The craziest moments from BBC hit show Planet Earth II so far…
We reveal the most magical and mortifying clips in season two
YOUR eyes are glued to the screen; your fingers dig into the couch and your heart is beating through your chest.
No, you’re not watching the latest instalment of Saw but rather BBC’s animal documentary Planet Earth II, where not even Sir David Attenborough’s dulcet voice can comfort you as a baby meerkat is ripped from its mothers tiny arms by a hungry eagle – ok we made that last bit up.
But, like it or not, the animal kingdom is cut-throat and this gripping series - now in it’s second season - is only too happy to give us a front row seat.
We’ve dug out the most outrageous moments so far.
Baby iguana vs. pack of snakes
Viewers were on the edge of their seat in season two as they watched a freshly hatched iguana make a life or death dash across a valley on Fernandina Island. The sea iguana raced its little heart out as dozens of snakes emerged from the rocks, their tongues licking at the terrified creature’s feet. If you’re one of the few people that hasn’t seen how it ends, we won’t spoil it for you – watch on.
The dancing bears
With moves better than some of the celebs on Strictly, we were left in stitches – and weird admiration – for the pack of grizzly bears that came out of hibernation in the Canadian Rockies and showed off some seriously impressive dance moves. Using trees as the perfect back rub, and accompanied by some funky beats, the bears shimmy their shoulders and shake their furry booties.
Ninja frog vs. wasp
Planet Earth is known for its nail-biting showdowns and despite the size of the contenders in this battle it was just as heart stopping. In the clip, a glass frog in Costa Rica is seen taking on a group of angry wasps as they try to make his unborn children their dinner. The tiny creature puts up a tense and determined fight, and, using his body as a shield, he kick-boxes the family's way to freedom.
The swimming sloth
This has to be one of the those cases where it’s so wrong, it’s right. Who knew sloths could even swim? Seeing this doe-eyed creature float in the waters of Escudo Island, Panama, has to be one of the most majestic things we’ve ever seen. But while the Pygmy Three-toed Sloth looks chilled, according to Planet Earth he’s swimming to the aid of his hairy girlfriend, who is across the watery way. So cute!
Jaguar vs. crocodile
It was a clash of the killers in episode three, when a 300-pound male jaguar stalks, pounces and takes down a caiman croc, in a watery battle that is something only nightmares are made of. First setting its sights on a cute and cuddly capybara, the jaguar gives him a reprieve – yay – before turning his attention to the croc, minding his own business in a Brazilian river. Dragging his prey from the river by it’s skull, it’s hard not to wince as he tucks in to his dinner.
Planet Earth II continues on BBC One on Sundays at 8pm.