Fred Kaufman

Experience life behind the scenes at one of America's most renowned zoos. From a desperately ill baby gorilla to two un-amorous pandas, these stories witness the drama of zoo veterinary medicine. Meet the people who keep these animals alive and healthy.

Join scientists, experts, and adventurers as they trudge through mountains of snow, climb trees as tall as buildings, and soar high in the air to spy just how global changes are affecting one of America's greatest wildernesses.

The first program observes the Red panda and Giant panda (one of the world's most endangered mammals) in their natural habitat, the bamboo forest of China's "Mountains of the Sleeping Dragon" a national panda reserve. The second program features the San Diego Zoo's challenge to successfully breed and raise a Giant Panda in captivity. Spotlighted is Hua Mei the baby panda and staff from the San Diego Zoo's Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species....

The world of penguins: Presents the life of penguins and how they solve the problem of living in two worlds, in the sea where they spend most of their lives swimming and feeding, moving so gracefully, and their return to land each year to breed and to moult. A sea otter story: warm hearts and cold water: The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a haven for orphaned otter pups where the staff teaches these pups the skills to survive in the wild. Explore with George...

The first program explores the world of dogs that go the extra step beyond man's best friend-- service dogs, search and rescue dogs, therapy dogs, celebrity dogs, sheepdogs and war dogs. The second program looks at puppies. Trainers, breeders, owners, vets, biologists and dog lovers of every kind talk about puppies - their talents and temperaments, needs and loves.

Frogs have been on this planet for more than 250 million years, evolving into some of the most wondrous and diverse creatures on earth. Today, they are at the center of one of the greatest mass extinctions since the dinosaurs. It is an environmental crisis unfolding in our own backyard as well as around the globe.

In every animal's life, there comes a time when it must stand on its own, and face the world alone. For a few, this happens just moments after birth, others have the advantage of home schooling under the watchful eye. But growing up is never easy, and finding food, avoiding predators, and making friends does not always come naturally. These are the trials of young animals all over the world, as they prepare to leave home.