Season 1
South Pacific (also known as Wild Pacific) is a British nature documentary series produced by the BBC Natural History Unit which surveys the natural history of the multitude of islands of the South Pacific region, including many of the coral atolls and New Zealand.
The series aired in the UK on BBC Two from 10 May to 14 June, 2009. There are six hour-long episodes in the series.
The series originally aired in South Africa on BBC Knowledge from 1 August to 5 September, 2011, on Mondays at 19h30. it later aired on SABC3. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
South Pacific premiered on SABC3 on Sunday 1 September 2013, at 18h00. New episodes broadcast weekly.
Synopsis
This landmark series explores the sheer scale and majesty of the largest ocean on Earth, the isolation of its islands, the extraordinary journeys wildlife and humans have gone through to reach these specks of land, and what happened to both after their arrival.
Unimaginably vast, the Pacific is 99% water and only 1% land - you could fit the whole of the world's landmasses into it and still have enough room for another Africa.
Its unique history will amaze you as the series explores the plants and wildlife that span the thousands of islands. Amazing cinematography follows the travels of the Polynesians, witness the birth of volcanoes and observe the ever-changing coral reefs.
South Pacific explores the largest ocean on earth, and is big enough to contain the whole of the world's landmass. It stretches from the heat of the tropics to the sub-Antarctic, with an isolation of hundreds of miles between islands and a fascinating range of wildlife, from flesh-eating caterpillars to giant crabs that can open a coconut.
Beyond clichéd images of swaying palms and idyllic beaches, this is the real, immense and surprising South Pacific.
The series was narrated in the UK by Benedict Cumberbatch and in the USA by Mike Rowe.
Episodes
Episode 1: An Ocean of Islands
The South Pacific is scattered with thousands of islands containing some of the most remote communities in the world. This isolation has led to splendid evolution, throwing up real curiosities such as giant skinks, and tiny communities of human life, like the island of Anuta, which has a community of 300 people crammed in a are only sixth of a mile square in distance.
Episode 2: Rising Lands
Stunning time-lapse photography and aerial photography reveal volcanic islands, with eruptions and lava flows. In the Soloman Islands watch the amazing sight of birds using volcanic heat to incubate their eggs.
Episode 3: Endless Blue
The Pacific Ocean contains half the world's water and is home to the deepest sea. Much of this sea is seen as a marine desert, this programme explores the extreme hardships of marine survival.
Episode 4: Castaways
The islands are some of the most remote places on the planet, and this has resulted in animals evolving in remarkable ways. For example, watch in wonder the extraordinary gecko that can give birth without a mate.
Episode 5: Strange Islands
Look at the strange methods of survival animals have evolved on the isolated Pacific islands, such as the kangaroos that live in trees and the giant lizards with monkey tails.
Episode 6: A Fragile Paradise
This programme looks at the fragile eco-system of the Pacific and attempts to stop over-fishing. In Fiji the locals have developed new ways to bring back colourful coral back to their damaged reef, while a sinister change in the chemistry of the ocean is threatening the miniscule animals that other marine life rely on.
Seasons
Season 1 (6 episodes)
Channel: BBC Knowledge | Premiere: 1 Aug 2011 | Finale: 5 Sep 2011 | Mon, 19h30
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 1 Sep 2013 | Finale: 6 Oct 2013 | Sun, 18h00