Elephants possess immense strength, affectionate nature, and remarkable wisdom, yet their most profound mysteries are only beginning to be uncovered. The groundbreaking and acclaimed natural history series, Secrets Of, makes a triumphant return this Earth Day (April 22, 2023) with its latest installment, Secrets Of The Elephants. This awe-inspiring documentary will premiere across Africa on National Geographic Wild (DStv 182, StarSat 221), delving deeper into the world of these majestic creatures and revealing their untold stories.
Secrets Of The Elephants, brought to you by the renowned filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer-at-Large, James Cameron, takes viewers on a captivating journey around the globe, from the vast Savannahs of Africa to the bustling urban landscapes of Asia. Through this remarkable four-part series, narrated by Academy Award®-winning actress Natalie Portman and featuring esteemed National Geographic Explorer and elephant expert Dr. Paula Kahumbu, viewers will uncover the strategic intellect, intricate emotions, and sophisticated communication of elephants, which shape their unique and dynamic culture. This extraordinary documentary not only sheds light on the lives of diverse elephant families but also highlights their striking similarities to humans. Secrets Of The Elephants promises to challenge our preconceived notions about these majestic creatures and transform our understanding of them forever.
For ages, elephants have captivated us with their awe-inspiring emotional depth and seemingly otherworldly abilities to navigate their environment. In Secrets of the Elephants, we embark on a global journey to encounter various families of these majestic creatures, including desert elephants, forest elephants, Asian elephants, and African savannah elephants. Each group possesses a unique set of cultural behaviors that are passed down through generations, and their stories are a testament to their remarkable intelligence, grace, and resilience. From their intricate social dynamics to their strategies for survival, Secrets of the Elephants unveils the astonishing world of these beloved animals and sheds light on their captivating tales that will leave you in awe.
They are powerful, loving and wise but only now are we starting to unlock the deepest secrets of the elephants. Their strategic thinking, complex emotions and sophisticated language has created a unique and dynamic culture making them more like us than we ever thought possible
The four-episode series that explores the courage, tenacity and complexities of elephant life in these unique contexts will land on Earth Day (22 April 2023), in a special back-to-back broadcast on National Geographic Wild from 19:45 – 23:00 (EAT), providing viewers with a larger-than-life viewing experience. The four episodes – Desert, Savanna, Asia and Rainforest – will take families on a journey across the globe, providing insight into the fascinating creatures like never before.
View the trailer here.
Several National Geographic explorers including Dr Paula Kahumbu (winner of the Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year 2021), Sandy Oduor, Shane Campbell-Staton, Dominique Gonçalves and others, collaborated on the research behind the production to uncover new dimensions of elephants’ remarkable lives, to unlock their secret worlds and to understand how each sub-species has adapted to their unique environmental context in the face of evolving climate change. Additionally, the latest science and camera technology helps portray not just how truly extraordinary they are in their own right, but also how similar they are to humans.
“With an over 135-year-old legacy in natural history content, we’re just as passionate about who’s telling our stories as the stories we tell, “said National Geographic Content President Courteney Monroe. “Whether it be our onscreen scientists in Secrets Of The Elephants, our narrators like Natalie Portman, or our filmmakers like Jim Cameron, we have become a port-of-call for best in class talent who want to tell meaningful stories that inspire a deeper connection to our world. Our Secrets Of franchise reinforces our commitment at National Geographic to remaining THE leader in natural history storytelling,” she concluded.
For Secrets Of The Elephants, Emmy Award-winners James Cameron and Maria Wilhelm for Earthship are executive producers. Lucinda Axelsson is the executive producer for Oxford Scientific Films. Her credits include “China: Nature’s Ancient Kingdom,” “Serengeti,” “Wild Brazil,” “Elephant Diaries,” “Elephants of Samburu,” “Meerkat Manor,” “Spy in the Wild.”
Episodes include:
Desert
This episode reveals the secrets of Namibia’s last remaining desert elephants. When droughts, sandstorms and even floods threaten them, their shared knowledge passed down from generation to generation keeps them alive. This is the toughest place on earth to be an elephant, and their story is one of triumph in a land of extremes.
Savanna
Big families and strong relationships are the basis of success for savanna elephants. As we uncover their secrets, we start to understand their remarkable language. It’s not just noise; they communicate like us. Good leadership and close friendships help them through the hard times as they scale cliffs, find their place in the hierarchy and mourn their dead.
Asia
As humans encroach ever further into their environment, Asian elephants are learning to adjust to the challenges facing them. They know how to use tools to break down electric fences, strike deals with farmers, and develop a cooperative arrangement on tea plantations where they do the weeding without damaging the crops.
Rainforest
The Congo rainforest is home to one of the world’s most elusive species, the African forest elephant. Everything about them—their bodies, their behaviors, their families—is adapted to life in the rainforest. But surviving here means more than just adapting. These elephants have shaped the forest around them to their needs and, in doing so, have created a habitat unlike any other on Earth.