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This Wild South documentary examines the secrets of how life adapts and diversifies on the isolated Islands of the Pacific. It looks first at New Caledonia whose plants and animals go back to the time of Gondwana. Curious life forms have evolved from this ancient base, the flightless cagou and giant gecko among them.
A lso examined is the process of the birth of new islands from volcanic sea mounts and how the are colonised by new life.
A range of islands, from Bounty to Fiji, are looked at. Each one offering its own particular challenge and opportunity to new colonists. Penguins are seen living in giant tree daisy forests on the Snares Islands. Noddies on Heron Island are living in bird catching trees.
The story is told of how plants and animals make their way to these isolated places, particularly the remarkable ocean journeys of coral larvae and coconuts. Also considered are the unsuccessful colonists: On Antipodes Island a vagrant Amsterdam Island seal from the Indian Ocean is seen searching for a mate in vain .
Finally the documentary looks at the fabulous birds of paradise in New Guinea and poses a question about the vulnerability of such “children of splendid isolation” to introduced predators.