Growing Up...

Last updated

Growing Up... is a series that airs on Animal Planet, a cable and satellite television network co-owned by Discovery Communications, Inc. and BBC Worldwide. Each episode is an hour long and follows the life (usually the first year) of a wild animal growing up in captivity.

Description

The show has always featured mammals as the animal or animals being taken care of. The episodes typically include one animal, two or more animals from the same litter, or two or more animals taken care of at the same facility that were either born in captivity or rescued from the wild. The animals that have been born in captivity either stay in their current facility or are moved to another facility while the animals that are rescued may or may not be released back into the wild.

The first episode to air was Growing Up Grizzly, which aired as a TV movie in 2001, co-starring Bart the Bear 2 (then known as "Little Bart") and hosted by Brad Pitt. Growing Up Lion then aired in 2003. The program became a regular series starting in May 2004, when the rest of the episodes began to air on a weekly basis.

Recurring events

Recurring events in the series include:

Episode guide

Episode titleAnimal(s)Number of animalsAnimal name(s)DescriptionMain location
Growing Up Marsupial Spotted quoll; Tasmanian devil; wombat FourWhite Tip (spotted quoll),

Rosie (wombat), Marrawah, Milabena (Tasmanian devils)

Three lucky people take on the challenging but rewarding job of hand-rearing Trowunna Wildlife Park's abandoned or orphaned babies. A spotted quoll, two Tasmanian devils, and a wombat are totally reliant on their new human 'moms' for nurturing and love.Trowunna Wildlife Park
Growing Up Lion African lion FourRex, Sheba, Amy (who is a male), and LeoAt the prestigious Wild Animal Orphanage near San Antonio, four lion cubs are rescued and raised with loving care. The lion cubs face their share of challenges, from serious illness to natural disasters.Wild Animal Orphanage
Growing Up Tiger Siberian tiger TwoSarge and LilyAt the Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge in Texas, meet the founders of this home for more than 30 great cats that have been abused, neglected or displaced. Witness the birth of two tiger cubs and follow their incredible first year.Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge
Growing Up Elephant African elephant OneMaximus

(Max)

