The world is full of amazing creatures from every possible medium. From the birds of the air to the majestic whales of the sea, wildlife abounds in the most unusual and unexpected places. Wildlife benefits us in many ways and has since timed out of mind. World Wildlife Day is a day to remind us of our responsibilities to our world and the lifeforms we share it with. And today is the day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.
Below are some recommended nature wildlife documentaries for you all. Some may be difficult and upsetting to watch, but they will resonate with those who watch them and ignite a passion for change.
The Cove (2009)
Synopsis: This oscar-winning documentary film analyses and questions dolphin hunting practices in Japan. A team of activists, filmmakers, and freedivers commerce on a mission to expose a deadly secret hidden in a remote cove in Taiji, Japan. Exposes the slaughter of more than 20,000 dolphins and porpoises off the coast of Japan every year. It is very heartbreaking to watch so be prepared.
The Hunt (2015)
Synopsis: The Hunt is a 2015 British nature documentary series made for BBC Television. It presents the fascinating relationship between predators and their prey, and the strategies predators use to catch their food and prey use to escape death. Along with the importance of respective ecosystems within a world facing greater environmental challenges brought about by the impact of the human race. Each episode is based on one or more of the planet’s key habitats—each of which presents the predators and their prey with often critical seasonal, climatic, and ecological-environmental challenges.
The Ivory Game (2016)
Synopsis: The Ivory Game examines the ivory trade and investigates the poaching of elephants in Africa in order to feed the demand for ivory in parts of the world. It is undercover filming that exposes the extent of the problem and the documentary warns that if governments do not take action now or in the near future, elephants will face extinction by 2030.
Blue Planet 2 (2017)
Synopsis: Following on from The Blue Planet which was released in 2001, this series explores the oceans further, venturing deeper to unseen areas of the ocean and capturing the incredible life of our sea creatures. The final episode powerfully illustrates the true scale of the impact that plastic pollution is having on our planet. The story of the albatross who died from eating a single plastic toothpick really made the powerful story hit home, there is no such thing as throwing “away”. It has captivated audiences so much so that it’s even inspired its own social movement #blueplaneteffect to tackle the plastic waste issue in our oceans.
Our Planet (2019)
Synopsis: This eight-part nature documentary series focuses on the range of the diversity of habitats around the world. From the very first minute this amazing footage, through the usage of the latest camera technology, swifts you away to lands you can only imagine. The series takes you to 50 countries in all corners of the world to watch spectacular natural events from the remote Arctic wilderness and mysterious deep oceans to the vast landscapes of Africa and diverse jungles of South America. It’s a stark reminder of how the beauty and wonder of the world are increasingly becoming an unstable balance due to our daily actions.
Header image credit: David Clode from Unsplash