Never-seen-before footage of animal parents shines in new nature series now streaming on CBC Gem
New five-part series Parenthood features tapir, cardinalfish, demoiselle cranes and more
Watch amazing stories of dedication, ingenuity and sacrifice as animal parents embark on the greatest of all challenges in a new series narrated by Sir David Attenborough, Parenthood, now streaming on CBC Gem.
What is Parenthood about?
Parenthood is a five-part natural history series that reveals the strategies that animal parents use to give their young a head start in life. From incredible ingenuity to heartwarming devotion and remarkable patience, parenting strategies across the natural world are awe-inspiring — and many are surprisingly similar to our own experiences.
The series explores the unique challenges of four distinct habitats: oceans, grasslands, jungles, and freshwater. At the same time, these parents are forced to adapt to a rapidly changing world, profoundly impacted by human activity.
And the stakes couldn't be higher — success for all parents ensures the future of life on our planet.
What are some of the parenting stories we learn about?
Here are just a few of the animal parents we'll meet in Parenthood.
Indonesia's Banggai cardinalfish: Most of Indonesia's fish species release their eggs to be fertilized and then get swept away, never to meet either of their parents again.
Not the Banggai cardinalfish. A female ready to spawn will lure a male from his home, typically near a protective shoal of sea urchins. She releases a mass of eggs, which he takes into his mouth for safekeeping.
For the next four weeks, the male cardinalfish will protect them, unable to eat.
He finds safety among sea anemones, marine invertebrates that deploy stinging tentacles for protection. Fortunately, he is immune to their stings, and this habitat will make an excellent home for the little fry. When the time is right, he coaxes the young out of his mouth, where they are safe to begin their own lives.
Eurasia's Demoiselle cranes: These cranes migrate 3,000 miles during breeding season to feast on Mongolia's grasslands. Protecting the eggs is a two-parent job; one stays with the young while the other feeds.
But domesticated livestock have tripled over the last century, which means that there is less space for wild animals.
A flock of sheep is a little too close for comfort. One wrong step and the cranes' eggs could be trampled. It's time to deploy the 'crane kick' to move the sheep along.
Finally, their aggressive manoeuvre works. These parents have only started — their chicks will need protecting for almost a year.
Amazonian tapirs: A close relative of rhinos, these jungle herbivores are elusive. The plants in Brazil's Cristalino Reserve where they live are abundant but lack crucial minerals, and some contain a mix of toxic chemicals.
Seeking a natural remedy, this mother guides her calf upstream to a clay lick, known for its toxin-neutralizing and nutrient-rich properties.
Filmmakers spent 20 days in 40-degree heat to capture this never-before-seen footage.
These detailed thermal camera images show a mother teaching her little one where to find the clay lick and how to bite the bark to clean up the minerals, revealing a new aspect of the tapir's secret life.
How was Parenthood filmed?
Parenthood was filmed over three years on six continents and in 23 countries. It's packed with never-before-seen behaviour filmed in 6k ultra high definition.
It was produced by Silverback Films (Wild Isles, The Hunt and The Mating Game) in association with All3Media International for the BBC.
Where can I watch Parenthood in Canada?
Parenthood is now streaming on CBC Gem.
CBC Gem is available for free as an App for Roku, Samsung Smart TV (select models), LG Smart TV (select models), Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Xbox, iPhone and iPad, and Android phones and tablets.
