Born To Be Wild

Can six animal infants survive a perilous first year?

- Ian Macewan, Rebecca Mahoney

Fending off powerful enemies, battling extreme weather, dealing with dangerous family politics – it sounds like an episode of Game of Thrones, but this is life for many animal babies during their first year. From this week, a three-part documentary sheds light on the world of six animal infants.

‘Everyone loves baby animals,’ says series producer Dominic Weston. ‘But for many infants in the wild, their first year is the toughest. This series reveals what it takes to survive, but on an intimate and personal level.’

The series opener explores the first three critical months, and here, Weston reveals how these babies must overcome challenges…

SPOTTED HYENA

In Kenya, 12-week-old hyena twin sisters Bisque and Chowder must work as a team to tackle inter-clan politics. ‘Hyenas are massively misunderstood,’ says Weston. ‘They are highly socially intelligent and the mothers are incredibly devoted.