The Mating Game

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Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

David Attenborough reveals spectacular scenes of courting and companionship.

Finding a mate isn't just about love - the survival of an entire species could depend on it. Sir David Attenborough reveals spectacular scenes of courting and companionship.

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David Attenborough

Joe Loncraine

Adam Coates

Tara Knowles

Jeff Wilson

Keith Scholey

Silverback Films Ltd

The Mating Game: Series 1: Jungles: In the Thick of It

Jungles: In the Thick of It

BBC One - The Mating Game, Series 1, Jungles: In the Thick of It

To win the mating game in teeming jungles, you need to be able to stand out from the crowd

Jungles are home to 80 per cent of all species, but they cover just two per cent of the planet. When animals in these crowded forests want to mate, how do they stand out?

Jungles and rainforests are home to 80 per cent of all species on earth, but they cover just two per cent of our planet’s surface. To win the mating game here, you need to be able to stand out from the crowd. For some it’s all about putting on a show, whereas others must fight for their chance of victory. And for a few creatures, working together is the key.

Chimpanzees are notorious for their brutality and violence, and for most this is the simplest way to secure a mate. Dominant males can fight off rivals and impress the ladies. But for one younger male, forging long-lasting relationships through care and attention has proved to be an incredibly fruitful method of currying favour with the female chimps.

The abundance of food in the jungle means that many species can focus much of their attention on breeding. In Papua New Guinea, a MacGregor’s bowerbird has spent his life collecting sounds and building a castle, all in the hope of attracting a partner. And for the first time ever in the wild, the courtship display of the great argus pheasant is laid bare for all to see.

Whilst some animals might prefer a more subtle approach to mating, one jungle creature has his desire to breed written all over his face. A mandrill, the largest and heaviest monkey in the world, wears his blue and red face like a badge of honour. Only the strongest males can wear such bright colours, so he’s hoping that his face alone will be enough to warn off any rivals to his throne.

When it comes to winning the mating game, a potential player can’t afford to lose his head. Unless, that is, his intended partner is a cannibalistic mantis. Sometimes, giving everything is the only way to win. Whatever the strategy, when it comes to mating in the jungle, there are few taboos.

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