CBC Wild Docs

Alain Robert is the most daring climber the world has ever seen. Using merely his bare hands, a dusting of chalk and his trusted climbing shoes, he's climbed over seventy of the earth's tallest man-made structures. A heart-stopping film following the planet's most daring free-climber as he attempts to scale completely unaided some of the tallest buildings in the world. Dubbed The Human Spider, Alain Robert is the most daring climber the world has ever seen. Using merely his bare hands, a dusting of chalk and his trusted climbing shoes, Alain has climbed over seventy of the earth's tallest man-made structures including the Taipei 101, the Eiffel Tower, Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Twin Towers, the Empire State Building and London's Canary Wharf. This visually stunning and adrenalin-fueled documentary constructs a fascinating psychological profile of Robert and gains exclusive access to his quest to "free-climb" more of the world's most iconic landmarks including a selection of the tallest structures in Shanghai, Berlin, Moscow, Lisbon and London. As well as incredible footage of his previous exploits this film promises to leave the viewer engrossed, amazed and entertained.

Survivors of shark attacks reveal their death defying and terrifying stories with the ocean's ultimate predator. Sharks are the ocean's ultimate predator. The slightest hint of their presence can evacuate a beach, sending shockwaves of fear through a previously idyllic summer. Not all species of sharks attack people, but some, including the bull shark, the tiger shark and the fearsome white shark are known to prey on humans. Shark attacks are rare, but they do happen, and with more people congregating at the beaches and playing in coastal waters, the number of shark attacks is on the rise. But while there are more attacks, few of these lead to death. These extreme predators are more than capable of slicing a human in two with one vicious bite, yet often they hold back, or let go - why? In When Sharks Attack, research biologist Mark Marks goes in search of answers to the questions of shark attack. He interviews people who have suffered horrific shark bites to ascertain the exact strategy sharks use when attacking, and what the reasons are for letting their prey go free. When Sharks Attack will not only investigate the science behind shark behavior but will also tell the incredible stories of people who have experienced nature's most perfect killing machine first hand - and lived to tell the tale. Teenage surfers JP Andrews and Bethany Hamilton, who, despite almost losing their lives in separate shark attacks, continue to surf. JP says the attack, which left him medically dead for over 30 minutes, has given him great respect for the ocean and for its creatures. This sentiment is echoed by many of the survivors; changed forever, but armed with greater insight because of their life-changing brush with the ocean's most deadly predator.

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Fast food addicts swap diets with an ancient tribe whose eating rituals date back thousands of years. For many of us, the holiday season is a time of overindulging in sugary, fat-laden treats. But could you give it all up? How far would you go to give up unhealthy food? In an extreme television experiment, four fast food fanatics trade their Western diet, for the diet of one of the healthiest communities in the world. The traditional Western diet has been linked to diabetes, coronary heart disease and cancer. Time for some extreme diet therapy as four junk food addicts are sent to a remote region of Northern Pakistan. There, they're forced to adopt the diet of the Shimshal people, which includes locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, and yak meat. Exercise also becomes part of daily life - fetching firewood, carrying water, working in the fields and herding animals. Not all of them will make it through, but for those that do, it will be a life-changing experience.

