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 Video - FilmsWildlife and Plant Species: MammalsSee Regional--Eurasia for review of "Mountains of the Snow Leopard." Regional films feature many other threatened mammals.
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.
"Among the Wild Chimpanzees." 60 minutes. National Geographic Society. 1984.
Jane Goodall's remarkable research on Chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe Forest is the subject of this fascinating film. Her documentation of their use of tools changed our view of primates forever, as did her perceptive observations of these amazing animals as individuals, followed for generations. When polio struck the Gombe chimps, many became paralyzed or died. Their life struggles are poignant, and they resemble humans in many ways. The narrative and photography are excellent.
"Bats." Originally titled "The Secret World of Bats." See review under that title.
"Blue Whale: Largest Animal on Earth" 60 minutes. World of Discovery. ABC. 1997.
This film, shown on commercial television and available for purchase, gives an exciting glimpse into the life of the Blue Whale, the largest animal that has ever lived on earth, reaching almost 100 feet in length. Nearly eliminated by whaling in the first half of the 20th century, these magnificent marine mammals, although still endangered, are slowly increasing in some areas. Off the coast of California, some 2,000 Blue Whales congregate, to the joy of whale watchers who can hardly believe their eyes when they see them swimming slowly past the boats. US Navy sonar data covering many decades of underwater sounds have been made available to researchers, who report that the calls of these whales carry for hundreds of miles, and they echolocate the topography of the ocean floor. Although they are no longer killed by whalers, they are threatened by pollution and ozone thinning which is killing phytoplanton, upon which krill feed. One biologist has radiotagged some of these whales, shooting small transmitters into their dorsal fins. He has discovered that they migrate along the West Coast from Canada to Mexico, but the area where they have their calves is still unknown.
"Crying Wolf." 60 minutes. Nature of Things. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 1990.
The wolf as a maligned predator in Canada is the subject of this fine film. Biologists and wolf hunters are interviewed, and government policies are discussed in terms of their biological validity; for example, the hunting of wolves to increase game species such as moose. This film paints a grim future for the wolf, in spite of knowledge about its role in nature and increase in the numbers of its defenders, because government policies in Canada are dictated, in the opinion of the filmmakers, by short‑sighted, minority interests.
"Dance of the Sifakas." 60 minutes. PBS Nature. Partridge Films. WNET. 1996.
Sifakas are highly endangered lemurs inhabiting the island of Madagascar. They are strikingly beautiful, with fox-like faces and luxurious, thick fur in varying colors and patterns depending on the species and subspecies. They are best known for their ability to walk forward or sideways on their long, spindly hind legs across open spaces, a highly unusual trait for a primate called “primitive” by many taxonomists. Their leaping among high branches is also seen, a spectacular display of grace. This film follows a family led by high ranking males to an early morning meeting with other sifakas, a society ruled by females. Elderly members of the troop are cared for even when they cannot keep up with the others. As with most lemurs, there is lots of physical contact, from hugging to mutual grooming. When a baby is born, the entire troop crowds around trying to touch it. Sifakas do not survive well in captivity, and forest destruction threatens their survival along with Madagascar's other marvelous wildlife and plants. (See also "Spirits of the Forest," a film about lemurs, and films on Madagascar in the Regional Section below--Africa and Indian Ocean Islands.)
"Echo of the Elephants." 60 minutes. PBS. BBC/WNET. WNET. 1992.
"Echo of the Elephants. The Next Generation." 60 minutes. PBS Nature. BBC/WNET. WNET. 1996.
The first film features a family of African Elephants studied by biologist Cynthia Moss over a period of many years, and the second film is a follow-up, with news--both good and bad--about them. Echo is the matriarch of the family, who leads her family and watches over them. She gave birth to Ely, a male calf whose legs cramped before his birth, crippling him in his first days. He is tenderly helped along by his mother and aunts as he tries to crawl on front legs, which did not straighten until several days passed. The care given Ely exemplifies the altruism elephants show one another. The 1996 update finds Ely with another leg problem, this time temporary as well, and Echo has another calf, a fearless female Cynthia Moss calls Ebony. The big males who survived the ivory slaughters of the 1980s because of the presence of Cynthia and other researchers, are another focus of the 1996 film. Fifty-five-year-old Dionysus is an immense bull, the largest in the region, weighing an estimated 13,200 pounds, with 100-pound tusks. Females in the herd prefer him as a mate. Two of the other bulls, Sleepy and Ebony's father, Beach Ball, were killed by trophy hunters when they crossed into Tanzania in a migration they had taken their entire lives. (These trophy hunts were publicized by Cynthia Moss in the media throughout the world, putting pressure on Tanzania to reassess their laws. See Persecution and Hunting chapter.) Both films are rich in endearing scenes of elephants enjoying mudbaths, calves in boisterous play, and excited greetings. Cynthia Moss promises to spend her life protecting these elephants, proof of her devotion to them.
