Animal Families (2009)
Much-loved wildlife expert Michaela Strachan presents the enchanting series that explores family life in the animal kingdom. From elephants to meerkats, the programme investigates how baby animals cope with the world around them. Michaela is joined on her travels by her son, Oliver. Just like the human world, the animal kingdom is full of families. In this preschool wildlife series, Michaela Strachan sets out across the planet to meet the youngest members of animal families and explore how similar they are to people. Michaela and her young helpers investigate everything from hairy bears to sea-going penguins. Each programme is themed around a familiar aspect of daily life, such as playing with friends, going to school or having a bath. Every episode of the series comprises three strands: a story based on the programme's theme, a tactile wildlife tale that introduces children to animals and a soap-opera-style update on an animal family.
Seasons & Episode
Michaela Strachan finds out how different animals beat the heat. She travels to the deserts of Africa to find a snake and spider that bury themselves.
This episode focuses on digging. Bobbie, Charlie and Michaela meet a fox who digs holes to hide his food.
Anna and Luke make some waves in a swimming pool.
Michaela investigates how animals keep warm. Reindeer and sea otters have thick coats of fur, but William and Moya need coats.
Michaela meets the loudest animals in the world - howler monkeys. Next, she takes Moya and William to feed some lorikeets.
Michaela takes Anna and Luke to feed a family of hippos, who love outings to the pool.
Michaela, Jack and Oliver learn about dens. They meet a capybara and a beaver, who live together in Drusilla's Park in East Sussex.
Moya and William play at getting dirty. Later, they help Michaela clean out the zebra enclosure.
Harvey and Sophia find out about animals without hands and feet. Then Michaela introduces them to some slithery snakes.
Michaela takes Jenna and Leanne to meet some lemurs, who use their hands and feet to climb.
Rachel and Ollie make paper planes to see how they soar through the air. Later, Michaela takes them to meet some birds of prey.
Rachel and Ollie play hide-and-seek in the forest. Next, they help Michaela conceal some snacks for an orangutan.
Jenna and Leanne go to meet some wallabies with Michaela and see how they carry their babies in their pouches.
Michaela takes Millie and George to clean an elephant!
Sophia and Harvey are climbing in their treehouse. Then Michaela takes them to see some patas monkeys.
Michaela looks at animals that jump. Bobby and Charlie pretend to be a kangaroo and a frog, and bounce on a trampoline.
Michaela takes Jack and Oliver to see some porcupines.
This episode is all about rolling around! Michaela, Bobby and Charlie meet a hedgehog that can roll itself into a tight ball.
Michaela takes Sophia and Harvey to meet some very curious squirrel monkeys. Then they catch up with a family of lion cubs.