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 Video - FilmsRegional: EurasiaNote: See films in Mammals section on Asian Elephants, Tiger, Asiatic Lion.
Note: The title is followed by the length, producer, distributor (if different from producer), and year film was made. Unless otherwise noted, the videos listed below are VHS format. Many are available in Beta, 16mm and other formats. Some are on laser disks.
+ Indicates video sold or rented with teacher’s instruction guide.
"Anamalai: India's Elephant Mountain." 60 minutes. Icon Films. ABC/Kane. 2000.
This film is another in the Reader's Digest Living Edens series, shown in letterbox format. The Ghats, a mountain range in southwestern India, are the scene of this film. Like Madagascar, it is classified as a hotspot, having high biodiversity at great risk. The Asian Elephant is at the center of the film, surviving in one of its last strongholds in this crowded country. The Lion-tailed Macaques endemic to the Ghats are among the most dramatic in appearance of all primates, their faces framed by huge manes that stick straight out from their heads. Hornbills and other birds that are found only in this area are under threat from loss of habitat and hunting. Like the elephants, they are important seed dispersers, especially of fig trees, so vital as a food source to a wide variety of animals. In the face of human population growth, logging and dam construction, the protection of this mountain and the Ghats has been only partly successful. This film helps to place into perspective the importance of conserving the diversity here as an asset for future generations.
"Battle of the Bison Forest." 60 minutes. Survival Anglia Productions. 1985.
Bialowieza, the largest remaining forest in Europe, lies in southwestern Poland and adjacent Slovakia. It is home to the only free-ranging herd of European Bison west of Russia, reintroduced from zoo populations after being hunted to extinction. This northern forest and its bison have been used as royal hunting properties and battle sites during both World Wars. More recently, logging threatened to obliterate it. This forest ecosystem once covered most of Europe, but over the centuries, logging and development displaced it. During World War II, many of the bison, deer, wolves, boar and other animals were hunted by the Nazis. Portions of the forest within Poland have recently been accorded national park status.
"Bhutan. The Last Shangri-La." 60 minutes. Reader’s Digest Living Edens series. ABC/Kane Productions, in association with Trebitsch Produktion International GMBH and PBS. ABC/Kane, Distributor. 1997.
This lovely film visits the once closed Himalayan country of Bhutan, whose borders extend from tropical monsoon forest to high-altitude mountains, encompassing many habitats and climates. The gentle Buddhist people of this country so revere life that protection is accorded animals hunted or persecuted elsewhere, allowing them to thrive in a near pristine environment. Blue Sheep are abundant here, living in large herds and grazing without disturbance. The Snow Leopard is another high-altitude native, given total protection. The Bhutanese protect their livestock in pens at night, an effective and non-lethal means of guarding against predators. Other animals beleaguered elsewhere, such as the odd Takin, a goat-like ungulate, Lammergeier vultures, endangered cranes, Tigers, Asian Elephants, Swamp Deer, Great Indian Rhinoceros and hornbills, are common here. The 25 endemic birds and Golden Langur monkey, found only in a small area in the south, have protected habitats and are not hunted. Bhutan still has two-thirds of its original forest cover and the lowest rate of deforestation in the world, while neighboring countries have lost 75 percent or more. The Black-necked Crane flocks that winter here are welcomed and considered great symbols of longevity and prosperity. On their arrival from their Tibetan breeding grounds, the cranes circle three times around a Buddhist monument before alighting. To kill one results in imprisonment for life. The film's subtitle, "The Last Shangri-La," refers to the idyllic environment in which people and animals coexist in a Buddhist belief system, which holds that all life is linked, and human compassion toward other life forms will help them rise spiritually in reincarnations.
"Borneo: Forests Without Land." 48 minutes. Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau/TBS. Video Finders. 1991.
Among the most endangered of all Asian ecosystems, the ancient Bornean forests and the mangroves on the coast are explored by the Cousteau team. The slow-moving and gentle Probosis Monkeys move about the mangroves, feeding on leaves. The richness of this habitat is described. Since this film was made, the mangroves have been cut and destroyed in many parts of Borneo's coasts, and the forests may be totally gone within a generation.
"Castaways of Sulawesi." 60 minutes. Nature. PBS. Nature. BBC. WETA. 1995.