"Elephant." 60 minutes. National Geographic Society. 1989.
This film chronicles the disastrous decline of African Elephants from the slaughter for the ivory trade. Many stirring scenes of this horrendous period and the terrible toll it took on elephant populations are seen. The film also records much of their behavior and natural history. It was released the year the species was finally listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), banning commercial trade.
"The Elephants of Tsavo." 60 minutes. PBS Nature. Survival Anglia. WNET. 1990.
This film, focused on Kenya, is a haunting portrait of the carnage caused by the ivory trade. Tiny baby elephants, only a few days old, are orphaned by poachers and cared for by Daphne Sheldrick, with the help of Eleanor, an African Elephant Daphne saved many years before. The fascination elephants have for the tusks of their felled comrades, touching and holding them as if aware of their identity and mourning their deaths, is filmed, and the sight of an elephant trying over and over to help a long‑dead fellow stand is very poignant. This film was completed just after the 1989 ban on international trade with the listing of the African Elephants on Appendix I of CITES. The trade had killed off most of the big bulls and was now turning to babies with mere spikes of tusks, an obvious sign of near extinction for the species. The film teaches about the compassion, complexity and intelligence of these wonderful animals and is a reminder that the trade should never be allowed again even if their populations rebound.
"The Forgotten Mermaids." 60 minutes. Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau. Video Finders. 1974.
The Florida Manatee is today even more endangered than when this film was made. The gentle Manatees are seen in their winter warm springs, and their vulnerability to motorboat collisions is documented.
"Gentle Giants of the Pacific: Humpback Whales." Sierra Club Series. Wood Knapp Video.
These fascinating whales are seen in their wintering grounds in Hawaiian and Alaskan waters. Their complex songs echo for many miles in the water. In spite of many decades of protection, their populations have not recovered.
"Ghost Bear." 60 minutes. Nature (PBS). BBC. WNET. 1995.
Some of the Black Bears on islands off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, are snow white, and these rare animals make up about 10 percent of the bears of the region. Different from albinos, these white bears are in every other way like other Black Bears and often have siblings that are black. This film follows a young white bear as he learns to survive without his mother, vying for spawning salmon with other young bears, climbing moss-covered trees and napping in the meadows. The beautiful temperate rainforest, seen from the ground and aerially, with its ancient trees, pure streams, and abundant wildlife, is magnificent. Among the forest's rare residents are black-phase Gray Wolves and their cubs, and Bald Eagles, who behave completely naturally, so unfamiliar with people that they have not learned to fear them. For this reason, the name and location of the island was not provided. A native village once occupied a coastal area, but no humans have ever lived in the interior and the forests have been untouched for 10,000 years. This island and a large part of the range of these bears received a reprieve from logging in 2001. A park will permanently protect the core of its distribution.
"Giant Otters." 60 minutes. Nature. Survival Anglia. 1990.
These are the largest of all otter species and are endangered throughout their range in northern South America. They have been heavily persecuted for their pelts, which are valuable in the fur industry and captured for the pet trade and for zoos. Highly engaging, they travel about in boisterous groups, communicating in a wide variety of squeaks and whistles. Photographed in Guyana, the natural history and conservation of the species are stressed.
"Gorilla." 60 minutes. National Geographic Society. 1981.
This film portrays the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda, as studied by Dian Fossey, and her remarkable friendships with members of the troop, showing their great intelligence and gentleness.
"Gorillas in the Mist." Two hours. Warner Brothers and Universal Pictures. MCA Home Video. 1989.
This commercial film is the story of Dian Fossey, the researcher and conservationist of Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda, who was brutally murdered. The details are somewhat fictionalized, but the movie is essentially accurate, and these intelligent and gentle apes receive much attention.