His keepers describe Maximus as cocky and quick to learn. Witness the miraculous birth and a year of baby elephant's firsts, as Maximus goes from a 300-pound baby to an 11,000-pound giant.Riddle's Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary
Growing Up Cheetah Cheetah FourCayla, Cane, Cieren and CorbinFour cheetah cubs, born at South Africa's Cango Wildlife Ranch's Cheetah Breeding Centre, are raised by a rancher and her Labrador Retriever. As they become adventuresome adolescents, their keeper must send some of her charges to other breeding programs. Cango Wildlife Ranch
Growing Up Wolf Timber wolf SixGrowly Pants and TruckCaretakers at Minnesota's Wildlife Science Center hand-raise six lively grey timber wolf pups. Pack dynamics are evident as the pups bond with human caregivers, domestic dogs acting as surrogate mothers, and the alpha female who will lead their pack.Wildlife Science Center
Growing Up Clouded Leopard Clouded leopard TwoMing and MeiProfessional surrogate mother Sara Bratcher raises Ming and Mei, a pair of clouded leopard cubs, in her home. After three months, the siblings will be transferred to the Asian rainforest and clouded leopard breeding program at the Nashville Zoo. Nashville Zoo
Growing Up Black Bear American black bear OneCharlieRescued from Internet auction by the Minnesota Wildlife Science Center, Charlie the bear cub learns to live in the wild. Caretakers distance themselves from the cuddly ball of fluff to allow him to follow his natural instinct to hibernate.Wildlife Science Center
Growing Up Orangutan Bornean orangutan TwoSakia and LukaTwo traumatized baby orangutans are brought to the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation where Lone Drøscher Nielsen will become mother to the pair. She devotes her life to teaching these endangered primates how to survive in the wild. Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation
Growing Up Rhino White rhinoceros; black rhinoceros TwoTunza (white rhino - To Treat With Care in Zulu) and Tandi (black rhino - Hope in Zulu)Orphaned baby rhinos Tunza and Tandi grow up in the safety of Pretoria's Wildcare Africa Trust. Tunza takes his first mud bath while caregivers go to great lengths to save Tandi when she contracts a mysterious illness.Wildcare Africa Trust
Growing Up Penguin Humboldt penguin OneBonita (Beautiful in Spanish)It's nesting season for the Humboldt penguins at the Oregon Zoo and eggs abound. Join zookeepers Shawn and Rick as they help an endangered penguin chick begin her incredible journey into adulthood. Oregon Zoo
Growing Up Zebra Plains zebra ThreeCassidy, Shadow, and SkySanWild Animal Sanctuary founder Louise Joubert raises three baby zebras. Cassidy, a badly injured foal, grows into a mischievous rascal. He and his two cohorts, Shadow and Sky, experience joys, adventures, and adversity in their journey back to the wild.SanWild Animal Sanctuary
Growing Up Baboon Chacma baboon FourStu, Marina, Susie, and MorrisVisit South Africa's only wildlife sanctuary dedicated to the care of Chacma baboons. Four orphans are cared for by a team of volunteers. But their release back into the wild is threatened by politics, farmers, epidemics, and an unrelenting drought.C.A.R.E.
Growing Up Lynx Siberian lynx OneKisa (Kitty in Russian)Watch Kisa, a Siberian lynx, as this precocious kitten grows up into a healthy and rambunctious cat, forges friendships with some unlikely animal counterparts and embarks on a journey to become one of San Diego Zoo's most recognizable animals. San Diego Zoo
Growing Up Polar Bear Polar bear OneInukshukWhen hunters killed a polar bear and one of her cubs, the future looked bleak for the surviving cub. Follow the story of Inukshuk and the dedicated team of Toronto Zoo curators who care for this charismatic young cub during the first year of his life. Toronto Zoo
Growing Up Grizzly Grizzly bear TwoLittle Bart and Honey-Bump Brad Pitt takes viewers on a journey to the foot of the Rocky Mountains in northern Utah, home of the Seus family, to follow Honey-Bump and Little Bart through the first year of their life, as they grow and discover the wonders of the world around them — their first swim in the river, their first drive into town for ice cream, and their first time on a movie set of Dr. Dolittle 2 .
Growing Up Grizzly 2 Grizzly bear TwoLittle Bart and Honey-Bump Jennifer Aniston hosts this special event and brings viewers up-to-date on the world's most famous grizzly bear cubs, Bart and Honey-Bump. Learn everything about these amazing grizzlies, and the human family they are a part of.
Growing Up Sitka Deer Sitka deer TwoJewelie and JadeAfter her mother was killed, a tiny two-day-old Sitka deer is rescued and brought to an Alaskan wildlife reserve. Named 'Jewelie', the little fawn must rely on human caregivers to brave the harsh Arctic elements and perhaps return to the wild. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Growing Up Walrus Walrus OneNereusAn orphaned baby walrus finds a new home thousands of miles away from the Alaskan beach where it is found. Named Nereus, the baby gets round the clock care from his human keepers at the Indianapolis Zoo. Indianapolis Zoo
Growing Up Black Leopard Black leopard OneEddyJoin host Edie Falco as she takes us on an incredible journey following the first year in the life of a rare African black leopard named Eddy. The Wild Animal Sanctuary
Growing Up Seal Harbor seal; ringed seal FourJonro, Swinglee, Ceve, and ButcherStranded baby seals get a second chance at life at the Alaska Sealife Center in Seward, Alaska. Dedicated staff nurse a starving baby ringed seal back to health. A rigorous training program prepares the rescued seals for their return to the wild. Alaska Sealife Center
Growing Up Camel Dromedary camel OnePatsy (inspired by the nickname of the American football team, the Patriots)Meet Patsy, a baby camel born on Super Bowl Sunday at a family-owned zoo. Too weak to nurse and facing starvation, she must be hand-raised in order to survive. Her caregiver does everything possible to enable Patsy to one day reunite with her mother. This story is talked about in the David Sedaris book When You Are Engulfed in Flames .Southwick Zoo
Growing Up Giraffe Rothschild giraffe OneKululaJoin Tasha de Vasconcelos as she takes viewers to Safari West in California, where a young giraffe is born and gets orphaned when an illness kills her mother Lady. Keepers Kim and Sheri fill Kulula the giraffe's tragic life with hope and devotion as they prepare her to join the sanctuary's herd. Safari West
Growing Up Moose Moose FiveMush, Anyes, Kapon, Bucky, and AnneThe moose is the largest deer on the planet and has few predators in the wild. However, a baby moose is a very different story. Follow the story of Mush as the staff at St Felicien Zoo give her the care and love she needs to survive in captivity. St Felicien Zoo
Growing Up Hyena Spotted hyena SeveralHomer, Bongo, Tika

