Mountains

S1, E2: A mother lynx feeds on freshly caught prey with her cubs, agile chamoix leap along mountain ledges, bee-eaters dig nesting holes in vineyards, black storks bring up their young on narrow ridges. From the rugged peaks of the Alps and the dark woods of the Black Forest to the sandstone cliffs of Saxonian Switzerland, Germany’s mountains are home to very special animals. The episode Mountains from the four-part series Wild Germany shows a world full of breath-taking images. We witness the first few days of baby marmots in Alpine meadows, inexperienced and unaware of the dangers lurking outside the den. The opportunity that the golden eagle in the cliff face has been waiting for. Taking to the air, it glides over the steeply sloping pasture. The older marmots recognize the danger and send out shrill alarm whistles. Will the younger marmots heed the warnings in time? It’s been more than 150 years since the last lynx was seen in Germany. After a reintroduction project in the Czech Republic, the first big cats crossed the border into the Bavarian forest. Similar projects in the Harz mountains have also brought the lynx back to Northern Germany. Only 30km South of Dresden, majestic table mountains stretch into the sky: Saxonian Switzerland with its unspoilt rocky cliffs and towers. Habitat of peregrine falcons and white-throated dippers, as well as the shy and seldom seen dormouse. The spectacular beauty and diversity of form of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains are unique in Europe. The film shows the magnificence of the mountains in the different seasons and the rich variety of flora and fauna. Unique animal footage rounds off the portrait of landscapes which have much more than just barren rocks to offer.