ORF-E
German
1 x 45 min

The lives of humans have been inextricably linked to those of animals for time immemorial. These days, living with pets and other domesticated animals is so much a part of life that one could assume that this has always been so. In fact, in many cases, humans used breeding in captivity to change the fundamental natures of certain species and make life together a possibility, while other animal ancestors would appear to have voluntarily drawn closer to people over time. The dog is the oldest companion animal and was domesticated more than 10,000 years ago. But the range of animals that have accompanied humans over thousands of years goes far beyond dogs and cats, and includes bees, pigs, carp, sheep, chickens, pigeons and many, many more. This film takes an in-depth look at the history of these developments. With the help of researchers and animal experts, it examines the ways that humans and animals live together and explores the genetic make-up of the many domesticated species bred by humans over hundreds and even thousands of years.