Counts down the fastest animals on earth and compares them to human attempts to race their way into the record books. You can run - but you can't hide from the fastest animals on the planet. Earth is a planet of extremes - extreme places, and extreme animals. But some animals are more impressive than others when it comes to quickness. It may surprise you to find out which animals use their knack for speed to survive. From miraculous lizards that walk on water to super swift sharks, Extreme Speed counts down the top ten most extreme speed freaks in the animal world, and compares them to human attempts to race their way into the record books. The legendary hare has an impressive track record of extreme speed. But how would it stack up against the world's fastest human athletes? Running full throttle, the hare can approach speeds of 45 miles per hour. That means it could dominate the Olympic 100 metre sprint and shatter the world record in a time of just 5 seconds. That's fast, but not as fast as the tiny animal that races to catch prey while traveling an astonishing 170 body lengths each second. For the cowboys of the Wild West, extreme speed was the difference between life and death. It only takes two tenths of a second for the fastest gunslingers to draw ... and shoot. But cowboys have some competition from a creature that you might find hiding at the bottom of a fish tank. This sharp shooter doesn't pack pistols, but uses clubs to knock its opponents senseless - clubs that move as fast as speeding bullets. Snails are not known for their speed, but some varieties are actually stealth assassins. When the cone snail detects prey a hollow and barbed harpoon loaded with venom is launched from inside the snail's throat. A U.S. Marine based in Guam was posing for a photograph with two cone snails when both simultaneously struck him in the neck. He died in just four seconds. Whether they're predator or prey, the fastest animals on earth all use the power

Extreme sports at its most extreme - witness an unbelievably dangerous journey across the wildest and loneliest stretch of ocean on Earth - all captured on camera. This amazing documentary opens with a chilling mayday call from the documentary's subject, a garbled message that compels viewers to continue watching. Most of us can't fathom what drives people to risk their lives doing extreme sports. But Australian Andrew McAuley's wife did, when she introduced the mountaineer to open ocean kayaking. Now he's attempting an unbelievable first-a solo kayak crossing from Tasmania to New Zealand via some of the most ruthless and dangerous waters imaginable, with a camera mounted on the front of his boat. He's not only leaving behind his wife, but also a young son, and a host of friends who can only marvel at his risk-taking. As we learn from the opening scene in Lost at Sea, he runs into serious trouble. The New Zealand coast guard receives a mayday call that he's 30 miles offshore and his boat is sinking. Extraordinary video diaries recorded throughout his journey allow us to watch one man risk everything.

Lifestyle journalist Kate Spicer is 39, single and, like many women, not 100% happy with her appearance. Follow Kate as she immerses herself in the wide range of bizarre, radical and cutting edge procedures now on offer to normal women willing to undergo a grueling quest for exquisite, youthful looks. Lifestyle journalist Kate Spicer is 39, single and, like many women, not 100% happy with her appearance. She's always been skeptical about the beauty industry but now, as she approaches her forties, she's contemplating action. And with £1.8m now spent everyday in the UK on cosmetic procedures, she's not alone. This film follows Kate as she immerses herself in the wide range of bizarre, radical and cutting edge procedures now on offer to normal women willing to undergo a grueling quest for exquisite, youthful looks. Just how far is Kate willing to go? And will it be worth it? "A lot of the journalism I write is about popular culture and trends," explains Kate. "I often will immerse myself in that subject matter because if something is popular with a lot of people, unless you try it, I don't think you're ever going to understand why." As a streetwise journalist, Kate is well aware that the beauty industry and the media bombard women with unrealistic images of physical perfection and is skeptical about the practitioners of exotic and invasive procedures - and indeed those people who indulge in it. "The images of beauty we have in our society today are incredibly artificial either in terms of the work the individual has had done or in terms of the technological shenanigans you can use on a photograph," says Kate. With a personal interest in improving her looks and a beauty industry cynic's interest in exploring just how easy it is to be sucked into the world of cosmetic improvement, Kate wants to find out what's really involved in our quest to look beautiful. "I've got two motivations here," says Kate. "One is can I get to look better? Can I get to look hotter