(means "hyena" in African tribe languages)

The hyena is often relegated to the role of skulking scavenger - always the villain and never the hero. But one man, Kevin Richardson, is committed to showing the world that hyenas are intelligent, strong and fearless predators - to be respected and not maligned. Lion Park
Growing Up Gorilla Western lowland gorilla OneNonaFollow the story of Nona, a baby gorilla orphaned at one month of age. She is nurtured to health at Mefou National Park by Rachel Hogan who, for the last decade, has dedicated her life to saving Africa's dwindling population of wild gorillas.Mefou National Park
Growing Up Giant Panda Giant panda OneJing JingA panda breeding center brings up a little baby panda. The caretaker's friend also has a baby.

DVD releases

Arctic

Wildcats

Wilderness

Safari

Primates

Related Research Articles

<i>The Wuzzles</i> American television series

The Wuzzles is a 1985 American animated television series created for Saturday morning television, and was first broadcast on September 14, 1985 on CBS. An idea pitched by Michael Eisner for his new Disney television animation studio, the premise is that the main characters are hybrids of two different animals. The original 13 episodes ran on CBS for their first run.

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve near the town of Hythe in Kent, England is set in 600 acres (2.4 km2) and incorporates the historic Port Lympne Mansion, and landscaped gardens designed by architect Sir Herbert Baker, for Sir Philip Sassoon.

Vancouver Aquarium Aquarium in Vancouver, British Columbia

The Vancouver Aquarium is a public aquarium located in Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In addition to being a major tourist attraction for Vancouver, the aquarium is a centre for marine research, ocean literacy education, conservation and marine animal rehabilitation.

An animal rescue group or animal rescue organization are dedicated to pet adoption. These groups take unwanted, abandoned, abused, or stray pets and attempt to find suitable homes for them. Many rescue groups are created by and run by volunteers, who take animals into their homes and care for them — including training, playing, handling medical issues, and solving behaviour problems — until a suitable permanent home can be found.

The Born Free Foundation is an international wildlife charity that campaigns to "Keep Wildlife in the Wild". It protects wild animals in their natural habitat, campaigns against the keeping of wild animals in captivity and rescues wild animals in need. It also promotes compassionate conservation, which takes into account the welfare of individual animals in conservation initiatives. Born Free also creates and provides educational materials and activities that reflect the charity’s values.

The Wildlife WayStation was a 160 acre animal sanctuary in Sylmar in northern Los Angeles County dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating wild and exotic animals. A charitable corporation located within the boundaries of Angeles National Forest, the facility was founded in 1976 by animal activist Martine Colette, who resigned in May 2019 as president and chief operating officer.

The Marine Mammal Center Zoo in California, United States

The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC) is a private, non-profit U.S. organization that was established in 1975 for the purpose of rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing marine mammals who are injured, ill or abandoned. It was founded in Sausalito, California, by Lloyd Smalley, Pat Arrigoni and Paul Maxwell. Since 1975, TMMC has rescued over 23,000 marine mammals. It also serves as a center for environmental research and education regarding marine mammals, namely cetaceans, pinnipeds, otters and sirenians. Marine mammal abandonment refers to maternal separation; pups that have been separated from their mother before weaning. At the center, they receive specialized veterinary care: they are diagnosed, treated, rehabilitated and ideally, released back into the wild. Animals in need of assistance are usually identified by a member of the public who has contacted the center. These animals represent the following major species: California sea lions, northern elephant seals, Pacific harbor seals, northern fur seals and southern sea otters. On a few occasions, TMMC has taken in Guadalupe fur seals, Steller sea lions and bottlenose/Pacific white-sided dolphins. The only non-mammals that TMMC takes in are sea turtles.

