Rain Forest: Heroes of the High Frontier

Featuring flying primates, flying snakes, and flying researchers, this National Geographic program chronicles the research efforts of "canopy heroes" who explore the area considered to be the last biological frontier on earth--the rain forest canopies. Using small blimps to haul rainforest "luges" and "rafts" ten stories aloft, the central characters in this drama dangle from ropes, float beneath balloons, and bounce around on the tops of trees to investigate an incredibly complex ecology (and deal with a magnificent but ornery harpy eagle who is intent on protecting its chick). Although the Heroes of the High Frontier subtitle sounds like a bit of marketing hype, there's no denying it takes, grit, determination and incredible patience on the part of the researchers to dig out the secrets of this exotic ecology. Sporting stunning photography (naturally) of picturesque rainforests and colorful tales of its high wire heroes, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud. E, I, J, H, C, P. (S. Fisher)