Plot Synopsis

DEADLY INSTINCTS is a one-hour series that chronicles animals in their natural habitat, revealing their strategies to live another day. The law of the wild is kill or be killed -- but how do different creatures execute this most grisly of tasks? From solo slayers like tigers -- who rely on stealth, speed and strength -- to team players like orcas -- who use their intelligence to work together and kill against the odds -- the series opener, "Natural Born Killers," explores how animals kill. Then, the second episode, "Born to Run," documents how one wrong step for young animals could mean the difference between life and death. From a baby elephant getting pushed around by the older males in her herd to a duck that takes a huge step when he's only hours old, these coming-of-age stories reveal the surprising twists and turns of adolescence in the animal kingdom. Episode 3, "Primal Urges," investigates mating in the animal world. Reproduction is key to passing on genes and keeping the species alive, so it's no surprise that some animals go to astonishing lengths to find, keep and defend their mates. From elephant seals that engage in bloody battles for the right to mate, to insects that risk being decapitated if they put a single foot wrong, to lions that risk their lives to defend their cubs, these are the stories of dedication, intimacy and betrayal that make up the game of love. Then, the fourth episode, "Blood Lines," documents how different animals go about the business of parenting, tracing the tactics, trials and tribulations of a vast array of different species in their fight to further their bloodline. From the capybara mom who chooses to lose one baby to save seven, to the elephants standing vigil over an unknown calf, this is a journey into what really makes animal parents behave as they do.