"Gremlins. Faces in the Forest." 60 minutes. Nature. PBS/WNET. 1998.
This film is one of the best in the Nature series, an enchanting and fascinating encounter with tiny Brazilian marmosets, among the smallest of all primates, and includes the discovery of a new species while the film was being made. The "gremlins" weigh only a few ounces and feed on insects, fruits and other plant life and tree sap. They move about at lightning speed up and down tree trunks, scurrying into their cavity nests when threatened. The male takes a strong parental role, hovering about as the female gives birth, dramatically recorded by the filmmakers. Both parents carry the young about on their backs when they are nursing, and when weaned the father takes over full responsibility. Other wildlife that share the habitats of these Amazon marmosets are also seen, from tapirs to toucans, including a snake, which kills a marmoset during one of its rare trips to the forest floor. Their tiny faces, framed by tufts of fur in contrasting colors and set off by enormous ears, vary with each species and subspecies and are among nature's most unusual and quaint. The scientists filming this special located rare marmosets and a new species with bare ears and a bold black stripe on top of its whitish head. It was discovered as a pet in a native village, and the Satare Indians guided the filmmakers to a group of these primates, never before filmed in the wild. These tiny marmosets are symbolic of the great diversity of rainforests yet to be discovered and their dependence on the protection of their habitats, which are often very restricted. With each fire set in the rainforests of the world, such ecosystems and their unique plants and animals disappear, a great natural tragedy.
"Grizzly Bears: Losing Ground." 60 minutes. Nature of Things. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 1991.
British Columbian Grizzly Bears are declining from a variety of causes-- killing as nuisance bears, for sport or for the gall bladder trade, logging of habitat and alteration of habitat. Biologists discuss the failure of the government to act to reverse the decline. Lairs in the trunks of giant trees in old‑growth rainforests are glimpsed.
"In the Company of Whales.” 90 minutes. Discovery Channel. (VHS & CD‑ROM). 1992.
Following great whales with eminent zoologist Roger Payne and other experts, insights are given on whale behavior and biology. The Southern Right Whales of Patagonia are filmed underwater, and other rare species are encountered close‑up.
"Jaguar. Year of the Cat." 60 minutes. Nature. Telenova Productions. PBS. 1995.
Filmed in the rainforests of Belize, the daily life of Jaguars is seen in remarkable close-ups accompanied by the sounds these cats make as they walk in the forest or lap water in a stream, with insect and bird songs in the background. "Jaguar" gives an intimate glimpse of their life in the rainforest, such as attempts to catch prey--turtles, fish, peccaries and agoutis--often unsuccessful. Kittens take their first exploratory walk under the watchful eye of their mother. The narrative discusses the survival of these threatened big cats, such as their need to avoid injury while chasing prey, which could result in a slow death from infection, but does not address the logging and destruction of their habitat or the threat of being killed for their pelts. No deer or large ungulates were seen, the basic prey of most large cats. The beauty of the forest, its birds, butterflies, bats, monkeys, flowers and giant trees, is often breathtaking, as is the feeling of being an invisible witness to this grandeur.
"Land of the Llama." 60 minutes. Wolfgang Bayer Productions. 1990.
The various members of the camel family in South America are seen. The Guanaco and Vicuna are two species that are in precarious situations, although the Vicuna has increased in numbers. The Vicuna once occupied a far greater area until killing for its fine wool reduced it to near extinction. Range maps show past and present distributions of these species, and aspects of the biology, behavior, natural enemies, births and mortality give a good background for study. The Llama and Alpaca, both domesticated members of the family, are also examined.
"Leopard: A Darkness in the Grass." 60 minutes. Nature. WNET. 1986.
Of the many films that have been made of the Leopard, this may be the best, with magnificent footage on the remarkable hunting and survival abilities and other facets of its life. Filmed in East Africa.
"The Leopard That Changed Its Spots." 60 minutes. Survival Anglia. Discovery Channel. Distributed by International TV Entertainment. 1978.
Based on a book by A. Singh, this film was written and produced by Colin Willock and narrated by David Niven. This charming story describes the friendship between a female Leopard and a famous Indian conservationist, and her return to the wild. After teaching her how to hunt and survive, he releases her in a park, but she returns with her cubs when threatened by a flood. He returns her and her family to the park in his rowboat, and she finally becomes a wild Leopard.
