Ep 1. The Tropics

The tropics are teeming with life, and in the first episode of Spy in the Wild season 2, viewers are taken on a journey to discover some of the most fascinating animals that call this environment home. Using state-of-the-art spy cameras that are expertly disguised as animals, the show captures unprecedented footage of creatures such as crocodiles, monkeys, and parrots. These "spycams" - as they are called - are designed to look and move like their real-life counterparts, fooling even the sharpest of eyes in the animal kingdom.

The episode begins by introducing viewers to the main players of the tropics, the crocodiles. Using a spycam that looks like a hatchling, the show captures footage of a mother crocodile that is fiercely protective of her young. As the hatchling cam gets closer to the baby crocs, the mother crocodile springs into action, attacking the seemingly innocent spy. It's a dramatic moment, but it's also a testament to just how convincing these spy cameras are.

Next up, viewers are taken to the world of monkeys, where they witness the playful personalities of these creatures up close. A spycam disguised as a macaque monkey is placed in the midst of a group of real macaques, and it's not long before the monkeys start to become curious about their new friend. They playfully investigate the spycam, even going so far as to groom it and interact with it as they would with one another. For viewers, the footage is both heartwarming and eye-opening, as it shows just how intelligent and social these animals can be.

Moving on from primates, the show next explores the world of parrots, which are as colorful and vibrant as the tropics themselves. Using a spycam that looks like a parrot egg, the show captures footage of a mother parrot that is taking care of her newly hatched chick. The mother parrot is fiercely protective of her baby, and the spycam egg is forced to endure a few pecks from the mother before being accepted into the fold. Once the spycam is welcomed, viewers are treated to an intimate look at the bond between mother and baby parrot, as the mother feeds and cares for her chick.

The final part of the episode takes viewers on a journey to witness one of the most dramatic and dangerous moments of the tropics: a bird eating spider preying on a bird. Using a spycam disguised as a hornbill chick, the show captures stunning footage of a hunt in progress. The spycam is positioned near a hornbill nest, and before long, one of the parent hornbills is captured by a bird eating spider. The spider is massive and formidable, with long spindly legs and a powerful bite. Viewers are on the edge of their seats as they witness the spider successfully capturing and killing the hornbill, an event which is not for the faint-hearted.

Overall, The Tropics is a thrilling first episode for season 2 of Spy in the Wild. The use of spycams to capture footage is innovative and effective, providing a window into the secret lives of some of the most fascinating animals in the world. The show does an excellent job of balancing between the light-hearted and the dramatic moments, providing a well-rounded look at the complex and often surprising lives of the animals of the tropics.