Get In Touch with the Natural World

New programs, new discoveries on SDPB.

Steve Backshall stand in a cavern.

Photo: True to Nature Ltd.

“To be whole. To be complete. Wildness reminds us what it means to be human, what we are connected to rather than what we are separate from.” ― Terry Tempest Williams

Expedition with Steve Backshall

Believe it or not, parts of the planet have yet to be explored. Adventurer Steve Backshall travels the world seeking out uncharted territories in pursuit of new discoveries and world firsts. Travel along with Backshall as he takes on extreme physical challenges, encounters extraordinary wildlife, meets remarkable people, and inspires explorers of all ages. SDBP1: Wednesdays, Jan. 15, 22, 29 at 9pm (8 MT) SDPB2: Thursdays, Jan. 12, 23, 30 at 7pm & Midnight (6 & 11pm MT)

Photo: Michele Hal

Whale Detective

September 2015, a 30-ton humpback whale breached and almost landed on natural history filmmaker Tom Mustill and his friend Charlotte Kinloch as they kayaked in Monterey Bay, California. Incredibly, they survived the incident, but the traumatic experience haunted Mustill and left him wondering if the whale was deliberately trying to hurt them or trying its best not to. To find the answer, Mustill returns to California to investigate, meeting those who have survived similar close encounters with whales and the experts who know the whales best. What he discovers raises far bigger questions, not just about what happened that day, but also about humans’ relationship with whales and their future alongside us. SDBP1: Wednesday, Jan. 8, 7pm (6 MT) SDPB2: Sunday, Jan. 12, 7 & 11pm (6 & 10 MT)

Photo: The Natural History Film Unit Botswana

Hippos: Africa’s River Giants

The hippopotamus has long been an enigma. An aquatic mammal and a vegetarian who is also the most dangerous animal in Africa. All hippos are dependent on water, but in Botswana, hippos face an unparalleled challenge as deep floodwaters dry to dust in a matter of months. Dive beneath the surface where hippos protect their families, face their enemies and reveal the true nature of the hippo – a sensitive and intelligent animal. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough. SDPB1: Wednesday, Jan. 15, 7pm (6 MT) SDPB2: Sunday, Jan. 19, 7 & 11pm (6 & 10 MT)