"Masked Monkeys." 60 minutes. Nature. BBC Bristol. 1987.
This is an exceptionally interesting film about the guenon monkeys of Africa. Zoologist Jonathan Kingdon, an expert on East African mammals, discusses his theories of evolution of these colorful primates. He is also a gifted artist, depicting their dramatic appearances. Scientists researching these monkeys in a small but ecologically important area, the Kibali Forest of Uganda, are interviewed. Four guenon species occur in the forest, and many of the 27 species and 60 subspecies of guenon from West, Central and East Africa are shown. These monkeys are seldom seen in zoos or featured in films, and most people would be amazed by primates as colorful as tropical birds. Their bold facial and body fur exhibit a rich array of bright blue, red, white, black and brown. The coloration and markings apparently evolved as signals to others of their species in the dark forest. Many of these guenons are endangered, listed on the US Endangered Species Act and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In West Africa they have lost most of their forest habitat. A book by Jonathan Kingdon, Island Africa, expands on the information given here and discusses the evolution and adaptations of a wide spectrum of African wildlife (see Books section).
"Monkeys on the Edge." 60 minutes. Barry Clark Productions. WNET. 1990.
The coastal deciduous forest of southeastern Brazil once covered an immense area but has been reduced to less than 10percent of its original size. This film focuses on the endangered primates of the remaining forest. The Muriqui, or Woolly Spider Monkey, the largest primate of South America, is shown carrying its small baby as it feeds in the treetops. Other residents include Buffy‑headed Marmosets, tiny primates who feed on insects, and the famous Golden‑lion Marmosets, whose reserve was nearly destroyed by fires set by cattle ranchers nearby. Glimpses of beautiful birds and various endangered species, such as the Maned Sloth, against a backdrop of the forest's immense trees and endemic vegetation give a picture of this unique and disappearing ecosystem, listed by Conservation International as a "hotspot" of extremely high biodiversity. The urgency to protect remnants of this forest has become one of the world's highest conservation priorities, and one of its most urgent, since logging and habitat destruction continue.
"The Mysterious Black-footed Ferret." 60 minutes. National Audubon Society. Live Home Video. 1986.
The Black‑footed Ferret is a delightful animal, moving about the prairie in leaps and fast-stepping backward shuffles. Arching its back, turning its body into the letter "S," it plays high‑speed games of tag with other ferrets at sunrise. While only 2 feet long and weighing less than 3 pounds, this wiry mustelid is an effective predator of the fat prairie dogs of the shortgrass prairie. Their burrows create a complex and nearly extinct ecosystem. The first wild ferrets seen in the early 1970s in South Dakota were killed in prairie dog control poisoning programs on the Indian Reservation, which was their only known habitat. The captive animals at the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Patuxent Wildlife Research Center also died off. The species was thought extinct until the exciting discovery in the 1980s of a small population in northwestern Wyoming on a cattle ranch. This film is the first record of these fascinating animals and the research program on their behavior. The Fish and Wildlife Service radio‑tracks and began a captive‑breeding program, now carried out in zoos around the country. A tragic outbreak of canine distemper nearly eliminated this newfound population. Much has happened since this film was made, with the captive ferrets increasing in number and being reintroduced to several states. Prairie dog towns have been reduced by 98 percent, and the Black-footed Ferret has a large habitat requirement, making their long-term survival uncertain (see Grasslands, Shrublands and Deserts chapter).
"Orphans of Time." 60 minutes. New Explorers. Kurtis Productions. 1994.
Monk seals are the oldest of all seals, on Earth for 15 million years. Of the three species that existed only a century ago, only two remain, and both are critically endangered. The Caribbean Monk Seal was last seen in the 1950s and was heavily hunted throughout its once vast range. Mediterranean Monk Seals number only a few hundred, and a Greek biologist has worked to protect the last remaining individuals in the Mediterranean Sea, an island refuge in the Aegean Sea. This population of 25 to 50 animals hides in caves, terrified of people after centuries of persecution by fishermen. They have also declined from loss of habitat to tourism and development, overfishing of their food supply, and pollution. The other population of some 150 survives along the North African coast, where a large number died a few years ago. The film also shows the conservation of Hawaiian Monk Seals, which numbered about 1,300 when this film was made. Since then, their numbers have declined. A University of Hawaii project studied the problem of mobbing of females by males, who often caused mortality or serious injury. The biologists injected males with a substance to reduce their sexual instincts. The film did not examine the population dynamics of this species, i.e. whether there were far more males than females, or the causes of decline. By skipping back and forth between Mediterranean Monk Seals, Hawaiian Monk Seals and a veterinarian studying pollution in seals of all types in northeastern Europe, the viewer was left a bit confused and with many unanswered questions. These two surviving monk seal species deserve far more intensive and coherent films, as their loss would be biologically extremely tragic.
