Making Planet Earth

An endangered snow leopard hunts down its prey. New Guinea's bird of paradise performs its mating dance. A pride of lions take down an elephant. These are just a few of the dramatic scenes documented in Planet Earth, an 11-part series by the Discovery Channel and the BBC that captures life on earth like never before.

Series creator Alastair Fothergill and producer Jonny Keeling spent five years working on the documentary to give a rare glimpse into the animal kingdom. After speaking with scientists and working for a year to plan, dozens of cameramen captured magical moments in more than 200 countries on all seven continents.

The result is a collection of scenes from the vast tapestry of Earth—from high above the treetops to the dark depths of the sea. Cutting-edge technology allowed the team to go where few humans dare to capture the sights and sounds of the living planet.