30 Best TV Shows About Animals You Need to Watch
If you love shows about animals, then you are in the right place. In this article, we are bringing you some of the best shows about animals of all time. Most of the shows on the list are documentaries, but we do have a few that are either live-action or animated shows.
Check out our list of the best shows about animals below, and choose your next watch.
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (1954–1959)
The show starred Lee Aaker as Rusty, a boy orphaned in an Indian raid, who was being raised by the soldiers at a US Cavalry post known as Fort Apache. Rusty and his German shepherd dog, Rin Tin Tin, help the soldiers to establish order in the American West.
Curious George (2006–2022)
When The Man in the Yellow Hat befriends Curious George in the jungle, they set off on a non-stop, fun-filled journey through the wonders of the big city toward the warmth of true friendship.
Tiny Creatures (2020)
Little animals embark on big adventures across the U.S. in a dramatic nature series that explores their hidden worlds and epic survival stories.
Zoo (2015–2017)
Violent animal attacks upon humans are occurring all over the world. Jackson Oz, an American zoologist and his Kenyan friend, Abraham Kenyatta, a safari guide, as well as Jamie Campbell, a Los Angeles reporter, Mitch Morgan, a quirky veterinary pathologist, and a French intelligence agent, Chloe Tousignant, all seek to investigate the mysterious pandemic as the attacks become more coordinated and ferocious.
Absurd Planet (2020– )
Absurd Planet is a nature documentary web television series produced by Condé Nast Entertainment and Love Productions USA and distributed by Netflix. The series follows our planet’s most absurd animals.
United States of Animals (2016– )
The United States of Animals is your guide to amazing animals doing incredible things around the country. Showcasing the best and most accessible wildlife and revealing secrets behind the fascinating things that animals do, this field guide shows you where and when to go, and what to look for to help you become the wildlife expert you have always dreamed of being.
Night on Earth (2020)
The series follows animals that are active during the night using state-of-the-art, low-light camera technology.
Wild Kratts (2010– )
The show’s aim is to educate children about species, 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.
Crikey! It’s the Irwins (2018– )
Crikey! It’s the Irwins follows the family of Australian conservationist and zookeeper Steve Irwin (aka “The Crocodile Hunter”) as they live and work at the Australia Zoo. Cameras capture the family caring for all the zoo’s animals as well as their home life.
Cats 101 (2008–2012)
Cats 101 features different cat breeds per episode, discussed by experts, ranging from veterinarians to animal trainers. The show presents facts, origins, and descriptions of the breeds, with comments from cat owners.
World’s Deadliest (2010– )
The Animal Kingdom is rife with epic stories of survival – tales of kill or be killed – a place where each and every moment is fraught with life and death decisions. National Geographic goes inside the most riveting moments of animal predation, breaking down the struggle for survival and supremacy.
Walking with Dinosaurs (1999)
Envisioned as the first “Natural History of Dinosaurs” and a series that would provide viewers with “a window into a lost world”, Walking with Dinosaurs explores life in the Mesozoic era, particularly dinosaurs, in the format of a traditional nature documentary.
Zoboomafoo (1999–2001)
Creation of the Kratt Brothers (Chris and Martin), it features a talking lemur (a Coquerel’s sifaka) named Zoboomafoo, performed by Canadian puppeteer Gord Robertson (who had also puppeteered on Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock), and mainly portrayed by a lemur named Jovian, along with a collection of returned animal guests.
Planet Earth (2006)
The series has eleven episodes, each of which features a global overview of a different biome or habitat on Earth. At the end of each fifty-minute episode, a ten-minute featurette takes a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of filming the series.
Fearless Adventures with Jack Randall (2018-2019)
Jack does crazy things with wild animals to help protect and study them. Really crazy. And maybe dangerous. But Jack is a trained expert. Do not do what Jack does. Seriously. Approaching and handling wild animals can be dangerous. Really, just don’t do it!
If I were an Animal (2016)
Curious kids Emma and her big brother Tim observe different animals as they make their way through various life milestones, from birth to adulthood.