"Pandas of the Sleeping Dragon." 60 minutes. Nature. BBC. 1994.
This film is truly superb. Wild Pandas were filmed in the Wolong Nature Reserve in Szechwan, China, one of the last areas where the species is still found in some numbers. The scenes of Giant Pandas are unparalleled, even including a mother Panda with her five‑week‑old cub in a tree den. Other endangered species inhabit this reserve--Red Pandas; the Takin, a strange, goat‑like ungulate; and Golden Monkeys. The photography is beautiful, showing the habitat of mist‑enshrouded mountains with ancient trees draped in moss. Only time will tell if the Giant Panda survives in the wild, but this film is an eloquent argument for its preservation in this breathtaking land.
"People of the Forest." Two hours. Discovery Channel Production. 1990.
Jane Goodall's long‑term study of Chimpanzees, which has now continued for more than 30 years, and her findings about these intelligent primates have changed our views of ourselves. Photographed by Hugo Van Lawick, it gives many of the highlights of her research, identifying individual Chimpanzees who are seen over their entire lifetimes. Tool‑using and tool‑making, achievements that previously were thought to be exclusive to humans, are documented. Profound affection develops between Chimpanzees, and in one case, a grown male was so distraught over the death of his mother, who died of old age, that he stayed by her body, refusing to eat until he died.
"Reflections on Elephants." 60 minutes. National Geographic Society. 1994.
One of the most important films on African Elephants, cinematographers Dereck and Beverly Joubert recorded a detailed and sympathetic view of this endangered species, based on years of observations in Botswana. One memorable scene involves the rescue of a calf from a mudhole by the entire herd. Each elephant did a separate chore--keeping African Buffalo away, trampling the bank down to make a ramp, and holding up the calf until it could be prodded up the ramp. The Jouberts discuss the importance of saving Elephants with great eloquence, and this film accords these great animals the dignity and respect they deserve.
"Return of the Swift Fox." 26 minutes. Encyclopedia Britannica. 1988.
This tiny prairie fox has been poisoned and destroyed by predator hunters so that its range is now greatly reduced and fragmented. This film was made in Canada's provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
"The Rhino War." 60 minutes. National Geographic Society. 1988.
The desperate fight to save rhinoceros is the subject of this film. The slaughter continues, in spite of international trade bans, and protection in national parks.
"Roll on Manatee!" 30 minutes. Florida Public Broadcasting. 1986.
The plight of the Florida Manatee is dire, but not without hope. Motorboats kill large numbers of these animals every year, and their role in the probable extinction of the Florida Manatee is discussed, but the film is basically optimistic. In spite of great public support and state protection, however, this endearing and gentle animal has continued to suffer high mortality.
"The Saiga of Kazakhstan." 60 minutes. La Ultima/Tomwil & Discovery Channel. 1993.
This unusual species is taxonomically somewhere between a goat and an antelope. It is the ecological equivalent of the American Bison in North America or the Wildebeest in Africa, once numbering many millions on the steppes of Central Asia. It is threatened by trade in its meat and horn. Having returned from near‑extinction from massacres early in the century to number nearly 1 million, it is again in danger from hunting. This film shows the ecology of this species, its dependence on the unbroken steppes that are now under threat of development, and the Gray Wolf as an essential controller of its numbers. Wolves have been exterminated in most of their range because of prejudice.
"Sea Lion Summer." 24 minutes. Wild South Series. Wombat Film & Video. 1986.
Enderby Island is the home of rare Hooker's Sea Lions, perhaps the most threatened of all sea lions. Efforts by the New Zealand government to protect it and its habitat are the subjects of this film.
"Seals--The Salmon Eaters." 19 minutes. Centre Communications. Barr Films. 1987.
