The Most Intense Chase Scene You'll See Today

For newborn babies, the problems in life they encounter are probably figuring out when to eat, sleep and poop. But for iguanas, their first instinct from the moment they hatch may involve evading death. In a clip from BBC’s brand new sequel to its documentary series narrated by David Attenborough, Planet Earth II, which premiered in the UK yesterday, one of the most brilliant documentary shots captured an intense scene of a hatchling iguana escaping death on an island full of snakes.

Image: BBC

The sequence starts with a newborn iguana being chased by a racer snake. Suspense begins to rise as the iguana stops moving while the snake slowly approaches. Just as the snake is about to pounce on the iguana, the hatchling starts running for its life again. Beneath the rocks, dozens more snakes are waiting impatiently to make the iguana part of their lunch as well. The snakes soon start chasing the iguana as it jumps from rock to rock, desperately trying to survive.

Image: BBC

Filmed on Fernandina Island in the Galápagos Islands, the chase scene is almost as dramatic as watching a battle in Game of Thrones. The exciting, tensed, nerve-wrecking hold-your-breath moments from this two-minute sequence will leave you at the edge of your seat. The crew were apparently too shocked to film when they first saw the snakes. This could just be the best thing you’ll see on the internet today! Social media has already been raving about this:

Probably the best scene from any nature documentary I've ever seen. #PlanetEarth2 pic.twitter.com/PmAR4TdLAb
— Raz (@raztweets) November 7, 2016

Like I said, the best scene in the history of nature documentaries. Astonishing. #PlanetEarth2 pic.twitter.com/Qx70wQQUm2
— amol rajan (@amolrajan) November 7, 2016

Late to the party but never thought I'd be emotionally invested in the wellbeing of a lizard. #PlanetEarth2
— Laura Robson (@laurarobson5) November 7, 2016

The snake/iguana scene is by far the most pulsating television I've viewed in some time. Excellent, as per usual, @BBCEarth. #planetearth2
— Darren Holland (@darren__holland) November 6, 2016

I thought A-Levels were bad, at least I didn't have to outrun a pack of Racer Snakes the day I was born. #PlanetEarth2
— Samrambe (@420marmite) November 6, 2016

So I guess 10 million people will be having nightmares about getting chased by gangs of snakes tonight #planetearth2
— Rick Edwards (@rickedwards1) November 6, 2016

Just heard the whole of the UK shout "run" to the iguana #planetearth2
— Chris Widdowfield (@CWiddowfield_61) November 6, 2016

So what happened to the newborn iguana? You’ll just have to watch to find out: