An expert in the science of emotion, Professor Dacher Keltner, from the University of California, has confirmed what we’ve always felt – that wildlife shows can boost the moods and wellbeing of viewers!
BBC Earth shared the findings from The Real Happiness Project which found: “that even short engagement with such shows leads to significant increases in positive emotions including awe, contentedness, joy and amusement.”
Plus, it also found to lower the impact of negative emotions such as anxiety, stress and tiredness.
With wildlife hit Planet Earth II coming to an end on our TV screens, we’ve rounded up a few more stand-out shows that will keep you in touch with nature and your happiness…
The Great Migration
Ben Fogle spends a year travelling between the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Maasai Mara in Kenya to find out why these two iconic destinations are home to one of the world’s greatest spectacles of mass migration.
Each year, over two million wildebeest, zebra and other antelope make an incredible 650km trek from the vast Serengeti plains to the highlands of Kenya’s Maasai Mara and back again.
On his adventure, Ben takes a hot-air balloon ride to catch his first glimpse of the mighty wildebeest herds, tracks four collared females to see if they make the journey, and chats to wildebeest expert Dr Grant Hopcraft to find out more about this brave antelope.
On from Sunday 2 April at 4 pm on BBC Earth, DStv channel 184
Planet Carnivore
This four-part series, narrated by critically acclaimed actor Alec Baldwin, offers an intimate and powerful experience, looking at some of the planet’s most fearsome animals in their own unique environments.
Throughout the show, you’ll track the dramatic stories of an African lioness, a great white shark, a polar bear and an Alaskan brown bear, all struggling for survival. It’s beautifully shot and wonderfully told by the gravelly-voiced actor.
On from Saturday 8 April at 6 pm on Nat Geo Wild, DStv channel 182
Meet the Penguins
This heart-warming series follows the work of Cape Town’s SANCCOB Seabird Hospital, where a passionate team is battling to save precious penguin lives. The dedicated team of vets and volunteers work around the clock to rescue and treat around 1 500 African penguins each year – and there’s never a quiet day in the home of the Western Cape’s noisiest inhabitants!
Each bird that comes through the doors is a very special character with their own unique story to tell, both heart-warming and heart-breaking. You’ll love the stories of Little Slippy, brought into SANCCOB with oil contamination, and Crabby, the centre’s grumpiest penguin.
From battling to save a vulnerable chick to putting a portly penguin on a strict diet, the action doesn’t stop for these very special birds.
On from Tuesday 25 April at 4:25 pm on Animal Planet, DStv channel 183
