A sense of disbelief

COMPARED to other creatures, we can only see, hear and smell a tiny fraction of the world around us. And while some people may think that might sometimes be a good thing – especially when it comes to the smell part – this three-part series intends to open our eyes, ears and nostrils to how animals perceive their environments.

Presenters, biologist Patrick Aryee and physicist Dr Helen Czerski go on an around the world quest, as they stage a series of remarkable experiments. And while they may be experts in their field, even they were stunned by some of the results.

Aryee says: "I'm fascinated by the everyday physical world around us, and this series was a reminder of how much is out there that we cannot detect. All organisms face the problem of how to sense their world, and I was frequently surprised and delighted by the elegance and effectiveness of evolutionary solutions to that problem – and it was a lot of fun to bring a physicist's perspective to the topic of natural history."

Czerski will be seen attempting to ward off sharks in the waters around the Bahamas, armed with only a pouch of liquid, and Aryee using scent to answer the bizarre question: “How many Africanised killer bees can you pack into one suitcase?”

He says: "There were so many moments of disbelief throughout our filming, turning a camper van into a giant speaker, walking alongside a six-tonne African Elephant, being mesmerised by the unsuspecting Golden Mole and defying gravity with the power of sound. The way animals sense their environment is, more often than not, beyond our human perception, but I feel we've managed to capture a glimmer of this beautiful and alien world."

The first episode focuses on sight. Czerski is in the Arctic, which from our perspective is dark during the winter month, but caribou use ultraviolet light to spot predatory wolves, which would otherwise be camouflaged. Meanwhile, Aryee discovers why insects are so difficult to swat, and devises an experiment to see if he can trick a dragonfly's lightning-fast sense of vision.

Young Vets (BBC2, 7pm)

ANOTHER pet-related reality show follows students during their final year at London's Royal Veterinary College as they get hands-on experience with animals for the first time, whether it's conducting operations, or delivering newborns. Elly Berry must anaesthetise a kitten with breathing problems, and Charlie Tewson is put under pressure when an aggressive dog enters the consulting room. Catherine Needham researches the reproductive anatomy of a rabbit, Amy Clithero tends to a critically-ill Shetland pony, and mature student Judy Puddifoot performs surgery for the first time.

Dogs: Their Secret Lives (Channel 4, 8pm)

STILL more four-legged friends as this three-parter opens by looking at dog obesity – as many as half of all dogs in the UK may be fat. Cameras follow three fat pooches Chancer the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Molly the bulldog and Cassie the labrador, as the programme reveals the ways in which dogs manipulate us into feeding them and how these weight problems are only the beginning of more serious health issues. Vet Mark Evans explores challenges facing the 21st Century dog owner, and finds out just how much good a scientific approach to food and exercise might do our dogs.