The Life of Mammals

In this programme, David Attenborough explores the hunting tactics of the planet’s carnivores. He journeys from the icy Arctic, where he observes Arctic foxes, to the southern hemisphere, studying big cats and the strategies they employ to capture prey in their natural habitats.

Meat Eaters is a television programme presented as an episode within its own series. The show is fronted by Sir David Attenborough, who guides viewers through each segment with his characteristic narration. It is billed simply as an episode of the Meat Eaters series, without reference to any additional production credits. In this particular instalment, Attenborough turns his attention to the hunting methods employed by the planet’s carnivorous animals. He surveys a broad spectrum of predators, beginning with the small Arctic fox that roams the icy expanses of the far north and moving on to the powerful big cats that dominate the southern hemisphere. The episode highlights how these hunters have adapted their techniques to the specific challenges of their environments. From the stealthy ambushes of the Arctic fox in snow‑covered terrain to the high‑speed chases of southern big cats across open savannahs, the programme outlines the varied strategies that enable each species to secure its meals. By juxtaposing creatures from opposite ends of the globe, the segment underscores the diversity of predatory behaviour found in nature. Attenborough’s commentary ties together these disparate examples, showing how geography and climate shape the ways in which carnivores hunt and survive.