Madagascar

This is another typical high quality product both written and narrated by David Attenborough. The recording itself is an HD product, copyrighted in 2011. The full value of the two discs really becomes apparent when the wildlife of Madagascar as shown in the main three films is compared with the reality of the effect of human activity. This is shown and described in the two bonus features which make it clear how fragile this very small remaining part of Madagascar is. The series consists of three 60 minute programs – Island of Marvels; Lost Worlds; Heat and Dust. A general outline is given at the start of this sequence as can be summarised as follows: Madagascar is both the oldest and the largest of the world’s islands and measures some 1000 miles in length – more than the UK for example. There is a chain of mountains running down its spine and these create a rain shadow where the east is more lush with good rainfall and the west is a land where drought lasts for 8 months of an average year. The far south is the most parched land and the far north is a land of slumbering volcanoes. The centre is prone to earthquakes. 80% of the wildlife is unique to Madagascar. The most populous animals are the many forms of lemur ranging from large to extremely small and some being nocturnal. Bearing in mind the threat of extinction hanging over much of the life of Madagascar it is perhaps appropriate that ‘lemur’ means ‘spirits of the dead.’ Other animals encountered in this informative series are the wide range of chameleons, an animal resembling a hedgehog that has up to 32 babies at a time, many geckos all of which have eyesight 350 times more sensitive than humans’ and thus enable them to see in full colour at night. We are also introduced to various insects and birds unique the island as well as to some snakes, none of which are poisonous. Throughout the three main feature films there is little to make the viewer aware of the massive deforestation that has removed 80% of the essential habitat of highly specialised creatures. The photography is unfailingly of the highest quality but avoids showing the wider context which would make the issue of habitat destruction obvious. As it is it is invisible and only referred to in a couple of summary sentences at the end of the third and final episode. However ………. The well-chosen bonus feature films tell a different story. There are two significant ‘extra’ feature films, both concerning Madagascar seen in a more fragile and threatened light than that of the main series. For these reasons they carry greater dramatic impact than the main features, superb though they may be. Indeed, the very fact of the main series’ superb photographic imagery hides the very real and present threat to the nature, of all sorts including plant life that the series does so much to present in all its implied glory. The first bonus film of 39 minutes and copyrighted in 2006 is presented by Charlotte Uhlenbroek with affection and concern. This concentrates on the struggle of a troop of Ring-tailed lemurs to survive in a forest area seriously damaged by prolonged draught, a recent cyclone and local deforestation. These conspire to create starvation for these animals which are shown to be very thin and with poor fur quality. It also becomes clear that the forest that we see in the main series is little more than the land of a small farm. It is estimated that 80% of the original forest has now been destroyed for farming and timber sales with likely catastrophic results for the indigenous wildlife. The second ‘bonus’ feature is the 2011 film, The Giant Egg, made by Attenborough in which he compares film he made 50 years ago with the current state of the island. He explores the extinction of the bird that probably laid the egg as well as a giant lemur weighing about half a ton. In addition to the issues raised by the previous bonus film this one ranges far more widely across the island where the natural vegetation that has enabled so much unique life to evolve has largely been destroyed by human activity. Madagascar’s mineral wealth is also been exploited with further destruction of the wildlife’s habitat. The recent initiatives favouring non-destructive activities, such as silk farming and replanting of a forest area, are promoted as encouraging signs but these seem pitifully small compared to the scale of the problem and the timescales involved – twenty years for planted trees to grow to a useful proportion for example. In summary, this series coupled with the two bonus films does far more than show attractive images of an attractive area. It explores Madagascar in the context of its history and future and poses crucial issues of survival for all non-human life. It is clear that, tragically, this unique example of evolution is close to extinction specifically brought about by human activity. In summary this is a series of beautiful wildlife filming that leaves the bonus films to explain and underline the human threat of extinction to that wildlife.

