Scott Burnett is "Scatman"— an Australian ecologist who believes that fully understanding any animal requires understanding its poop. By identifying and analyzing an animal's scat for DNA and hormones, he discovers essential details of its behavior, how it fits in the ecosystem, and even how to protect it, all without needing to trap or disturb it.
Scott's work shows how excrement can help protect an animal, sustain its young, send signals to mates and aggressors, and preserve the fertility of the environment it depends on. Scott also faces many fecal mysteries: Why and how do wombats, big and small, manage to produce cube-shaped poop? The quest for answers takes Scott to an engineering lab and some ingenious intestinal tests, beginning with rubber bands as a convenient model. Why do the blue whales of Sri Lanka produce bright coral-colored poop? This colorful bounty reveals some unusual eating habits. These engaging scat stories will inspire viewers with new respect for nature's smelliest secrets.
Producer: Laurie Cahalane, Helene Coldefy, Helene Ganichaud, Sue Clothier, Roman Landauer
Executive Producer: Julia Cort, Chris Schmidt, Susanne Lummer, Sabine Holzer, Walter Kohler
Production Company: NOVA; Terra Mater Factual Studios GmbH; GBH Boston; ARTE France
Production Year: 2022
Copyright Year: 2022
Rating: TV-14
Director: Ruth Berry
Narrator: Scott Burnett
Writers: Ruth Berry
Number of Discs: 1
Length: 60 minutes
Number of Episodes: 1
Subtitled: Y
Subtitle Languages: English (SDH)
DVI: Y
Audio Format: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 Widescreen