Walking with Beasts

Walking with Beasts takes viewers on a journey through the Cenozoic Era, depicting the evolution and lives of various prehistoric mammals that inhabited Earth after the extinction of the dinosaurs. This six-part BBC series serves as a sequel to Walking with Dinosaurs and continues the story of life on our planet.

The documentary recreates extinct animals using a combination of computer-generated imagery and animatronics, presenting their stories in the style of a traditional nature documentary. Each episode focuses on a different time period and location, showcasing the diverse fauna that existed during the Cenozoic.

The series begins in the Eocene epoch, approximately 49 million years ago, introducing viewers to early mammals such as Leptictidium, the flightless bird Gastornis, and the proto-whale Ambulocetus. It then progresses through time, depicting the evolution of whales in the Tethys Seaway during the Late Eocene, featuring the formidable predator Basilosaurus.

As the series advances, it portrays the changing landscapes and ecosystems of the Cenozoic. The third episode showcases the largest land mammal that ever lived, the Indricothere, which thrived in a world where forests gave way to open plains. The fourth episode takes place in Ethiopia, focusing on early hominins like Australopithecus and their interactions with other animals of the time, including the elephant ancestor Deinotherium.

The fifth episode transports viewers to Pleistocene South America, where unique fauna evolved in isolation. It highlights the fearsome Smilodon, or saber-toothed cat, as well as other distinctive creatures like the giant armored Doedicurus and the terror bird Phorusrhacos. The final episode follows a herd of woolly mammoths on their migration through Ice Age Europe, encountering various challenges including early humans.

Throughout the series, the narration provides context and explanations for the behaviors and adaptations of these extinct animals. It also touches on broader themes such as climate change, evolution, and extinction events that shaped life on Earth during the Cenozoic Era.