Wild Australasia

An introduction to the continent of Australia and its surrounding islands.

This episode examines the deserts of Australia's interior. These harsh environments make up two thirds of the land area. Vast areas support nothing but tough spinifex grass, indigestible to most herbivores.

The third installment features the wildlife of Australasia's seas and coasts. On Western Australia's desert coastline, seas are lifeless apart from a few fertile pockets.

Featuring the bush landscape and eucalypt forests that are home to many of Australia's best-known creatures.

This episode begins at Kakadu, a seasonal wetland and representative of the swamps that once stretched from north Australia to New Guinea.

The arrival of Europeans brought huge changes to Australia. Some creatures have benefited - golf courses provide perfect browse for kangaroos and a landfill site is an important feeding ground for ibises - but many have suffered.