David Attenborough's Ant Mountain

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David Attenborough's Ant Mountain
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that David Attenborough's Ant Mountain is a nature documentary about a giant society of over one billion ants. The documentary uses the society of ants living in the Swiss Alps as a launch pad to discuss the life cycles of ants; how they reproduce, survive, defend, and protect themselves; and how different ants play unique roles within the colony. Attenborough talks explicitly about how humans can learn from how these particular ants live together peacefully.
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What's the Story?
The mountain in DAVID ATTENBOROUGH'S ANT MOUNTAIN is a unique spot in the Swiss Alps where over one billion ants live together peacefully. Attenborough takes viewers through the day-to-day lives of ants: what roles they play and how they survive and reproduce. But what makes these particular ants unique is that, instead of having tribal conflicts among themselves, they are one of the largest animal societies that lives together in harmony. What can we learn from them?
Is It Any Good?
Nature documentaries tend to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time, introducing viewers to many animal societies but rarely going in depth; this one benefits from its tiny focus. David Attenborough's Ant Mountain would be interesting enough if it only showed the life cycle of ants as a whole from a first-hand perspective, but the colonies of Jura Mountains are unique among ants. Viewers will walk away with a new understanding of these tiny creatures in general, as well as insight into how the denizens of Ant Mountain can live together peacefully.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about ants. What do you know about ants? Do any ants live near where you live? How often do you see them? How do they behave? How are they different from other bugs?
What are the different types of ants within a colony? What roles do they play? How do they each contribute to the health of the society? What can humans learn from them?
What is unique about the ants of the Jura Mountains? How did they come to live this way? Is it a successful way of life?
TV Details
- Premiere date: December 28, 2017
- Cast: David Attenborough
- Network: HBO Max
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: Bugs
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: September 13, 2021
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