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Enduring the Drought

Episode 3 of 3

Nature documentary series. Fierce drought tests the capuchin monkey, giant otter and coati families as they turn to courtship.

This intimate journey into the heart of Brazil concludes. A fierce drought ensues, culminating in huge and ferocious fires. The capuchin monkeys, giant otters, coatis and jaguars are proving their extreme survival skills, while looking for mates and racing to breed to ensure that the next generation are born just as the good times arrive again.

Astonishing footage tells an extraordinary tale of love in a harsh world.

59 minutes

Last on

Thu 14 Dec 2023 15:00

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  • Calexico

    Banderilla

Chasing the fire

Chasing the fire

Months of drought turn Brazil鈥檚 cerrado grasslands into a tinderbox each year. The smallest spark can set off a fire and the winds that sweep across the open, rolling landscape can blow the flames for miles. It is impossible to predict exactly when this might happen, but within a few days of burning the grasslands are reduced to smouldering ashes.


Having part of the team living in Brazil for the entire filming period meant that we heard on national news when a fire erupted in . 24 hours later we had a crew on the ground filming the wall of flames eating its way across the Cerrado. We captured caracaras hunting snakes and lizards as they fled the searing heat, shrubs and trees engulfed in fire, the sun setting against a red, smoke-filled sky.聽


The next morning we followed a giant anteater for miles as it trundled through the wasteland of smoking embers, stirring the ashes with its magnificent tail, searching for food in vain.


Such a dramatic, sudden transformation of the landscape brings home the extremes of Brazil鈥檚 climate and geography. Only by responding instantly to these natural events could we really tell the tale of life in this wild and beautiful land.

Credits

Role Contributor
Narrator Stephen Mangan
Producer Joe Stevens
Producer Adam White
Series Producer Adam White
Series Producer Lucinda Axelsson
Executive Producer Tim Scoones

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