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Extraordinary Animals(2008)
January 2, 20082 Seasons · 16 Episodes
Ended
Documentary
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Network 5
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2008
This programme explores the extraordinary abilities of Hong, an elephant whose painting skills have rocked the art world and challenged hitherto accepted views on animal intelligence. Can Hong's work pass as art in a top London gallery?
The story of Skamp, a four-year-old schnauzer that is said to have predicted the deaths of 58 residents in an Ohio nursing home over the past three years. The dog appears to alert staff by barking and then stays with the patients until they die.
The unique abilities of Rio the sea lion. Reared in captivity at the Marine Mammal Laboratory in California, the animal developed a strong bond with one of the doctors at the institute. Subsequent research demonstrated the creature performed better in a series of logical tests than some humans
Dr Irene Pepperberg details the unique abilities of Griffin, a grey parrot being studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The bird is capable of performing tasks previously thought to be exclusive to humans, great apes and monkeys, such as labelling objects, identifying colours and shapes and forming simple phrases.
The story of Azy, a 30-year-old orang-utan with incredible mental abilities. Over a number of years, Azy has displayed his intelligence by recognising symbols and objects; demonstrating self-awareness; and showing exceptional memory skills.
Examining a Swedish scientist's attempts to communicate with dolphins, designed to conclusively measure their intellect, and which could save thousands of the mammals from fatal entanglements in fishing nets using a revolutionary computer program based on the creatures' echolocation means of identification.
The story of a remarkable seven-year-old chimpanzee, born in captivity, which has been taught by its mother to recall numerical sequences to a higher standard than human memory champions. In passing a series of computerised tests, the Japanese-raised creature has altered the way scientists think about primates
2008
Maggie is a seven-year-old Jack Russell that can do simple mathematical calculations by tapping correct answers using her paw. Animal experts travel to her Florida home to assess the claims for themselves, and after passing these tests she is put in competition with children the same age.
This instalment focuses on Nellie, a particularly intelligent pig who has become something of a star owing to her remarkable abilities.
This instalment focuses on Nora, the magnificent piano-playing cat.
This edition focuses on Kenny, the horse who led a pack of mounted police into an angry mob of rioters during an anti-war demonstration in 2003. While some may argue that horses are flighty by nature and incapable of deliberate acts of bravery, scientists have proven that for some special horses the opposite is true.
Spitfire is a pigeon who is using his homing skills to help an outdoors-adventure company in the Rocky Mountains. Wearing a designer backpack, Spitfire carries adventurers' photo memory cards down from the mountain and back to the shop in time for them to pick up their developed pictures. Scientists now try to understand Spitfire's amazing navigational abilities by equipping him with a GPS system.
This episode focuses on Panzee, a chimp whose learning abilities have stunned scientists. Not only does Panzee understand more English words than any other chimp in the world, she can also communicate with her human keepers, and has even developed a basic grasp of economics.
This edition focuses on some small furry animals with unexpected talents. In Tanzania, scientists have trained rats to detect patients with tuberculosis and locate landmines in fields. Meanwhile, back in the UK, ferrets are using their incredible flexibility to thread cables and unblock pipes in hard-to-reach places.
A raven in Austria has astounded scientists with his amazing intelligence and creativity. Four-year-old Ellias brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'bird brained'. He has developed clever strategies for protecting his food, demonstrates a remarkable sense of fun and is even learning to use a computer.
This edition focuses on some truly Herculean hounds - three working dogs who are so adept at their jobs that they leave their human counterparts in the dust. There is Saxon, the pooch who can sniff out suspicious circumstances in burnt buildings; Bilbo, the craggy canine who patrols the dangerous shores of Cornwall; and Orson, the awesome avalanche rescue dog.
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William Shatner