Few things are as rejuvenating as going beyond the reaches of civilisation to explore the vastness of the great outdoors and witness the untamed existence of wildlife. While we can’t all escape our day-to-day lives to become world travellers, we can get a glimpse of distant natural worlds from the comfort of our living rooms.
From bottomless oceans to jungles, savannas, mountains, and far-flung moors, wildlife documentaries take us on a journey into the awe-inspiring. If you need to get back in touch with nature, these must-watch wildlife doccies are sure to satisfy your inner traveller.
My Octopus Teacher
While mankind might be disconnected from the natural world, there are some cases where people make profound connections with wild creatures. This Oscar-winning documentary tells the story of South African naturalist Craig Foster, who experienced a midlife crisis and decided to spend a year diving off the coast of Cape Town. While exploring an underwater kelp forest, he formed an unlikely friendship with an intelligent octopus. This documentary showcases an incredible phenomenon and teaches us about the meaningful bond between man and nature. If you don’t think you could ever grow attached to an octopus, My Octopus Teacher will probably change your mind.
My Octopus Teacher is currently available on Netflix.
The Year Earth Changed
2020 was undoubtedly the year the earth changed: the pandemic caused global lockdowns and travel restrictions for the sake of public health as the world seemingly ground to a halt. But amid this global crisis, there were some uplifting stories that came out of it. Human activity slowed down; nature was given its moment to thrive. This documentary series gives a fresh perspective on the profound impact the pandemic had on wildlife, and how it gave people around the world a chance to reconnect with nature. As an awe-inspiring reflection on a strange time in human and natural history, The Year Earth Changed is as informative as it is visually captivating.
The Year Earth Changed is currently available on Apple TV+.
Our Planet
Produced by the same BBC team that made The Blue Planet and Planet Earth, and featuring the revered Sir David Attenborough, Our Planet visits 50 countries to showcase the vast and vibrant ecosystems of the earth. From deserts and grasslands to oceans, fresh water, and forests, the documentary series provides eight feature-length episodes with breath-taking cinematography that explores the marvels of our beautiful planet. Our Planet also goes where many earlier nature documentaries feared to by talking about the real impact humanity has on the earth’s wildlife and ecosystems.
Our Planet is available on Netflix and can be streamed for free on YouTube as an educational resource.
Life in Colour with David Attenborough
The natural world is full of colours. But like the kaleidoscopic feathers of a peacock, for example, nature isn’t just colourful for no reason. This three-part documentary series showcases how animals not only communicate and survive by using colour, but also how they visualise and process colour in a way humans cannot. Using new camera technology – some of which was developed specifically for this series – Life in Colour allows us to discover how animals see colours in different ways. From vision to camouflage and finding a mate, it explores the many interesting colour-related adaptations and rituals of animals you have to see to believe. It’s full of intimate and fascinating moments that reveal the beauty and wonder of nature in a new light – and in full colour.
Life in Colour is currently available on Netflix
The best way to watch wildlife documentaries
We may not always be able to escape the rat race and find serenity in nature, but we can be temporarily transported to far-away worlds by turning on the TV. And, with the breath-taking landscapes and creatures that inhabit the earth, it’s worth having a display that comes close to reality.
LG QNED TVs are known for their exceptional colour reproduction and are perfect for depicting wildlife documentaries in all their visual splendour. QNED TVs combine Quantum Dot technology, which uses semiconducting nanocrystals to enhance colour reproduction, with NanoCell’s nanoparticles that filter and refine colour impurities. With purer, true-to-life colours, QNED TVs bring a new level of immersion to viewing documentaries in 4K.
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