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The Indian Giant Squirrel – Secret Supersize Squirrel on Steroids

Sunday, 29 May 2016

If you are not a particular fan of squirrels then perhaps you had better leave the page right now. Whoever gave the Indian Giant Squirrel its name was not joking. It makes the European and North American squirrel look like dormice in comparison. This is no ordinary squirrel – secretive and shy, it is indeed a giant among its kind.

Image Credit Rakesh Kumar Dogra

Before you start to lock your windows and gaze worriedly at the canopy as you pass beneath, be assured that you may only come across one of these if you live in Peninsular India or you happen to be visiting a zoo.

They live in the evergreen and mixed deciduous forests there as far north as Madhya Pradesh in isolated ranges.

The Sea Turtle Hospital

The population of American sea turtles is dwindling. So, it is more important than ever that injured and sick turtles get the treatment that they deserve so they can be rehabilitated and set free, back in to the wild. This short documentary showcases the work of the Turtle Hospital in the Florida Keys. The work that the medical staff there does is exemplary – such a shame that most of the problems they encounter are down to humans.

Wild Galápagos

The Galápagos Islands are home to some of the most unusual creatures on earth, explored here in this 3-minute ambient destination video from Galaxiid. Your job? Just sit back and take it all in! Discover a treasure trove of endemic species, natural wonders and unique wildlife. Darwin's studies of the plants and animals there played a pivotal role in the development of his theory of natural selection.

Deep Dance

A world without light, a world dominated by darkness and threatening silence: the deep sea. Driven by their instincts, we pursue two contradictory characters and witness a struggle for life and death. We become victims of the illusion of light. Deep Dance is an animated short set in the deep sea. It's a story about survival created by Marco Erbrich. This film was part of the diploma at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.

Jellyfish Lake – Daily Migration of Millions

Sunday, 15 May 2016

Image Credit Wikimedia

Every day millions of golden jellyfish migrate – no big surprise there. However, you might not expect them to migrate horizontally across a lake. Still, a visit to Jellyfish Lake on Eil Malk, an island in Palau, in the Pacific Ocean, will confirm just that. Yet just how on earth did these jellyfish get to the lake in the first place?

Image Credit Flickr User Tobze

Image Credit Wikimedia

Thank You!

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

Thank you for your donation to help keep the Ark in Space up and running.

We look forward to bringing you lots more features and videos about the natural world in all its glory.

Thank you again – and enjoy the site!

Image Credit

The Secret Life of Mountain Lions

Monday, 28 March 2016

The Secret Life of Mountain Lions provides a rare glimpse into the family and social bonds of mountain lions. It affirms their rightful place in nature and the importance of protecting them for generations to come. Narrated by Chris Morgan (PBS, BBC, National Geographic), this video contains extraordinary footage captured with motion-triggered cameras from Panthera's Teton Cougar Project.

Through the Thick: Preserving the Rhino in South Africa - a Documentary

Director of Photography Nino Leitner and his crew recently spent time in the Shamwari Game Reserve, in the Eastern province of South Africa. This documentary is about about their efforts to tackle illegal rhino poaching. As well as containing some of the most spellbinding nature film-making that is currently possible, the documentary draws attention to the current onslaught on the rhino in South Africa.

The Scottish Fold – Owl Cat Extraordinaire

Sunday, 20 December 2015

The Scottish Fold is something of a special breed of cat. Seeing one for the first time you are drawn to its round facial features and, in the back of your mind, a thought nags you that something seems to be missing. Then you realize – it’s all about the ears.

Image Credit Flickr User Junnn

Galapagos

Have you ever wanted to travel to the Galapagos and witness for yourself all the marvel of natures to be found on those (not so these days) isolated islands? Well, courtesy of Tom Pinsard, now you don’t have to. Just sit back and enjoy this serene and gorgeous tour of the Galapagos Islands. It may not be quite the same as going there yourself, but it’s the next best thing.

In Between: The World of the Musk Ox

In between refers to the fact that although most consider the Ice Age over, it is really still dying out – not quite disappeared for good. Yet many of the animals we associate with it, the saber-toothed cats and the woolly mammoth have long since gone the way of the dinosaur. One creature still persists in the Arctic – the Musk Ox. This beautiful short, photographed by Rolf Steinmann, shows a world unknown to most of us.

Dolphin Army

Sunday, 29 November 2015

A huge pod of Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis) makes its way up the East African Coast each year in the search of Sardines. Follow them for a short part of this journey to see what they find in this wonderful short by Simon Buxton. It was filmed off the Wild Coast Region - an unforgiving area with big seas and cold water. Thank goodness sardines come in cans for us!

Hey! A Dog isn't just for Christmas - it's for Halloween Too!