The fishermen of the Pacific Northwest blame their declining fish catch entirely on seals and sea lions and persecute them indiscriminately. The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which banned such killing without permits, was put into limbo in 1989, allowing slaughter of these animals, even when no proof existed of their effect on fish populations. After this film was issued, the law was reauthorized in 1994, allowing killing of seals and sea lions with very few restrictions. The film shows how overfishing, pollution and habitat destruction are the real causes of salmon declines.
"The Secret World of Bats." 48 minutes. Survival Anglia. Distributed by Bat Conservation International. 1991.
Filmed by the late filmmaker Dieter Plage, with Dr. Merlin Tuttle as advisor, this film was shot on five continents, showing many aspects of bat behavior, courtship and rearing of young. Endangered species, such as the Marianas Fruit Bat, are seen, and the cruel trade in their bodies for the meat trade is a focus. The importance of bats in controlling insects and pollinating is stressed. Fish-eating bats, and bats feeding on desert cacti flowers, pollinating them in the process, make superbly dramatic footage. Their importance to ecological systems, reseeding deforested land and pollinating food crops, is discussed in detail. The film won two prizes in French Film Festivals and “Best of Category” in TV documentary in the 1992 Missoula Wildlife Film Festival. It has been shown on network television and is an excellent teaching tool. (Bat Conservation International also distributes "Bats: Myth and Reality," a slide-show or VHS video, and "Bats of America," a comprehensive look at North American bats, in slide-show format or VHS video.)
"Secrets of the Wild Panda." 60 minutes. National Geographic Society. 1994.
The precarious hold on survival of the wonderful Giant Panda is made all the more poignant by this film. This is the only film in which a wild baby Giant Panda only seven days old is seen close‑up as she is cradled in her mother's arms. Her den in a deep cave in China's Qin Ling mountains was discovered by a dedicated zoology professor, Pan Wenshi, who conducted a nine‑year study of 60 Giant Pandas. Radio-tracking of these pandas has revealed many new behaviors and the size of territories. The study area was an unprotected forest under threat from loggers who were clearcutting the Giant Pandas’ habitat closer and closer to the den site. The professor managed, against all odds, to obtain protection for this 125‑square‑mile area, and logging was stopped. The film makes clear that this species is not likely to survive against the crush of China's massive human population of nearly 2 billion, and the continued commercial logging throughout its remaining habitat. Once widespread in southern China, even in northern Vietnam, only scattered populations remain, totaling about 1,200, with 120 of these in captivity. Population estimates since this film was made indicate that fewer than 1,000 Giant Pandas survive in the wild. This is the world's most popular zoo animal and the focus of worldwide attention and conservation efforts yet, in spite of this, it may not escape extinction in the near future.
"Sperm Whales: The Real Moby Dick." 60 minutes. Nature. PBS. WNET/BBC. 1996.
Scientists sponsored by the International Fund for Animal Welfare go in search of Sperm Whales and conduct close observations of these enormous whales. Finding a herd, the researchers got into a rowboat and paddled right up to the whales, who were completely calm and tame. Underwater photography of the males, who are much larger than females, is startling. An exciting discovery was a newborn white whale still bearing creases from having been in the womb. Petting these immense mammals, who could have submerged their boat with a flip of their tails, the researchers were touched by the gentleness of a species that has suffered greatly from human predation. Whalers nearly exterminated the large males altogether. Even today, decades after they received protection from whaling, large males remain extremely rare. These whales have an interesting method of deep-water fishing for squid, and scientists believe they prey on giant squid, which have never been filmed alive.
"Spirits of the Forest." 60 minutes. Nature. PBS. WNET/BBC. Time‑Life Video. 1989.
This delightful film has some of the most engaging and beautiful photography ever taken of Madagascar's lemurs. Rather than a scholarly survey of the species, the film focuses on the relationships and behavior of selected species. Lemurs lie in heaps on tree limbs for afternoon naps, grooming and leaping about with incredible agility. A sifaka runs across an open space on its hind legs, looking like a step in primate evolution. The film ends showing the massive destruction of their forest habitats, with the ominous prediction that all lemurs will become extinct should it continue. (See also "Dance of the Sifakas.")
"Tiger. Lord of the Wild." 60 minutes. World of Discovery. ABC Video. 1996.
