WILDLIFE WATCH

Ben Hoare goes on a safari from his sofa to discover how nature documentaries are made.

Galloping zebras race across a dusty plain with lions in hot pursuit. The big cats skilfully single out a youngster. He's struggling to keep up... the lions are getting closer now... but the herd keeps changing direction to shake off the pursuers. Eventually, the lions tire and give up. The young zebra is safe! Nature documentaries are full of heart-thumping moments like these. Thanks to the incredible dedication of film-makers, you can marvel at the wonders of the wild, from clouds of rainbow-colored butterflies to sharks hunting glittering shoals of fish. It's no wonder nature films are some of the most popular shows around.

Bringing nature to your screen

Let's face it, most people will not be lucky enough to see a polar bear sneaking up on a seal. You're unlikely to glimpse a bird-of-paradise dancing like crazy in the rainforest, but that's ok, because you can always watch wildlife TV instead. "You see these animals much more clearly on your screen than in real life," laughs top wildlife TV producer Ruth Peacey. She's right. Many animals are super-difficult to spot in the wild. They may be secretive and hide, or they might be really rare. Some only come out at night. Or they live in dense forest or on remote islands. Others roam over vast areas, making it hard to work out where they'll be.

It's the job of film-makers like Ruth to track down exciting and unusual creatures, without disturbing them in any way, and record their most interesting behaviour. Back in the studio, the footage gets cut up and edited on computers to create jaw-dropping stories. So, how do film crews manage to bag such breathtaking images? "We do loads of planning," says Ruth. "Usually we [visit] the filming location beforehand to check it out and see what kit we'll need. And we contact scientists studying the animals. They know the species better than anyone, so they can suggest the ideal time of year to film."