Wild City
Singapore: One of the fastest growing cities in the world. Once a tropical jungle, it is now 665 square kilometres of hustle, bustle, concrete and air-con. But nestled among the urban sprawl there is a wild side; - places where pangolins, crocodiles, monkeys, otters, snakes and hornbills sit right among the skyscrapers and boardwalks. This series, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, discovers how nature has evolved within this teeming city. Wild City showcases the range of different habitats found in and around the built-up urban sprawl, then journeys around the island’s hidden wildlife hotspots – from the overlooked interior to the inaccessible coastline and islands that have become unplanned sanctuaries for Singapore’s natural heritage.
Episodes
The first part, Urban Wild, looks at the built-up surroundings - from the city centre to the suburban areas - where various animals and plants have adopted as their home, as Singapore’s landscape rapidly changes. It uncovers several hidden gems, from troops of macaques that straddle forest and condominium-life, civets that take up residencies in roof cavities, reticulated pythons that hunt for their prey in the drains and the world’s first family of wild otters breeding right in the heart of the city in Marina Bay.
Hidden Wild, the second part of the series, takes a peek at overlooked, tucked-away areas of the island that are now home to an astonishing variety of creatures. These areas include the coastal wetlands, abandoned buildings and offshore islands, which animals such as colugos (gliding mammals also known as flying lemurs - although they aren’t true lemurs), fiddler crabs and Singapore’s oldest predators – the crocodiles.
The third part of the series explores Singapore's islands -- far from the city, past the port, hidden from view lies an undiscovered wilderness. From laid-back sandy beaches and colourful coral reefs, to ever-constant coastal development, Singapore's coasts and islands are home to an array of fascinating creatures. Dive underwater to meet the dynamic duo of the yellow watchman goby and shrimp, discover the quick-changing cuttlefish, delve into darkness with the dog-faced water snake, and avoid the aim of the lethal archerfish. Relax on the beach with busy sand bubbler crabs and marooned macaques and take to the skies to follow the twisting tale of a family of little terns. This is a journey across the waters to explore the unexpected world of Singapore's wild islands.
The fourth part of the series explores Singapore's forests; this multi-layered jungle is home to one of the least known primates in the world, flying dragons, mating snakes, and many more.
Life is tough on Singapore’s waterways for wild younglings. Baby otters in the Botanic Gardens learn to swim and hunt while avoiding predators and rare ducklings struggle to survive thunderstorms.
Almost 30,000 species of animals make their home in Singapore, but many of them remain largely invisible to us.
