‘Tiny World’ Recap: ‘Jungle’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the second episode of ‘Tiny World’.
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When we last settled in to discuss the wonder of the new AppleTV+ series, Tiny World, we were treated to some majestic moments involving the fine creatures of the Savannah. The kind that opened our eyes to a part of our world that few of us ever pay attention to, since we are way up here and those little critters are way down below. But while it was quite wonderful to learn how the tinier beings of the planet live in that gorgeous landscape, that premiere offered up quite the surprise. In that, there really weren't a whole lot of challenges for these Savannah creatures to face. Which isn’t a bad thing by any means since sometimes a documentary will break your heart when it shows us the obstacles some animals face in life.

But while it was weird to not experience sour moments in a nature documentary, it does make sense as to why the elephant shrew for instance, was able to go about its day without a worry in the world. Simply because, when an animal is that teeny, and has that much space to work with, it is far more difficult to be spotted and hunted. Which leaves one to wonder, if tiny creatures are packed into closer quarters with bigger beings, would that in turn create a little strife and trouble for them? As it turns out, the answer to that question is an unfortunate yes. For the next chapter in this beautiful and delightful documentary took us into a part of our world where everyone has to live together closely in order to survive, and that made ‘Jungle’ quite the harrowing tale at times. Since it sadly featured some tough experiences for a few of the tiny critters that inhabit these lush and vibrant tropical forests; such as the strawberry dart frog.

For this itty bitty, bright red frog has to deal with a lot of drama and trouble in order to see its species survive. Because their tiny eggs need at least two weeks to hatch on the floor of the jungle. Which means that the father of the family has to stand guard and fight off would be aggressors in order to keep his babies safe and the troubles for this frog don’t end there. Because in order to see their children mature into adulthood, the tadpoles need a safe space to feed and grow and well… the best place to make that happen is at the top of a tree. For up there, are leaves with wonderful pools of water, the kind that will offer nourishment and safety for a growing pollywog. But even then, danger awaits these teeny amphibians. Because in this particular tale, the tree that this cute little frog uses to keep its babies safe, collapses due to rain and age.

Which sadly, leads to a helpless moment for the momma frog. Where she cannot stop a snake from devouring her tadpole when said snake discovers the final resting place of that leaf pool, and that was heartbreaking to say the least. But it just speaks to the wild nature of the jungle and the harsh reality of this environment was further hammered home by way the plight of the pygmy marmoset. A tiny species of monkey that lives in the trees as well, and the collapse of their home forced them to get creative with their food as they searched for a new place to live. Yet, while this segment of the journey did a fine job of reminding us, of how harsh living in the wild can be, it was also quick to remind us that life always finds stability after times of strife. For eventually, those monkeys found a new home and the strawberry dart frog, started over in raising its young.

In the end, this was just another incredible chapter in this stunning documentary. Because once again, we were treated to breathtaking views of tiny animals that we hadn’t a clue existed, and we really did get a comprehensive and unique look at life in the jungle and how hard it is to survive here. But what matters most, is that this documentary didn’t lose sight of what it introduced in its premiere. In that, life is beautiful and to be celebrated and despite the tough moments here, this one still put a smile on our faces by finding a way to keep that theme at the forefront of this tale and truly, this documentary keeps finding new ways to leave the audience eager for more. Because we really are being immersed in a world within our world that we never knew existed and it will be quite interesting to see what other kinds of unique species await us in the next chapter of this breathtaking journey. Until next time.  

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