Plot Synopsis

Narrated by Colin Salmon, WILD MONSOON is a five-part documentary series that explores how monsoon winds have shaped the wildlife and people that reside from the Himalayas to Northern Australia. Wildlife in this region has adapted to and depends upon the cycles of the monsoon, from the build-up before the rains, to the impact of the downpour and the devastation of the drought. This series reveals the remarkable stories of humans and animals, from insects to tigers, orangutans, herdsmen and stock brokers, who live in the shadow of the monsoon. Innovative filming techniques and technology capture animal behavior and stunning storm footage as never before. Weird and wonderful creatures emerge on camera for the very first time, from blood sucking red leeches of Borneo, feeding off monster earthworms their own size, to the smallest bird of prey in the world, the Bornean falconette. The remarkable ways that animals adapt to survive the monsoon are revealed, from baby orangutans, building umbrellas from forest leaves, to the beautiful and bizarre caterpillars in the tropical forests, who harness poison from the trees to defend themselves against predators. We discover the curious partnerships between different species as they team up to survive the extreme conditions brought about by the monsoon winds -- between the chital and the langur monkeys in India and shrew and exotic pitcher plant. The relationship between nature and the peoples of the monsoon has evolved to support some of the richest wildlife on the planet. Over thousands of years, ancient beliefs have helped people and nature to live together in the monsoon region. The series looks at these beliefs and how they have shaped the way people live today, and reveals the effect of global markets on this part of the world. The wildlife that inhabits it still depends on the humanity and passion of people; we all have a part to play in its future. After airing with the title WONDER OF THE MONSOON in 2014 on BBC Two, this series had its U.S. premiere on Sunday, October 18, 2020 from 8-11pm ET/PT, as Nat Geo Wild debuted three back-to-back episodes with a new title: WILD MONSOON.