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Journey to three of the most exotic, mysterious and remote islands on the planet: Madagascar, Borneo and Hawaii. Isolated from the rest of the world, they harbor remarkable wildlife and pioneering human communities found nowhere else on Earth.
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Islands of Wonder is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
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About the Show
Journey to three of the most exotic, mysterious and remote islands on the planet: Madagascar, Borneo and Hawaii. Isolated from the rest of the world, they harbor remarkable wildlife and pioneering human communities found nowhere else on Earth.
More About the Episodes
Episode 1 | Madagascar
The oldest island on Earth, Madagascar has been isolated longer than any other place in the world. Life here has had time to evolve in strange and unique ways, resulting in more unique wildlife than possibly any other island on the planet.
Episode 2 | Borneo
Borneo, the third largest island on Earth, may seem like a paradise but its harsh landscape proves a struggle to survive. These challenges are the secret to the island hosting a greater diversity of life than almost any other island.
Episode 3 | Hawaii
Hawaii, the most remote island chain on Earth, offers sanctuary for wildlife that has reached its tropical shores. From humpback whales to waterfall-climbing fish, it’s home to an extraordinary wealth of wildlife.
Photos from Islands of Wonder
A panther chameleon, one of 150 different species of chameleons found on Madagascar. This remarkably varied group range in size.
1/10
Edwin Giesbers
A young baby of the greater bamboo lemur. Formerly one of the world's 25 most endangered primates, with protection the birth rate and survival of young has greatly improved and numbers are on the up.
2/10
Sébastien Meys
In rice fields of the central highlands of Madagascar, women and their daughters work together to plant rice saplings in time for the forthcoming harvest. Rice is a vital crop in Madagascar.
3/10
Sara Douglas/BBC Studios
Green turtle chelonia mydas, known in Hawaiian as the honu. They are regularly found resting under underwater ledges, nibbling on sea grasses in shallow waters and basking on beaches.
4/10
Shane Myers Photography/Shutterstock
A humpback whale mother and calf resting in the warm, shallow waters off the Hawaiian coast. Half of North Pacific humpback whales migrate almost 3000 miles to Hawaiian waters each winter.
5/10
Chris Holman/Shutterstock
A laysan albatross in flight over Midway Atoll, one of the most northern islands in the Hawaiian archipelago. They have a wingspan of more than 6 feet and can remain several years at sea.
6/10
Evie Wright/BBC Studios
A tiny tree-hole frog. Males have a trick for ensuring their mating calls can be heard over the din of a noisy rainforest. They turn water-filled tree holes into amplifiers which broadcast the sound.
7/10
Chien C. Lee
The Bornean sun bear is the smallest bear in the world and found only on the island of Borneo. Being so small makes it a fantastic climber, able to climb higher than any other bear.
8/10
Chien C. Lee
The proboscis monkey is endemic to the southeast Asian island of Borneo. The pendulous nose of the male can exceed 4 inches and is thought to be sexually attractive to females.
9/10
K Y Tan/Shutterstock
The greater bamboo lemur feeds almost predominantly on the cyanide rich bamboo species cathariostachys madagascariensis.
10/10
Sébastien Meys