The Indonesian island of Sulawesi, formerly known as Celebes, is located to the east of Borneo. It has been isolated for millions of years, producing many endemic species. The extraordinary wildlife of the island is beautifully filmed, from the coral reefs to endemic Red-knobbed Hornbills at their nest hole high in an ancient, smooth-barked tree. Hornbills spread fig seeds, which are a keystone species of the forests. The maleo, a pheasant-sized threatened bird, digs a nest hole to bury its enormous eggs, and the baby chick is filmed emerging from the soil, having dug itself out. Tiny Tarsiers, nocturnal primates, and two marsupials of Australian origin, the Bear and Dwarf Cuscuses, are seen at night as they move about to feed. The Babirusa, a threatened and endemic wild pig, has an extraordinary appearance due to its four tusks, the upper two curving into a circle. The endangered Celebes Black Macaque, also called the Celebes Ape for its lack of a tail, is a very active, playful monkey, spending much time on the ground, feeding on fallen fruit. The capture of flying foxes by young boys with kites having hooks on the strings is filmed, along with their transport to market where they are sold for human consumption. These bats are important to the forest of Sulawesi, pollinating and dispersing fruit seeds, but they are unprotected, and their populations are being decimated by this trade. The environment, too, is being so severely damaged that Sulawesi wildlife is in steep decline. Logging, mining, use of mercury in gold processing, the building of miners' shacks on steep hillsides, and overcutting of rattan for furniture are among the major threats. The film ends with a message of hope, stating that conservationists are working to preserve forests and native traditions that protect nature. The Indonesian government is the worst threat to Sulawesi's forests by promoting large scale and destructive logging operations and clearing forests for palm plantations. The future of these extraordinary endemic creatures is not promising.
"Durrell in Russia." 13-part series; 30 minutes each. Hosted by Lee and Gerald Durrell. Prime Time Entertainment, Inc. 1986.
This is a natural history tour of Russia, with each part focusing on a different location or species. "Return of the Bison," "Saving the Saiga" and "Seals and Sables" concern species that have recovered from dangerously low levels. Gerald Durrell conveys his affection for animals and knowledge about them with great enthusiasm and humor. The wildlife of Russia is under great siege from exploiters and unregulated hunting, as well as habitat destruction. These films describe the threats to wildlife as well as to the disappearing grasslands. The vanishing grasslands and their beautiful wildflowers and wildlife are among the many focuses that introduce people to species and places little known in the West. A book of the same title provides additional information and narrative.
"Empire of the Red Bear.” Three one-hour parts. Discovery Channel Video. 1992.
The land and wildlife of Russia are the focus. Three regions are explored: Siberia, the Volga region and the Far East. The Red Bear is the Red Panda, a threatened species of the Far East. The photography and narrative are excellent, and many endangered and declining species are shown. "Ring of Fire" shows the many volcanoes of this spectacular region bordering the Pacific. Steller's Sea Eagles, with their massive orange beaks, nest on cliffs bordering the sea, and a biologist studying the Siberian Tiger is followed as she discovers two dead cubs, having starved to death when their mother was killed by poachers.
"In the Shadow of Fujisan." Three one‑hour parts. Nature. The Moving Picture Company. WNET. 1987.
An environmental tour of Japan, Part I, "See No Evil," discusses the pollution problems, overpopulation and attitudes of the Japanese toward wildlife. Part II, "Bird of Happiness," focuses on the Japanese or Red‑crowned Crane, as well as the problems of an endangered species in an industrialized society and the wholesale destruction of nature that has taken place in Japan. Part III, "Long Live the Turtle," concerns sea turtles, Japan's importation of endangered sea turtle products, its whaling, coastal dolphin fishery and destructive consumption of marine species.
"India. Land of the Tiger." Six one-hour parts. Nature. PBS. BBC. WNET. 1998.
