Journey Into Amazonia

In this episode, producer Harry Marshall and his crew battle the oppressive heat and hordes of insects to examine the world's mightiest river and film seldom-seen creatures and sights. The Amazon is a force that shapes the entire area. As its swollen waters ebb and flow, it affects all of the flora and fauna. This program features a close-up look at the giant otter - a seven-foot wonder -, and the boto dolphin.

Harry Marshall and his intrepid team record the cycles of the mightiest river in the world. The crew fights off the stifling heat and unimaginable numbers of insects to offer a look at the predators of Amazonia. The two-and-a-half-million square miles of rainforest, nourished by flood waters, is home to jaguars, tarantulas, and swarms of army ants, who find no dearth of prey, especially among the thriving rodent population.

Almost half the world's species lives in Amazonia, where conditions are nearly perfect for their continuing survival. Food sources abound for carnivores and herbivores alike. The film crew for this series records harpy eagles big enough to carry monkeys, whose acrobatic skills cannot always save them from being prey. They record the infamous tree sloths, whose extreme inactivity can trigger algae growth on their bodies. This episode examines the life and death drama that occurs daily in the canopy more than 100 feet above the forest floor.