An excellent overview of the Tiger's plunge toward extinction, this film covers the status, conservation programs, folklore, and the out-of-control trade in its body parts for Traditional Medicine. The photography of various subspecies in the wild is wonderful, showing the Tiger's beauty, strength, hunting ability and reproduction. Some of those trying to help stop the poaching and trade are profiled, along with arrests made in India of poachers. Tigers breed well in captivity, but artificial insemination has not been successful so far. The film makes clear that these captive-bred Tigers cannot be released to the wild and predicts the imminent extinction in the wild of this species. It asks whether the captive Tigers, some subspecies of which are more numerous than their wild relatives, have the same instincts and strength of wild Tigers. It fails, unfortunately, to mention the Global Survival Network, an organization headquartered in Washington, DC, and other groups actively working to stop poaching of the remaining wild Tigers, so that the public might contribute to their efforts.
"Tigers of Kanha." 60 minutes. National Geographic Society. 1999.
This film shimmers with beautiful scenes evoking a past time when India was covered in forests and wildlife was so abundant that great herds of Chital deer grazed in valleys and Tigers were the proud and unchallenged masters of their domain. Kanha National Park, where this film was shot, retains its wildlife and forests through strict protection and constant patrolling by rangers on elephants. The focus of the film, a Tigress named Lakshmi, has reached the unusual age of 12, old for a wild Tiger, and she has raised a dozen cubs, another record which indicates her prime physical state and intelligence. At this age, with her year-old cubs, she finds herself in great danger from a male who has entered her territory and killed her mate. This male attempts to kill her three cubs, a common occurrence with big cats.
The film shows the intelligence and protectiveness of this Tigress for her cubs and makes an eloquent argument to preserve the wildness that remains in India, which would be impoverished by the loss of the Tiger.
"The Tiny Carnivores." 25 minutes. Animal Wonder Down Under. Barr Films. 1986.
Australian endangered marsupials, most of which are nocturnal and have never before been photographed, are the stars of this film. The photography is excellent, and narrative sensitively describes the many threats, from habitat destruction to feral cats and dogs, that have eliminated many species from all but outlying islets.
“Varmints.” Two versions. 91 minutes or 57 minutes. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Nature of Things. Bullfrog Films. 1999. Grades 10-12/College/Adult.
The decline of prairie dogs in the American West as a result of systematic poisoning programs by federal, state and local authorities is the theme of this film. It includes footage of varmint shooting, considered a sport in many areas, and historical films of these animals and their environment. They have become endangered, and if they become extinct, an entire ecosystem may collapse.
"Wet Side Story." 30 minutes. Survival Anglia Productions. 1993.
Filmed in Central America, the focus is the wide diversity of bat species and the integral role they play in ecosystems. Bats are seen pollinating plants, dispersing seeds and as predators of small animals and fish. The sonar of a bat is so sensitive that a fish‑eating bat can distinguish something as minute as a human hair a fraction of an inch above the surface of the water.
"Whales Down Under." 60 minutes. TVNZ Natural History. TVNZ VIDEAL. 1997.
Southern Right Whales were reduced from 100,000 to fewer than 3,000 by whaling, a 97 percent decline. Although protected since the 1930s, this species has not staged a recovery and remains on the brink of extinction. This film is a celebration of the 1992 rediscovery of a population of several hundred of these whales south of New Zealand in the vicinity of the Auckland and Campbell Islands. Until seen by chance by NZ government officials who happened to fly over the area, this population was thought long extinct. It is separate from other breeding groups in the Southern Hemisphere, and there may be no interbreeding or interchange of genes. TV New Zealand filmed these whales from a small aircraft as well as from boats and underwater. The crew followed researchers studying them in their near-pristine environment. They identify them individually, based on head callosity patterns, and the filmmakers record their boisterous courtship behavior and make the first film of actual mating. Their underwater language resembles a muted version of the Humpback Whales. Until very recently, these whales were the target of pirate whalers, but the presence of researchers and patrols by NZ government officials shields them. The primary threat today may be inbreeding, which is being studied through DNA analyses of tissues obtained by non-invasive means, and pollutants such as PCBs and pesticides that are present in their body fat. One of the calves born while the researchers were present was all white and was filmed when only a few hours old. Glimpses are also seen of several rare species--parakeets, a flightless teal and the Yellow-eyed Penguin, an extremely rare species--and the elfin forest growing on these windswept islands. Like many TVNZ natural history films, "Whales Down Under" is well-written, informative, and fast-paced. It mixes facts, human interest and sympathy for wildlife.
