From Killer IQ: Lion vs Hyena to The Treasure Hunters, this week is all about trials and trails

Life in the wild sure ain't easy. Certainly not like a Sunday morning. There's always someone bigger, stronger and uglier ready to fight you for your dinner. That's presuming, of course, that you're not the main course.

Thankfully, this week's natural-world documentary, Killer IQ: Lion vs Hyena (Animal Planet, tomorrow at 9pm), is not another battle of eternal enemies but a war of wits. Pitted against each other are hyenas and lions (the title gives it away really), in a series of tests aimed at pinpointing what makes them the ultimate apex predators (those which are not preyed upon by another animal, when healthy).

Joining a team of top behavioural zoologists is "lion whisperer" Kevin Richardson (above; is it just me or is everyone whispering to animals these days? Can't they just talk?). The group observes the distinctive behaviour of both species when it comes to solving tasks and riddles. You'd be amazed at just how quickly a baby hyena could solve a Sudoku puzzle if it would only stop eating all the pencils.

The experiments, which involve mirror mazes and rope pulling, test cognitive awareness and social intelligence; and aim to unravel the secrets of a predator's success and reveal how living in complex social groups helps make them smarter (there aren't really any Sudoku-solving scavengers, I'm afraid).

By working together, a pair of lionesses solves a puzzle in a matter of minutes. Add a dose of testosterone, however, and everything falls apart. The male lion quickly becomes frustrated and throws a big manly tantrum. If you've ever been witness to your husband putting together an Ikea wardrobe without the instruction manual (because he doesn't need any guidance, does he?), you'll know what to expect.

If you're not the outdoorsy type and prefer pretty, sparkly things, then join exuberant presenters Dallas Campbell and Ellie Harrison on the world's biggest treasure hunt. The Treasure Hunters (TVB Pearl, Friday at 9.30pm) are in the United States looking for dinosaur bones - after all, a full T-Rex skeleton fetched US$8.36 million at a 1997 auction. Next, they're free-diving for pearls in Australia before heading to the English countryside to snuffle for truffles.