Liz Bonnin takes a candid camera look at the animal world and how they will stop at nothing to find a mate and raise a family
Liz Bonnin reveals the lengths species go to in order to survive, in a new three-part series.
More than just clips of cheeky raccoons sneaking into gardens to steal cat food (although there is some of that), this is an eye-opening examination of underhand tactics and ingenious rule-breaking in the wild.
Tonight, Liz looks at how animals stop at nothing to find a mate.
‘Female Gunnison’s prairie dogs (above) are receptive to mating for only six hours in a whole year,' Liz explains. 'To ensure they become pregnant, mating with as many males as they can in that time is an effective strategy.’
From promiscuous prairie dogs on the pull and bees brawling for a female’s attention to a praying mantis whose seduction method involves biting her mate’s head off after mating, the pressure to procreate and protect your species drives animals to take drastic action, as this fascinating footage shows.
‘The praying mantis is renowned for devouring the male after mating, says Liz. 'But she has good reason. Producing hundreds of eggs requires a lot of energy, and a male mantis is more nutritious than her usual diet.’
TV Times rating: ****