Woburn Safari Park Safari park in England

Woburn Safari Park is a safari park located in Woburn, Bedfordshire, England. Visitors to the park can drive through exhibits, which contain species such as southern white rhino, elephants, tigers and black bears. It is part of the estates of the Duke of Bedford that also includes Woburn Abbey and its 3,000-acre (1,200 ha) deer park. The Safari Park itself covers 360 acres (150 ha).

The DeYoung Family Zoo is a zoo that opened to the public in 1990. It is open yearly from May until the end of October. It is located in Wallace, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States, about 15 miles (24 km) north of Menominee. The zoo is owned by Bud DeYoung and Carrie Cramer. The facility has many exotic felines, and provides visitor interactions, as well as baby animals to pet and bottle feed.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary Zoo in Colorado, United States

The Wild Animal Sanctuary is a 789-acre (319 ha) animal sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado, United States. The sanctuary specializes in rescuing and caring for large predators which are being ill-treated, for which their owners can no longer care, or which might otherwise be euthanized. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a state and federally licensed zoological facility.

Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary Zoo in California, United States

The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary is a zoo and animal sanctuary located in the city of Folsom, California, in the United States, which has been open since 1963. The facility differs from traditional zoos and is more like a sanctuary in the way the animals are acquired and the care they receive. Though the facility allows visitors like a traditional zoo, the animals are not bred, sold, or traded.

<i>Wild Kratts</i> Educational childrens series

Wild Kratts is a live action/Flash-animated television series created by the Kratt brothers, Chris and Martin. The Kratt Brothers Company and 9 Story Media Group produce the show, which is presented by PBS in the United States and by TVOKids in Canada. The show's aim is to educate children about biology, zoology, and ecology, and teach kids small ways to make big impacts. It has ties to the Kratts' previous shows, Kratts' Creatures and Zoboomafoo, and contains numerous characters from the latter. Spanning over ten years, Wild Kratts is the longest running program made by the Kratt Brothers.

Tame animal

A tame animal is an animal that is relatively tolerant of human presence. Tameness may arise naturally or due to the deliberate, human-directed process of training an animal against its initially wild or natural instincts to avoid or attack humans. The tameability of an animal is the level of ease it takes humans to train the animal, and varies among individual animals, breeds, or species.

Casey Anderson (naturalist)

Casey Anderson is an American filmmaker, wildlife naturalist, television host, animal trainer and actor who is best known as the host and executive producer of the Nat Geo WILD channel television series, Expedition Wild and America the Wild with Casey Anderson, and for being the trainer and "best friend" of Brutus the Bear, a grizzly bear that he adopted as a newborn cub. Brutus, trained by Anderson, has appeared in many films, documentaries, television commercials, and live educational shows across the United States.

Bart the Bear 2 Kodiak bear that appeared in several films

Bart the Bear 2, also called Bart the Bear II, Bart 2, Bart II, or Little Bart was a male interior Alaskan grizzly bear who appeared in several films and television series, including An Unfinished Life, Into the Wild, Evan Almighty, We Bought a Zoo, Game of Thrones, and most recently Into the Grizzly Maze. His trainers were Doug Seus and Lynne Seus of Wasatch Rocky Mountain Wildlife, Inc., in Heber City, Utah. Bart 2 was named after the earlier Seus-trained bear Bart the Bear, although the two bears are not related.

<i>Hope for Wildlife</i> Canadian non-profit organization

Hope for Wildlife (HFW) is a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation and education centre located on a farm in Seaforth, Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada. It was founded by Hope Swinimer in 1997 as The Eastern Shore Wildlife Rehabilitation and Rescue Centre. It got its current name in 2005. A television series, Hope for Wildlife, began documenting the centre's efforts in 2009.

<i>Care Bears: Unlock the Magic</i> Childrens animated television series

Care Bears: Unlock the Magic is an animated children's television series and the sixth television series based on the Care Bears franchise, following Care Bears and Cousins.

Four Paws Global animal welfare organisation based in Vienna, Austria

Four Paws is a global animal welfare organisation based in Vienna, Austria. The organisation is focusing on gradually improving the living conditions of animals under direct human influence, by revealing suffering, rescuing animals in need and protecting them.

References

List of Episodes
Episode Descriptions