BBC Commissions Series on Rare Species

LONDON: A new natural-history series about the attempts to save some of the world’s rarest animals, Nature’s Miracle Babies, has been commissioned for BBC One.

BBC Director-General Mark Thompson announced the project, which spotlights the work of programs set up to protect some of Earth’s most threatened animals. Through five hour-long episodes, presenter Martin Hughes-Games travels the globe to follow the emotionally charged stories of these babies. He investigates the cutting-edge science and dedication of some of the individuals dedicated to making a difference in the survival of these species. The series is due for broadcast in 2011.

Nature’s Miracle Babies is one of many projects to come from the BBC as part of its ongoing commitment to make the South West of England a leader in natural-history programming. The BBC has a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Bristol City Council, The South West of England Development Agency, South West Screen and an alliance of creative industries, community organizations and academic institutions in the city, including Bristol Media, the University of Bristol, UWE and Futurelab. This is part of the BBC’s push to work with local agencies to boost regional creative economies.

Hughes-Games said: "This will be a highly charged personal journey for me. Many of the animals are just a hair’s breadth from extinction and sometimes the hopes of an entire species is concentrated in a few tiny, vulnerable babies."

Kim Shillinglaw, the commissioning editor for science and natural history at the BBC, who will oversee the series, commented: "This series promises to be a fascinating look at the struggle to save some of the world’s most vulnerable creatures, and demonstrates our commitment to the Natural History Unit and its ability to make distinctive and original programs."

Shillinglaw continued: "Stable investment through the licence fee gives us the ability to take risks, innovate and take years if needed to deliver programs viewers will love and remember. Now more than ever the BBC wants to strengthen its focus on distinctive content and genres that could be endangered in a tougher financial world."