1. The Grey Whale

Embarking on an epic journey for food, a mother whale leads her calf on the longest migration of any mammal.

2. The Elephant Seal

A four-ton elephant seal returns to his breeding beach on the cusp of summer—and quickly learns the competition for females is fierce.

3. The Giant Otter

In the Brazilian Pantanal—a wetland larger than England—a six-foot otter attempts to raise her cubs in the shadow of hungry jaguars.

4. The Gorilla

Makumba is one of the best studied gorillas in the world. Now past his prime, he must find new ways to maintain his status as king of the jungle.

5. The Hippo

In Earth's largest inland delta, Africa's deadliest mammal fights to keep his family afloat as the dry season approaches.

6. The Brown Bear

Rocky Mountain summers are fleeting, leading local bears to gain weight, sharpen defenses, and engage in a dynamic fight for domination.

7. The Ostrich

A blazing sun scorches the African savanna, where the planet's biggest bird protects his eggs and giraffes struggle to fuel their towering bodies.

8. The Orangutan

In Borneo, apes and monkeys train their babies in the treetops, but with gravity against them, the stakes are high—and crocodiles lurk below.

10. The Polar Bear

Subzero temperatures force polar bears to bulk up—but as summer returns and the planet grows warmer, they find themselves on thin ice.