-24
Cast and crew
  • Joe LoncraineDirector
  • David AttenboroughNarrator