As with all David Attenborough programmes you know his name is a mark of quality and in this three-part, three hour documentary from 2011 concentrating on the wildlife unique to the the island, located in the Indian Ocean off Africa and the 4th largest island in the world at nearly 1,000 miles long. 80% of the animals on this island have developed in isolation from the rest of the world, even some of the birds, and therefore these species are worthy of their own series on that basis alone. It isn't just the animals, such as lemurs that are unique however as the flora and fauna have developed in splendid isolation too. This then is a Darwinist's dream, much like Galapagos which Attenborough went on to cover in 2013. Many of the animals featured here are filmed for the first time ever with a production that took 18 months to put together. Filmed in glorious HD that really does justice to the format the sheer variety of rare creatures on display coupled with Attenborough's always enthralling commentary means your eyes rarely venture from the screen. The sheer size of the island means that there are different climates at each point of the compass which show the wonder of nature and how it adapts to circumstances via evolution. Of course Attenborough has been to the island before and historic footage from his very first expedition in 1954 captured in his first series 'Zoo Quest' occasionally appears to demonstrate both the differences in available technology and the fragility of the ecosystem due to man's increasing encroachment is considered effectively in counterpoint by Attenborough, ever the committed environmentalist. It's hard to find fault with any production fronted by the wonderful Sir David and this one stands up as an excellent exploration of one unique ecosystem. As someone who religiously collects his landmark series this is one which stands up against his best work comfortably.

Firstly it's narrated by David Attenborough so do we really need to comment on what to expect. I must admit to being an avid fan of his and as a child remember glued to the broadcasts in the 1970's of Mr Attenboroughs shows. To this day i am never surprised when I watch a new series as I just know it's going to be awe inspiring. This Madagascar is no different. The photography is pure excellence and yes it does have a lot of Lemurs as someone added. The setting is magical and only missing King Julien (KIDS Version). A brilliant blu ray and stunning. Lemurs, Spiders are in abundance and so well photographed. The commentary is nothing but brilliant. Just love it.

This natural history documentary gives an excellent overview of the very specialised and different fauna and flora of Madagascar and the markedly different ecosystems within this huge island, It combines some early black and white film footage from David Attenborough's early Zoo Quest trip to Madagascar. The special feature on the Giant Egg is of particular interest. The other one, on the Ring tailed Lemurs, is a bit gushy. It would have been good to have a bit more science in that, with the commentator's views supported by someone able to give a more objective overview of lemur population changes and dynamics in this small Reserve.There have been relatively long-term observations and records in this Reserve and there is also a very obvious impact from tourism. It would have been interesting to have had more than just the usual comments on the limited habitat the lemurs occupy and resulting threats to them.

Plus de 4 h de visionnage Des paysages époustouflants, de superbes animaux, un documentaire hyper-intéressant sur ce pays magnifique ! Le documentaire sur l'œuf géant et l'oiseau éléphant de David Attenborough est passionnant

Großartige Doku aus dem Hause BBC / Attenborough. Besondere Erwähnung verdient meiner Meinung nach das nur auf der britischen bluray enthaltene extra: Attenborough and The Giant Egg. David Attenboroughs ganz persönlicher Blick und Rückblick auf die Insel, mit altem Filmmaterial von Zoo Quest. Hervorragend!!

Excelente! Muy bonita serie, las imágenes son increíbles. Entretenida e interesante. Gran serie para aprender acerca del mundo natural. Sorprendente.

BBC'S documentary Madagascar is absolutely amazing. I cannot really say it is better or worse than the other nature documentaries in the BBC series as they tend to be very good. This one is certainly up to standard. David Attenborough narrates as he often does and as usual is very educational and anecdotal. He explains quickly on in the series that the story of Madagascar is more than anything the story of Lemurs, a type of about 100 primates endemic to the island. They have evolved there for over 60 million years, isolated from the rest of the world and are unique in ways that epitomize the adjective. Some Lemurs seem to dance as they run. Others live their entire lives in reeds on the shore of a single lake. A few of them are nearly the size of a human being and one is the smallest primate in the world. All of them are fascinating and require no humanizing, each seeming to share many characteristics with their globe-covering, pollution-generating relatives. Sadly, many of them are also in serious danger of not having any more birthdays. More than usual, Attenborough teaches the watcher how Madagascar is a good place to study man's impact on wildlife. It is a place that remained untouched by man for longer than most and which held on to its animals and environment longer than often is the case. In addition the very good cinematography and narration, the bonus features aren't bad either. One is a special where the narrator looks for clues about what happened to a giant Madagascan bird that measured twelve to sixteen feet tall but which has been long extinct. The other is a story about a woman who spent a week or so hanging out with Lemurs at a nature escape. Both are very nice. All around, this production is educational, fun and as with most BBC productions, reminds us why we should do everything we can to protect what is left of our wild places in the world.

strepitoso documentario per gli amanti della natura questo fa al caso vostro. Paesaggi davvero bellissimi e soprattutto ben realizzato spiega la vita e l'habitat di un'isola davvero interessante. consigliato