Hosted by Valmik Thapar, author of many books on the Tiger and noted Indian conservationist, this series tours India's varied geographical regions and photographs the land and wildlife beautifully. The Tiger, now in serious danger of extinction even in India, the stronghold of the species, is seen in many parts of the series, along with the efforts to save it. Other magnificent wild cats, including the endangered Snow Leopard and the last of the Asian Lions, are seen along with the endemic wildlife in many regions. This is primarily a natural history tour that highlights the environments and wildlife that inhabit forests, rivers, coastal waters and the Himalayas. A powerful conservation message permeates, and if the majority of the Indian public and school children saw this series, they would understand what is being lost to deforestation, degradation of aquatic habitats, human overpopulation and wildlife slaughter. The point is made, however, that in spite of great poverty, India has many national parks and reserves and a tradition in many parts of the country of protecting the land and wildlife. The Bishnoi people of the northwest desert, for example, have always protected their trees, shielding them with their bodies when a maharajah wanted to fell them. The ancient groves were preserved at the cost of many lives, and they extend their protectiveness to the rare Bushbucks that wander tamely through villages. Many of the rangers in national parks are poorly paid and use old weapons, yet they are dedicated and risk their lives to protect the rare wildlife. These and other stories make this an extremely important series for anyone interested in the endangered species and the natural history of the country. A book by the same title by Valmik Thapar, illustrated with beautiful photographs and published by the University of California Press, Berkeley, in 1997, makes a valuable adjunct to these films.
"Journey to the Sacred Sea." 60 minutes. NOVA. WGBH. WNET. 1994.
The delicate ecology and extraordinary international importance of Lake Baikal in Siberia are beautifully photographed. The world's oldest lake at 50 million years, it contains one-fifth the Earth's freshwater, making it also the deepest. The endemic Omul fish and its cleansing organisms that maintain the lake's clarity are shown. A hunt of the Nerpa, the Baikal Seal, which is the world's only freshwater seal, is filmed. The kill of more than 6,000 seals a year by hunters shooting from blinds explains the extreme shyness of these animals. Threats to the lake include the numerous industries that line its shores and dump pollutants into the lake, industrial and housing developments and logging.
"Mountains of the Snow Leopard." 60 minutes. Survival Anglia. 1994.
On a journey to the mountains of Mongolia with Dr. George Schaller, renowned biologist, many views of these highly endangered big cats are obtained. In an attempt to recruit and educate the Mongolian herdspeople, who have long feared the Snow Leopard as a predator on their livestock, Schaller convinced a local man to aid in a research project. Another Mongolian many miles away had spent decades as a hermit, using an old Russian camera to photograph Snow Leopards and make observations. A young female was captured in a cable noose, without apparent injury, and fitted with a radiocollar. Schaller stated that he regretted having to capture and traumatize her and hoped it would not be necessary again. In a side trip, the new Great Gobi National Park was visited. Several endangered species appear, including the Gobi Bear, never before filmed, herds of Kulan or Wild Asiatic Ass and other wildlife.
"Realms of the Russian Bear." Six one‑hour parts. Nature (PBS). WNET. 1992.
The major ecosystems of the vast Russian landmass are explored: "Green Jewel of the Caspian," "The Arctic Frontier," "The Red Deserts," "The Celestial Mountains," "Siberia: The Frozen Forest" and "Born of Fire." The land and wildlife of Russia are at a conservation crossroads, and exploitation of the pristine Siberian taiga forests has begun on a large scale. Oil drilling and pipe transport have already caused huge spills, and this will increase in the future. Many delicate areas have been leased to United States oil companies. Threatened and endangered species--from Saiga antelope, Brown Bear, endemic species of the Caspian and Lake Baikal, and the Sable--are at extreme risk because of political upheaval, and a near-total lack of law enforcement preventing wildlife slaughters. This situation has worsened since these films were made. This immense country has a wealth of endemic species and habitats, which may be lost if conservation does not become an integral part of Russia's future.
"Vietnam: A Country Not a War." 60 minutes. Nature. PBS. WNET. 1991.
The ecological devastation caused by the Vietnam War is gradually healing in Vietnam, and a new environmental awareness has united conservationists from the United States, Europe and Vietnam to preserve the country's heritage. Among the many endangered animals shown is a newly discovered species of pheasant.
"Wild India." 90 minutes. Discovery Channel Video. 1993.
A wildlife tour of this amazingly diverse country, from the Himalayas to the rainforests of the south, includes glimpses of the Great Indian Rhinoceros, Asian Elephant, the highly endangered Asiatic Lion, Tiger and the Ganges Gharial. The photography is excellent and narrative informative.
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