"Wild Dogs of Africa." 60 minutes. Nature. Partridge Films. WNET. 1990.
These canids of East Africa resemble Gray Wolves in their behavior and cooperative hunting. This film was a long‑term project of Hugo Van Lawick, and the photography and narrative are excellent. The African Wild Dog, sometimes known as the "Painted Wolf" for its blotchy black, brown and white coat, is an endangered species, having disappeared from the majority of its original range. These dogs are extremely sociable with one another, wagging their tails in excited greeting. “Baby sitting" Wild Dog relatives, such as aunts, play boisterously with the pups while the parents are out hunting. Females have huge litters and co-opt the litters of other females in the pack, trying to raise as many as 20 pups. They are preyed on by hyenas, and Lions often take their prey from them. They are not able to defend themselves against these larger and stronger predators. They have also been vulnerable to canine distemper spread by domestic dogs, and thousands have died from this disease. Wild Dogs have been persecuted and poisoned in areas where cattle ranches have been established, and their status has steadily deteriorated in the past 20 years, except in a few strongholds such as the Serengeti.
"Wild Wolves." 60 minutes. BBC. NOVA. PBS. 1997.
This film, narrated by David Attenborough, examines the true nature of wolves, their behavior, ecology and treatment by people. Prejudices are still strong in many parts of the world, especially in Europe and Russia, based on irrational fears about their threats to humans. Wolves have lost much of their range and habitat, having been hunted out of most of Western Europe, and in some countries, such as Romania, they are seen at night roaming in urban areas, scavenging garbage. Their friendly behavior, loyalty to one another, and the importance of the pack in chasing large prey are highlighted. The survival of the cubs is so crucial to the pack that a hungry wolf will surrender its kill to a mate raising young. This is the opposite of Lion behavior, as these big cats allow the cubs to eat only after all the adults are finished. Humans have pushed them to endangered status in many areas, leaving them neither habitat nor natural prey. Scenes of the world's largest wolves hunting enormous American Bison show their intelligence and illustrate that the only large animals they kill are those that are old, injured or very young, playing a positive and important ecological role. Their musical howling is listened to by tourists in a Canadian national park. Their reintroduction into Yellowstone National Park--and better protection in some countries--are signs that the tide may be turning in favor of this magnificent wild canid.
"Wildebeest: Race for Life." 60 minutes. ABC World of Discovery. ABC Video. 1993.
The migration of the wildebeest in East Africa is followed by photographer Hugo Van Lawick, with dramatic scenes of calves rescued at the last moment from hyenas and their perilous journey through steep cliffs and rivers filled with 20-foot crocodiles. Births, mortality and the survival of this last great herd on earth is an epic tale. Many rare species, such as Leopards, Cheetah and African Wild Dogs, depend for their very existence on this herd's yearly migrations. This film teaches about an entire ecosystem and visually gives an exciting view of one of the great wildlife spectacles on earth.
"Wolf." 51 minutes. Survival Anglia. Time Warner Distributor. Predators of the Wild Series. (VHS & Laserdisc.) Released 1994.
Originally titled "Wolf. The Spanish Outlaw," this film concerns the highly endangered and persecuted Spanish wolf. Its natural prey, Roe Deer, have become rare as natural habitat has disappeared over the centuries in Spain, and it has been forced to prey on livestock, for which it is heavily persecuted.
"The World of the Koala." 25 minutes. Animal Wonder Down Under. Centre Communications. Barr Films. 1986.
The lovable Koala is declining precipitously at present; when this film was made, their populations were more stable. It is a profile of the species, its behavior and habitat. These marsupials, sometimes incorrectly thought of as bears, are dependent on eucalyptus trees, feeding on a limited number of species. Forests have been leveled by commercial loggers and developers throughout eastern Australia, and koalas are becoming increasingly fragmented in isolated populations. Their almost comical trundling across lawns and highways to find food often ends in tragedy as they are killed by dogs or hit by cars. Many efforts to rescue them from forest fires and to protect their habitat are having success.
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