Nature always pushes the boundaries of evolution, never ceasing to amaze us with record breaking skills. Now with intimate footage we review the animal kingdom, picking out some of the most dramatic record breakers to examine how and why they’ve become such champs.

The obvious starting point is the biggest land animal – the African elephant – a 6,000 kilo colossus 4 metres tall, twice the height of a human and heavier than a minibus. The trunked titans also have the biggest brains on land – an impressive 5 kilos – 4 times bigger than a human’s, but don’t feel inadequate – plenty of animals can wow with their size… The giraffe is the only animal that can truly look down on the elephant. From a lofty 6 metres this gangly grazer can survey the plains. The Siberian tiger is the world’s biggest cat. 300 kilos and 3 metres of feline power and grace. The hyacinth macaw is the biggest parrot. The aptly named giant salamander is a 2m 60 kilo record holder of the amphibian world. The man-sized river wolf or giant otter of the Amazon is the biggest of its family and a rat the size of a pig – the South American capybara of is the world’s biggest rodent.
Animals of all shapes and sizes can break records, the biggest, smallest, furthest travelling, strongest biters, noisiest, but what’s the most successful animal of all?