Watch Animal Armageddon

Animal Armageddon was a thrilling docu-series that aired on Animal Planet in 2009. The show, narrated by Michael Carroll, explored the events and conditions that led to five mass extinction events in the history of our planet. From meteor impacts to volcanic eruptions, the series examined the variety of catastrophic events that have driven entire species to extinction.

Peter Ward, a renowned paleontologist and author of the book "The Medea Hypothesis," and Craig Chesner, a volcanologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, both appeared on the show to provide expert commentary on the scientific theories and data that informed each episode.

Each of the six episodes focused on a different mass extinction event, and the show used a combination of CGI animation and live-action footage to reconstruct what life on Earth might have looked like during those times. The first episode, for example, explored the Ordovician-Silurian extinction event, which occurred around 440 million years ago and wiped out more than 85% of all marine species.

The second episode delved into the Late Devonian extinction, which took place around 365 million years ago and resulted in the disappearance of nearly 70% of all marine species. The third episode examined the end-Permian extinction event, which occurred approximately 250 million years ago and is considered the deadliest extinction event in the history of our planet, wiping out over 96% of all marine species and 70% of land species.

The fourth episode focused on the end-Triassic extinction event, which occurred around 200 million years ago and marked the end of the Triassic period. This event resulted in the disappearance of nearly half of all marine species and over 70% of all land species, including most of the world's large reptiles.

The fifth episode explored the end-Cretaceous extinction event, which occurred around 66 million years ago and famously wiped out the dinosaurs. While many people are familiar with this event, Animal Armageddon examined the complex series of factors that contributed to the extinction, including a massive asteroid impact and subsequent environmental changes.

The final episode of the show examined the most recent mass extinction event, known as the Quaternary extinction event, which is still ongoing today. This event has seen the disappearance of many large mammal species, including woolly mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, and giant sloths, as well as many species of birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

Throughout the series, the show explored the various scientific theories and data that attempt to explain each extinction event. For example, the end-Permian extinction event is thought to have been caused by a massive volcanic eruption in what is now Siberia, which resulted in a catastrophic release of greenhouse gases and a warming of the Earth's climate.

Similarly, the end-Cretaceous extinction event is believed to have been caused by a combination of a massive asteroid impact and subsequent environmental changes, including widespread wildfires and a cooling of the Earth's climate.

Overall, Animal Armageddon was a fascinating and educational series that explored some of the biggest mysteries of our planet's history. With expert commentary from top scientists and cutting-edge CGI animation, the show brought these ancient events to life and provided insight into the factors that have driven so many species to extinction.