Nature Cat (2015–2021)
The series takes place in the suburban areas of Chicago, Illinois, following Fred, a yellow house cat with dreams of exploring outside. Once his human owners leave for the day from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM, he transforms into Nature Cat, who cannot wait for backyard nature excursions.
However, Fred has one problem: he has no instincts for nature. Through the learning experiences of the characters, this series intends to encourage children to similarly engage with and develop an understanding of nature.
The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams (1977–1978)
An innocent man, James Adams, runs away and hides from the law in the wilderness, where he befriends a grizzly bear and helps passers-by in the forest. This show was set in the 1850s, and could be easily described as one of the most original shows of all time.
Besides taking care of the bear, Adams will help people who need his help, and in the meantime, he’ll have to hide from the bounty hunters who are looking for him. Adams also makes friends with Mad Jack, an old trader; and Nakuma, a Native American; both Nakuma and Mad Jack will help Adams.
The Blue Planet (2001)
Described as “the first-ever comprehensive series on the natural history of the world’s oceans”, each of the eight 50-minute episodes examines a different aspect of marine life. The underwater photography included creatures and behavior that had previously never been filmed.
Animal Showdown (2018)
Enter the ring to witness an epic battle between two animals! Stats, fun facts, photos, and in-depth profiles about each contender will help you pick winners in more than a dozen mighty matchups.
Meet the Chimps (2020)
The secret life of one of the largest and most unique wildlife sanctuaries in the world, Chimp Haven, a 200-acre refuge tucked deep in the forested heart of Louisiana, which is home to more than 300 chimpanzees.
Awesome Animals (2020– )
National Geographic presents a natural history series just for kids. 16-year-old narrator Jake Cuddemi presents fascinating information about a variety of truly awesome animals.
Our Planet (2019)
The series addresses issues of conservation while featuring these desperate animals in their respective home regions, and has been noted for its greater focus on humans’ impact on the environment than traditional nature documentaries, centering around how climate change impacts all living creatures. It is the first nature documentary Netflix has ever made.
Unlikely Animal Friends (2012-)
The natural world is full of amazing stories, but sometimes animals act in ways that seemingly go against all their instincts. This heart-warming series examines the cases of animals that have struck up unusual relationships.
Izzy’s Koala World (2020– )
Follow 11-year-old Izzy and her veterinarian mother as they rescue koalas and form remarkable friendships with animals on their Australian island.
Dogs 101 (2008–2021)
Dogs 101 is a show that airs on the American cable TV channel Animal Planet. Dog trainers and breeding experts explored the advantages and disadvantages of various breeds of dogs.
Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet (2014– )
Dr. Oakley is the only vet in her area of the Yukon. She treats domestic pets, endangered wildlife, farm animals–basically anything that walks on fours, crawls, flies. All of that- plus she’s a wife and a mom of three girls.
72 Cutest Animals (2016– )
This series examines the nature of cuteness and how adorability helps some animal species to survive and thrive in a variety of environments.
Tiger King (2020–2021)
Joseph Maldonado-Passage is better known as Joe Exotic, a former owner of a private zoo where he had various deadly animals/pets. The plot follows the various American big cat societies that were against what he was doing, as well as the avid collectors of these wild animals.
And while we meet Joe with his life partners and workers at a controversial private zoo, on the other side is the owner of Big Cat Rescue, Carole Baskin, who was expressly against what Joe was doing. Although the filming of the series began to follow Joe’s life, it eventually turned into a real true crime drama!
The Crocodile Hunter (1996–2004)
The Crocodile Hunter is a wildlife documentary television series that was hosted by Steve Irwin and his wife Terri. The show became a popular franchise due to its unconventional approach and Irwin’s approach to wildlife.
It spawned a number of separate projects, including the feature film The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course and two television spinoffs: The Crocodile Hunter Diaries and Croc Files. The series has been presented on Animal Planet and has been in international syndication on networks worldwide.
