From the moment he is born, a red deer calf faces a life-long struggle to survive in his new home — the mountain wilderness of the Austrian Alps.

His first six weeks are filled with exploration and discovery of his world, under the watchful eye of his mother. When he is ready, he and his mother journey along age-old migration paths from the forests up to the high mountain meadows, where the beginning of summer brings life and renewal to the slopes. There, they join other red deer mothers and their calves. The stags have already arrived, their antlers covered in tender velvet — and growing quickly.

Watch clips from the episode

Nature reveals a breathtaking view into the world of a red deer calf as he struggles to survive in “Prince of the Alps,” premiering May 11. Watch a preview…

Submit your photos of the Alps

Nature is searching for its viewers’ best photos of the Alps. Have you snapped a perfect alpine scene? If you have an Alps photo that’s interesting, creative, beautiful, hilarious, or simply amazing, Nature wants to know about it. Submit now.

Green bridges and wildlife corridors

Jill Clarke, one of the producers of “Prince of the Alps,” discusses the network of green bridges and wildlife corridors that have been built to facilitate safe wildlife movement across auto routes in the Alps. As mentioned in the show, “a deer by any road is an accident waiting to happen…” Read more…

Uncertain future for the alpine red deer

However inhospitable the weather may turn in the highest regions of the Austrian Alps, evolution has equipped the diverse species that claim these heights as their home with the ability to survive. The variations in weather are often sudden and intense, and the adaptations and perseverance required of these alpine creatures in order to ensure species survival are remarkable. Read more…

Nature’s “Prince of the Alps” premiers Sunday, May 11 at 8pm on Thirteen. For more information, visit Nature online.