The curse of beach holidays, explores why the jellyfish population is exploding. They have become the curse of beach holidays, permeating every ocean on the globe, thriving in the arctic and the tropics. In an ever-changing world where other species struggle to endure, jellyfish populations are on the rise. To the untrained eye, they're gelatinous blobs, drifting aimlessly on the ocean's currents. But jellyfish are among the most-feared and least-understood creatures on earth. And their populations are exploding across the world. They lack sharp claws, piercing teeth or even a brain - but they are armed with an amazing arsenal of weapons. For hundreds of millions of years, jellyfish have been evolving, developing into the ultimate survivor. The wet season, Northern Australia. Here locals and tourists alike have long been wary of the lethal sting of the largest box jellyfish, the sea wasp. These creatures are not aggressive and usually avoid human beings, but accidental collisions are inevitable. And on a continent loaded with deadly predators, it's the box jellyfish that's the most venomous. Since 1900, the creature has killed some 80 people in the waters off Australia. One brush with its tentacles delivers horrific pain and can be fatal. But why does this jelly defend itself like this? Australian jellyfish expert Jamie Seymour introduces us to the Irukandji jellyfish. No bigger than a penny and translucent by design, the Irukandji is nearly impossible to detect in the ocean, but those who've encountered the lethal jelly certainly don't forget. Its venom packs a staggering punch, and its toxins permeate the body with startling efficiency. Swarms of Irukandji are now being reported worldwide. We discover that while a paralyzing defense is the key for jellyfish survival, there may be a new factor enhancing its ability to survive: human-generated changes to the waters they live in. To investigate this phenomenon we go to Japan, where the population of j

A collection of some of the most incredible moments ever caught on film. Amazing Moments showcases some of the most incredible moments ever caught on film. From surviving disaster on land, in the air and at sea, Amazing Moments will leave viewers gasping for breath. This must-see documentary captures the power of nature's fury up-close and personal. Four action-packed segments feature spectacular imagery and firsthand accounts from the scientists, journalists and filmmakers on the scene that let viewers experience thrilling moments of discovery, heart-pounding adventure, and shocking rarely seen animal behaviors. A base jumper equipped with a helmet-cam takes a mile-high free fall-but his parachute won't open. A cameraman films a shark swimming away-but the shark turns back for an unexpected close-up. A journalist and his crew duck for cover on a mountaintop in Afghanistan as their location comes under attack and bullets fly right over their heads.

Oscar nominated doc follows a beauty pageant where the contestants are hired killers, guerrillas and thieves. The contestants are hired killers, guerrillas and thieves. The winner will be crowned Queen, but she won't be invited on a press tour as a role model for young girls. Instead, she will be escorted back to her cell. Nominated for an Oscar for Best short documentary in 2007, La Corona follows four inmates competing for the crown in a beauty pageant like no other, held every year in one of the toughest women's prisons in Bogota Columbia. In a macho culture where femininity is narrowly defined and enforced, televised beauty pageants in Colombia have been known to get higher ratings than World Cup Soccer. National and local beauty pageants are often the centerpiece of cultural festivals, and every little girl dreams of one day being the Queen of her village. But even in Colombia, the idea of a beauty pageant in jail is a bit unusual. The four contestants include: Maira, a steely 21-year-old former assassin; Viviana, a dreamy 24-year- old who has already served six years for guerrilla activity; Angela, 23, a fiery professional thief and hustler from a black ghetto outside the city; and Angie, 22, the "new girl," a single mother who has just been arrested for gang-related robbery. As the competition nears and suspense builds, the women explain in their own words what brought each of them to this place and discuss the lives and loved ones they've left behind.

In a world without people, how would nature react following a nuclear disaster - and how swiftly? Chernobyl provides an unexpected sanctuary for wildlife and abandoned pets. What would happen if the world were suddenly without people - if humans vanished off the face of the earth? How would nature react - and how swiftly? On the edge of Europe, the deserted village of Chernobyl reveals the surprising answer after an unplanned experiment. Chernobyl was abandoned by people after the worst nuclear disaster in history (April 26, 1986). A level 7 meltdown resulted in a severe release of radioactivity following a massive explosion that destroyed the reactor. More than 20 years later, Chernobyl has been taken over by a remarkable collection of wildlife and descendants of pets that were left in the city when its residents fled the nuclear fallout. Unexpectedly in the aftermath of this disaster, Chernobyl has become a sanctuary for plants, birds, and animals, including some species thought to be on the brink of extinction. The adventures of a likable cast of non-human characters give viewers a rare glimpse into a world where wild animals face challenges in an environment totally outside their experience, and once-domesticated pets have learned how to fend for themselves.

Escape the winter and travel to exotic and politically-charged locations around the Tropic of Capricorn. Tropic of Capricorn follows Simon Reeve as he embarks on another epic journey around the world, uncovering extraordinary stories and meeting fascinating people. Accessible and enjoyable this glossy travelogue delivers important social, political and environmental issues to a mass audience. Genial, inquisitive and funny, Simon shares his quirky take on some of the most extreme and beautiful areas on Earth.

Sam Vaknin, a self-proclaimed psychopath, goes in search of a diagnosis. Psychopaths...we usually only know them from Hollywood movies. We never expect them to enter our real life. But, the psychopath is closer than you think. Experts believe their number to be as high as one in a hundred. Most of them function incognito in high-powered professions...all the way to the very top. But...it takes one to truly know one. In this intriguing documentary, Sam Vaknin, a self-proclaimed psychopath, goes in search of a diagnosis. In a scientific first, he allows himself to undergo testing to find out if he was born without a conscience. He knows he's narcissistic and cannot empathize with others. By his own admission, he's pompous, grandiose, repulsive and contradictory, ruthless and devoid of scruples, capricious and unfathomable... but he believes, he's not a bad person. What he is is indifferent...he couldn't care less. Unless, of course, the topic is himself. Vaknin and his long-suffering but ever-loyal wife, Lidija, embark on a diagnostic road trip. But, it's uncharted territory...deep into the mind and life of a psychopath. The 47-year-old convicted corporate criminal has agreed to take part in the pursuit of his own diagnosis...meeting the world's experts in psychopathy in the hope that science will provide some answers for why he is like he is. These experts put Vaknin (and his wife) through a battery of rigorous psychological tests and neuro-scientific experiments. Vaknin is shocked at the results. Sam, his wife, the scientists, the film-makers - will they ever be quite the same again?

The stories of some of those lucky enough to escape this feared mountain phenomenon. Hear first hand accounts from survivors from avalanches around the world. According to the Canadian Avalanche Center, this past year Canada has experienced the deadliest beginning to the avalanche season on record. As of January 2008, there have been ten fatalities since the start of the avalanche season. Avalanche: The White Death tells the stories of some of those lucky enough to escape this feared mountain phenomenon. Hear first hand accounts from survivors from avalanches around the world. The film takes viewers to Nepal, Austria, Utah and Alaska to reveal the catastrophe and horror of being caught in the path of such a force of nature. Although this awesome natural phenomenon is rarely stopped, scientists are learning new ways of predicting and safely triggering avalanches in a controlled manner. In addition to this, mountain awareness is beginning to be taught to winter sports enthusiasts.

What does The Queen, Princess Anne, Lady Zara Phillips and all the rest of the royals have in common? Easy! They all love horses.

Will the economic meltdown trigger another Depression? The current economic crash is compared with the crash of 1929 and how it was dealt with. Will our current economic meltdown trigger another depression? The world is in the midst of an economic crisis with no end in sight. Stock markets around the world have dropped a third since 2007. Hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs. In the U.S., home foreclosures doubled between 2007 and 2008. Venerable financial institutions have shut their doors. And the American auto industry found itself on the verge of bankruptcy. We have been here before. The crash of 1929 gave rise to a decade of hardship and despair. Is history repeating itself? Will today's crash turn into tomorrow's depression? Crash: The Next Depression? looks at the current economic meltdown in the United States and compares and contrasts it with the lead up to the Great Depression, the 1929 Crash, its immediate aftermath and what brought us out of the depression. Threading first person accounts with expert interviews, Crash: The Next Depression? helps viewers understand how much history is repeating itself and what it tells us about our future.