Lions and cheetahs and chimps, oh my: a spotlight on Africa's diverse wildlife

Chimps fish for algae in a rare example of primate tool use. Credit: National Geographic A wild African black panther prowls for prey. An orphaned baby pangolin must learn how to climb on its own.

And a green turtle struggles to make it back to the water after laying her eggs on a remote island, rescued by local humans who carry the exhuasted turtle to the water's edge. These animals and many other species are featured in Africa: Earth's Wild Home , a new documentary series from National Geographic.

It's meant to launch a new franchise, with separate series documenting the wildlife and environmental ecosystems of all seven continents in turn. The seven-episode documentary series took four years to complete, with filming taking place across nearly 30 different African countries.

Each episode focuses on a specific ecosystem, from the jungle and the desert, to the plains, mountains, and islands of Africa, and closes by spotlighting the various scientists, photographers, and NatGeo explorers whose work made the series possible.

The final episode focuses on the local conservation leaders and researchers working to preserve Africa's rich biodiversity for future generations.

In Digital, Jennifer Ouellette puts this story at the center of the day: Chimps fish for algae in a rare example of primate tool use. Credit: National Geographic A wild African black panther prowls for prey. An orphaned baby pangolin must learn how to climb on its own. FlexChar is surfacing it because it is driving searches and conversation right now.