Smithsonian captures wildlife docs

Laws of the Lizard will debut in December

US factual cablenet Smithsonian Channel has commissioned a slate of natural history and wildlife programming.

The line-up is led by Laws of the Lizard, which will premiere in December and is being produced by biologists and wildlife filmmakers Nathan Dappen and Neil Losin of factual indie Day’s Edge Productions. The pair have spent a year travelling the globe investigating the species.

Incredible Animal Moments, meanwhile, is being produced by Earth Touch and will launch in the first quarter of next year. The series looks at how creatures have evolved incredible abilities help them survive.

Also premiering in the first quarter of next year is My Journey with a Polar Bear from Artic Light and producer Asgeir Helgestad, which investigates the effect of climate change on polar bears trying to raise their young.

Finally, A Life Among Monkeys is being produced by Terra Mater Factual Studios. It focuses on the work of Smithsonian scientist Wolfgang Dittus, who has spent 50 years studying macaques in Sri Lanka.

In related news, Smithsonian has expanded its relationship with UK factual indie Arrow Media by ordering a new season of its historical series America in Color.

The 6×60’ third run of the archive series will cover topics including the arrival of immigrants in the late 19th century, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.