Saturday, 31 October 2015

Image Credit Mccun 1994

Every year on October 31 the ghouls and ghosts rise - and people make fools of themselves all over the world by wearing ridiculous outfits. Well, Halloween isn't just for humans, you know! Here we bring together some wonderful shots of pets of all sizes (OK, dogs - they are the only ones who seem to be able to put up with it!) in their Halloween outfits. Enjoy this great set of pictures of the dogs of the world dressing up in their Halloween costumes.

Image Credit Flickr User istolethetv

Nico and the Turtle

Saturday, 10 October 2015

The times when you can pinpoint the actions that you made which changed your life forever are sometimes hard to pinpoint. Not so for Australian conservationist and filmmaker Jase Kovacs and his partner Jolene, both of Team Labyrinth. They sail around south east Asia, investigating ecological issues and bringing attention to small and underrepresented community conservation organisations.

During their journey they came across young Nico who had rescued an incredibly rare hawksbill turtle from his father’s fishing nets at Dahican Beach, Mindanao, Philippines. So far, so good but the events which unravel over the next few days might actually make you believe in fate.

Watch as Ants Attack a Large Millipede and Use Amazing Team-work to Drag it Away

Sunday, 6 September 2015

This is something else. Belgian freelance photographer and environmental engineer Stephane De Greef captured this footage in Cambodia. A group of Leptogenys ants decide to attack a recumbent millipede. What happens next is astonishing.

They surround it (in what can only be called a militarily disciplined fashion), then go in for the attack with one of their number attacking the head (surely the most vulnerable part). The millipede's reaction is immediate and desperate. However, the ants soon have the upper hand and drag their hapless victim away by assembling chains made up of themselves.

There is no music or narration here, but if you are in a certain mood then you can use the on-screen notes as visual prompts to become your very own David Attenborough. "Deep in the jungle of Cambodia..."

Whale Haven: Where Whales find Sanctuary

Off the shore of Campania Island in Canada’s British Columbia is a place where whales of many species find sanctuary. Northern resident killer whales, the fish-eaters, come together to form superpods.

On some days more than fifty individuals follow the salmon migration into the mainland fjords of the Great Bear Rainforest. The transient killer whales, the marine-mammal eaters, are forever travelling between seal and sea lion haul-outs, teaching the young how to hunt.

Yet there is trouble in this resplendent, tranquil ocean paradise. This short film by Pacific Wild shows us what the future may hold in store for these magnificent creatures. Click on the HD symbol at the bottom right of the video for its full awesomeness (if your device will take it!).

Breakfast at Giraffe Manor

Sunday, 23 August 2015

Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya was built in the 1930s but today its main purpose is somewhat different to its original design. It serves as a sanctuary for a herd of Rothschild’s Giraffes, a highly endangered species and the manor has been involved in their conservation since the 1970s.

Photographer and author Robin Moore captured these wonderful shots of the giraffes – seemingly in their element and completely at ease with the tourists around them. In fact, to the giraffes, the presence of a few people seems to be just a minor complication in their quest for food!

It just goes to show that conservation takes many forms. In a perfect world, perhaps, there wouldn’t be a need for places like Giraffe Manor yet with their numbers declining rapidly, anything which draws attention to their plight has to be applauded.

The video was produced for "This Happened Here" on the Seeker Network from Discovery featuring Robin’s images and video from Giraffe Manor.

What on Earth is this Swan Doing?

Friday, 7 August 2015

I was recently on vacation with my family in Chester (North England) and on one of our walks along the local canal we came across this swan. He (or she) seemed intent on swimming up and down alongside a barge. Our best guess was that the swan was trying to catch small insects that, for whatever reason, were congregating there. Is there anyone out there who can confirm this? Is this normal swan behavior?

I’m New!

Thursday, 28 May 2015

If you have had a stressful day then grab a drink, sit back and just take this all in. Created by Sander van Schie, this short film simply allows us to watch as new life takes to the water in the form of ducklings and baby coots. That’s pretty much it (except an appearance by a heron!) but that is all you will need – hopefully – to unwind and simply enjoy this marvellous example of what nature has to offer us.

Manta Ray Rescue

Every year millions of animals die as a result of items being discarded in to the ocean. In this case it is a tangle of fishing line which has managed to wind itself around a huge manta ray. The animal must have been in agony – as the camera comes closer you can see the huge rips in its skin caused where the line has driven inwards. It must have only been a matter of time before the pain and the wounds bettered the manta ray and it died.

Fortunately, it was encountered by a group of Undersea Hunter divers at Cocos Island off the shore of Costa Rica. They were able to cut the manta ray free with a diving knife, releasing it after goodness knows how long. One can only ponder on the ability of a large fish, such as the ray, being able to experience relief or even gratitude but it certainly seems to know that it has been released from its bondage.

This extraordinary footage was made by Paul Slater and Don Shellhammer.

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