ARTE Distribution

There is no standard picture that describes the largest and most varied country in Western Europe in terms of wildlife and landscapes. Discover a one-of-a-kind variety of natural wonders populated with  small creatures with stunning never-before-seen images.

The North-West: from Paris along the wild coast, the romantic Normandy and the picturesque Loire
The South-West: the garden of France along the Atlantic Ocean, the wine regions of Burgundy and Bordeaux
The South: where mountains meet the Mediterranean Sea and the blooming Provence
The East: mountain area
Anyone who looks closely will discover something unusual, something never seen before. Especially, some small creatures often show behaviors nobody knows about, like these bioluminescent worms or catfish that hunt pigeons. France is one of those countries you think you know, but when you explore it, it can still surprise you!

Brazil’s largest wetland has long been a sanctuary for jaguars, reptiles, tapirs and many bird species. Plagued by exceptional drought and wildfires in 2020, it is also suffering from the development of agriculture and livestock farming. To save this unique ecosystem and its iconic species, protected areas are becoming a matter of urgency.

An immersion in the heart of the mountain wildlife. Each episode follows an animal living in a specific landscape’s altitude: the wild cat, the bear and the eagle, from the lowest to the top! 

Discover wildlife through behind-the-scenes footage and find out that more often than not, animals are much more cunning than humans. Unfortunately, this lush world is still not very easy to access– the animals fear the presence of humans in this emblematic massif. To discover them, you have to investigate, find clues, follow tracks and be very patient before you finally get the chance to see them.
Luckily, the journey proves to be just as exciting as the goal itself because it's like a mountain-size game of hide-and-seek where humans have to understand and tame nature if they are to discover its secrets.
 
Also available : 3x43'

The Iguazu Falls, one of the 7 wonders of the planet, are the biggest in the world with their 275 cascades on 3 kilometers. But, how to reconcile today this ecological treasure with the development of tourism, in a region in full economic boom? 

Thanks to the creation of several national parks in Argentina and Brazil, they are in the heart of a vast forest with unique biodiversity. The area of the falls is home to 422 species of birds, from the majestic toucans to the great dusky swifts, which nest behind the falls, or the grey-fronted guans, essential for the regeneration of the forest. In addition to populations of monkeys, coatis, and tamanduas, the region is also home to some of the last felines in South America, including the majestic jaguar or the agile puma. The site receives more than 3 million tourists per year. To minimize their impact on the fauna, they only have access to a small part of the protected area. Scientists and rangers are fighting relentlessly to protect the fauna from poaching and to educate the local population to live together with the felines. 

Brazil’s largest wetland has long been a sanctuary for jaguars, reptiles, tapirs and many bird species. Plagued by exceptional drought and wildfires in 2020, it is also suffering from the development of agriculture and livestock farming. To save this unique ecosystem and its iconic species, protected areas are becoming a matter of urgency.

Deep within southeastern Venezuela, Canaima National Park protects a vast tropical zone the size of Belgium. The area is divided between rainforests and two other ecosystems found exclusively on the Guiana plateau: the Gran Sabana and the rocky mesas called “tepuis”. While scientists document the extraordinary specificity of these territories, with their breathtaking panoramas, illegal mining on the park’s outskirts is threatening the fragile balance of the ecosystem.

A critical region of Patagonia has been protected since the creation of Torres Del Paine National Park in 1959. The plains and hills bordering the Andes have seen the return of large predators such as pumas, condors and foxes – as well as their prey, such as guanacos. Tourism has increased tenfold in the last 20 years, boosting the local economy; much to the delight of the ranchers who live alongside all this wildlife. But global warming and wildfires pose new threats to this fragile ecosystem.

The holothuria, also called sea cucumber, is a primeval sea dweller. In Japan, Indonesia and other Asian countries, the very expensive and refined delicacy is prized by the wealthy population. 

Larus Grimsson and Gudmundur Sigursson are among the few sea cucumber fishermen. The protein- and mineral-rich sea cucumber is worth a fortune when it lands on a chef's table; a kilo of sea cucumber can cost up to €2000! However, as holothuriums become increasingly rare, Larus and Gudmundur have to rethink. Their friend, the tanner Hlynur, is already further ahead. He has discovered that the fish skins and scales are not worthless waste, but make a very soft, tear-resistant leather.

An immersion in the heart of the mountain wildlife. Each episode follows an animal living in a specific landscape’s altitude: the wild cat, the bear and the eagle, from the lowest to the top! 

Discover wildlife filming behind the scenes and find out that more often than not, animals are much more cunning than men. Unfortunately, this lush world is still not very accessible – the animals fear the presence of man in this emblematic massif. To discover them, you have to investigate, find clues, follow tracks and be very patient before you finally get the chance to see them.
Luckily, the journey proves to be just as exciting as the objective: chance upon a mountain-size game of hide-and-seek where man must understand nature and tame it in order to discover its secrets.
 
Also available : 3x43' and 52'

Out-of-competition Selection Green Screen Festival 2022, Official Selection Le Grand Bivouac Festival 2022, Wildlife Vaasa International Nature Film Festival 2022 & The Wildlife Conservation Film Festival 2022

A stunning series that takes you along the most beautiful and vast corridor of life in the Rockies. Discover groundbreaking local conservation initiatives designed to preserve the ”iconic four”: bison, grizzly, caribou and wolf.

Yellowstone National Park was created in 1872. It was the first natural park in the world. As we celebrated the 150th anniversary of this park back in 2022, it's to this part of the world that we must once again look to see the unfolding of a revolutionary initiative. As a new concept of nature conservation, the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative preserves the heritage of Yellowstone National Park.
Through the success stories of four emblematic animals (bison, grizzly, woodland caribou, wolf), we follow this immense 2000 mile corridor of life all the way through the four episodes of this series and discover how it is working to preserve the Rocky Mountain  ecosystem, in close collaboration with Canadian Indian and First Nations tribes.

A unique documentary on chameleons living on the island of Madagascar, the world’s largest chameleon concentration, revealing incredible never-before-seen images and behaviors. Discover their incredible abilities such as: sleeping techniques, dancing, camouflage, 340° peripheral vision, catapult tongue, seduction, fluorescence...

If you thought you knew everything about this strange reptile, certainly the most astonishing of all, you were wrong. If you take the time to observe chameleons in the wild and try to truly understand them, you will soon realize that their armed tongue and their independent and peripheral ocular system, although spectacular, are only a small part of their incredible abilities. Actually, the chameleon’s trump card is its ability to evolve and adapt...

Did you always think that fish were mute, amnesiac, or insensitive to pain? Well you'd be wrong. Scientists are discovering that fish have astonishing cognitive abilities, a hectic social life, and even emotions. What if, fish were not so stupid after all? An investigation that takes place in the heart of the sea…

There is the land and the sea, as there are men and fish. Two worlds, which seem unable to communicate and understand each other. We treat these animals in a way that would seem outrageous if they were cats, baby seals or pandas. However, in 2019, some fish have joined the VIP circle of species capable of passing an age-old intelligence test: recognizing themselves in a mirror. Thus, it is now known that fish have self-awareness like humans, chimpanzees or dolphins. Fish are full of surprises: we discover that they are melomaniacs, like tickling or can have depression.