'Wonders of The Monsoon' has finally been announced - starting on Sunday October 5th on BBC2.
This series explores the impact of The Monsoon - the greatest weather system on Earth, and how this powerful natural force influences the wildlife, the people and the landscapes between the Himalayas and Northern Australia.
This series explores the impact of The Monsoon - the greatest weather system on Earth, and how this powerful natural force influences the wildlife, the people and the landscapes between the Himalayas and Northern Australia.
For me, this marks the end of an epic adventure with an incredible team, that started in 2009 with photographers Kalyan Varma and David Heath, as we travelled around the Western Ghats of India and worked up an idea 'Chasing the Monsoon'. For the past 2 and a half years we've filmed in spectacular locations, from volcanoes to rainforests, and experienced incredible natural events, from mind-blowing storms and flocks of 80,000 budgies, to monster leeches hunting giant blue worms. It's been a true journey of discovery and revelation with some of the most talented and passionate people I've ever had the privilege to meet. We really hope that you enjoy the results! (See the clip below for a taste of the series)
We have many images to share over the next few weeks, but here's one of my favourites - a monk in the ruins of Yapahuwa temple, Sri Lanka, as a monsoon storm closes in. I'm proud that this is being used as the main series image as I feel it captures the evocative and exotic essence of this rich part of the world.
Official press release and sneak peak video...
The wildlife and cultures from the Himalayas to Northern Australia have been shaped by one of the greatest phenomena on Earth: the mighty monsoon winds. This series explores how life flourishes under the tumultuous weather system that annually transforms an enormous part of our planet, home to over half the world’s human population.
Wildlife in this region has adapted to, and depends upon the cycles of the monsoon, from the build-up before the rains, to the impact of the downpour and the devastation of the drought. This series reveals the remarkable stories of humans and animals, from insects to tigers, orang-utans, herdsmen and stock brokers, who live in the shadow of the monsoon.
Innovative filming techniques and technology capture animal behaviour and stunning storm footage as never before. Weird and wonderful creatures emerge on camera for the very first time, from blood sucking red leeches of Borneo, feeding off monster earthworms their own size, to the smallest bird of prey in the world, the Bornean falconet. The remarkable ways that animals adapt to survive the monsoon are revealed, from baby orang-utans, building umbrellas from forest leaves, to the beautiful and bizarre caterpillars in the tropical forests, who harness poison from the trees to defend themselves against predators. We discover the curious partnerships between different species as they team up to survive the extreme conditions brought about by the monsoon winds – between the chital and the langur monkeys in India and shrew and exotic pitcher plant.
The relationship between nature and the peoples of the monsoon has evolved to support some of the richest wildlife on the planet. Over thousands of years, ancient beliefs have helped people and nature to live together in the monsoon region. The series looks at these beliefs and how they have shaped the way people live today, and reveals the effect of global markets on this part of the world. The wildlife that inhabits it still depends on the humanity and passion of people; we all have a part to play in its future.
Executive producer James Honeyborne says: "Join us on a journey through the colourful and exotic lands of the monsoon. From Australia to India, lives are shaped by and lived out under the greatest weather system on our planet."
Series producer Paul Bradshaw says: “This is natural history set in the planet's most glorious and dramatic theatre - the lands of the monsoon. It's an incredibly rich mixture of extraordinary creatures, great and small, with some of the planet’s most colourful and ancient cultures, all bound together through the story of this rampaging weather system.”
Wonders Of The Monsoon was commissioned by Kim Shillinglaw in her previous role as Head of Commissioning for Science and Natural History. The executive producer is James Honeyborne and the series producer is Paul Bradshaw, both for the BBC’s Natural History Unit.