SAVING THE GREAT APES
Spend 30 seconds admiring an orangutan or chimpanzee and you'll quickly come to appreciate how human these creatures are - from their facial expressions to their mood swings. Perhaps that's why we find them so engaging when we see them in commercials and movies. But what happens to those former ape actors when they grow too big and strong to be easily controlled? They are forced into early “retirement.” However, The Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida is one of only 10 North American sanctuaries capable of accepting chimpanzees, and it's the only non-profit sanctuary that also accepts orangutans.

THE FATE OF THE KEY DEER
The Florida Keys are famous for their low-key island lifestyle….but they are also well-known as the only habitat of the endangered key deer. Track down the quiet, elusive animal, while learning about its legendary history – and its uncertain future.

MONKEY BUSINESS
Monkeys may not be native to Florida, but what's “native” mean anyway? They've certainly been running wild around the state for over 100 years - from the family of squirrel monkeys that roam the grounds of the historic Bonnet House in Fort Lauderdale to the nearly 600 rhesus macaques who've made their home on a river near Ocala. Catch a glimpse of a cuddly primate at the Monkey Jungle in Miami or pay a visit to the Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary in Gainesville, where many former pet monkeys - the lucky ones, anyway - now make their homes.

DOLPHINS AT PLAY
Everyone is familiar with the dolphins of movie and television fame, with their playful behavior, affection for humans and of course, the permanent smile on their face. But, how well do we really know the loveable sea creatures? Delve into the animals’ impressive intellect and discovers what life is like for them in the wild.

WILD ABOUT BUTTERFLIES
They’re beautiful and inspiring—but butterflies are also a good indicator of the health of our environment, and they have a fascinating lifecycle that holds many unsolved mysteries. Visit the new McGuire Center in Gainesville, where 2,000 exotic and native butterflies roam freely among lush tropical greenery, join butterfly lovers on early-morning nature hikes in search of some of Florida’s rarest butterflies and witness a caterpillar transform into one of these beautiful, delicate creatures.

HOOKED ON PELICANS
With its wobbly pouch, short legs and close-set eyes, the brown pelican is a pretty funny bird. Whether it's waddling around a fishing pier waiting for a free handout or performing a kamikaze-like dive into the ocean in search of a meal, the pelican is an endless source of entertainment. Learn about the pelican’s history with the students at Pelican Island Elementary in Sebastian, and see why rehabilitation facilities like The Pelican Harbor Seabird Station in Miami are so important.

ALLIGATOR NEIGHBORS
As much a part of Florida as their protected swamp environment, the American alligator inspires curiosity, awe and fear. Many tourists venture out into the Everglades for a glimpse at the powerful creature, but some residents only need to go as far as the canal or lake in their backyards. Explore the gator’s impact on our state and its residents.

THE VANISHING PANTHER
Over the last century, the chances of spotting this icon of Florida’s ecosystem have grown significantly slimmer, despite various attempts to preserve and expand its population. In fact, though the golden cat used to roam from Texas to the Keys, experts estimate that there are now fewer than 70 panthers throughout the state. Spending a full day touring the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge is still no guarantee you will spot the elusive animal, which makes protecting the few that are left, and preserving their diminishing habitat all the more important.

INVASIVE EXOTICS
Burmese pythons fighting alligators to the death in the Everglades … Nile Monitor lizards terrorizing burrowing owls in Cape Coral ... these aren’t scenes from an old B-movie, but reality in Florida. Here, exotic invasive species pose a very real threat to the state’s fragile ecosystem, and officials are waging war against them. But who’s winning?