| Summary: | There are more than 10 million species on the planet, but why have some thrived where others have failed? The Wonder of Animals celebrates the most successful animal groups on Earth - from apes to elephants, ants to bears. Discover why, despite appearing clumsy and comical, penguins actually have an anatomy that is perfect for their environment and how the dominance of big cats is down to more than just their brawn. New science is combined with the very latest animal behaviour research and extensive BBC natural history HD archive footage to build a complete picture of each animal, revealing how its unique characteristics have contributed to its success. The 100 trillion ants in the world weigh as much as all the people on earth and have colonized the planet like no other animal. Chris Packham explores the ingenious ways in which ants have collaborated to achieve their global success - natural air-conditioning systems keep ants cool in their nests, shelters made from their own bodies protect nomadic ants from the elements and a sense of smell five times more powerful than other insects allows them to overpower animals hundreds of times larger than themselves. Remarkably, new research reveals how ant colonies are capable of immunizing themselves against diseases.
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