The Life of Mammals

In “Life in the Trees”, David Attenborough surveys the forest‑dwelling members of the animal kingdom. He showcases primates and squirrels executing intricate manoeuvres throughout the world’s woodlands, following their agile navigation of branches, leaping and swinging as they search for food and shelter across diverse forest habitats.

Life in the Trees is a television programme presented by Sir David Attenborough. In this episode he turns his attention to the creatures that make the canopy their home, offering viewers a close‑up look at the lives of animals that spend most of their time aloft. The focus is on the natural world’s arboreal inhabitants, with Attenborough acting as guide through the leafy realms that stretch across the globe. The core of the show follows the movements of primates and squirrels as they navigate the complex network of branches, trunks and foliage that make up the world’s forests. These animals perform a series of intricate manoeuvres, leaping, climbing and balancing with a precision that highlights the specialised adaptations required for a life spent high above the ground. Their actions are captured in detail, illustrating how each species exploits the vertical space of the forest. Beyond the featured primates and squirrels, the programme also paints a broader picture of the forest environment itself. By concentrating on the tree‑dwelling members of the animal kingdom, it underscores how the canopy serves as a bustling arena for survival, communication and foraging. The episode therefore provides a concise yet thorough portrait of the dynamic interplay between these agile mammals and the wooded habitats they call home.