Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife restoration stories, living proof that nature can recover from near collapse, so long as humans protect it and help it to heal. In GORONGOSA PARK: REBIRTH OF PARADISE, airing Tuesdays, September 22 to October 6, on PBS, viewers will join Emmy-winning filmmaker Bob Poole on an incredible adventure exploring Gorongosa, as “rewilding” efforts are made to restore populations of magnificent creatures after a civil war nearly destroyed the park.
WildCam Gorongosa
Enjoy an array of beautiful "animal selfies" captured by WildCam trail cameras.
The WildCam tool from HHMI BioInteractive lets users go through the collected photos and identify animals and their actions. Scientists then use these identfications in their reserarch and restoration efforts. Join the effort now.
WildCam Gorongosa is on Facebook, Instagram, and you can follow @WildCamGNP on Twitter.
The success of “re-wilding” Gorongosa National Park is crucial to this East African ecosystem and to the global conservation community. Poole has made it his life’s work to communicate the beauty and importance of Gorongosa to the world. He is joined in the effort by specialists who include his sister, renowned elephant researcher Joyce Poole, philanthropist Greg Carr, who is founding president of the project’s oversight committee, and renowned scientist and conservationist Edward O. Wilson, who serves as a scientific advisor to the park.
Together they explore its most remote areas and make new scientific discoveries while telling dramatic stories of war-traumatized elephants who charge humans on sight, lions that are fighting dynastic battles as well as poachers’ snares, and tiny yet epic struggles in the insect world that affect the entire ecology. Every creature plays a part in the rebirth of this complex ecosystem.
“Our deep dive into the return of Gorongosa Park is important because of how crucial its conservation effort is to the ecosystem of Africa – and to the world,” said Bill Gardner, VP, Programming and Development, PBS. “It’s also an epic adventure and an inspiring story of how dedicated people, working together, can make a difference in rehabilitating ecosystems thought to be lost.”
GORONGOSA PARK provides an experience unlike that available to any other tourist or visitor. Viewers will see Poole’s vivid re-enactment of an unusually aggressive elephant attack; ride along with the research team at night as they fit GPS trackers onto the manes of lions, bracing for possible attacks from others in the pride; and discover a huge aggregation of some of the largest crocodiles in Africa.
Bob Poole is an authoritative and passionate voice in the scientific and natural film world. He has filmed and directed award-winning documentaries for PBS series NATURE and NOVA, as well as for BBC and Discovery Networks, and nearly 40 programs for National Geographic Television. In 2011, Poole won an Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography on National Geographic's landmark series GREAT MIGRATIONS.
“My childhood in the wilds of Africa inspired my career, but Gorongosa is special for me; this time I will be in front of the camera as well as behind it, capturing the incredible biodiversity and herculean conservation efforts taking place,” said Poole. “The two years I spent filming the park’s transformation fulfills a life-long dream of mine. I was able to combine my passion for animal conservation with my love of documentary filmmaking.”
EPISODE GUIDE:
“Lion Mystery” airs Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. - Bob Poole joins scientist Paola Bouley as she tries to solve a baffling mystery: Why isn’t Gorongosa’s lion population growing? By filming the lions, Poole hopes to help, following five cheeky lion cubs on their journey to adulthood. "Lion Mystery" is available for online viewing through Oct. 22, 2015.
“Elephant Whisperer” airs Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 9 p.m. - Poole and his sister Joyce, a renowned elephant expert, face charging elephants to gain insights into elephant behavior. Meanwhile, Mt. Gorongosa is taken over by a group of rebel soldiers, creating a tense air of uncertainty and fear in the park. “Elephant Whisperer” is available for online viewing through Oct. 22, 2015.
“New Blood” airs Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. - Poole and the lion team find one of the cubs with a grave wound and race to save her. A massive relocation mission is launched to bring back zebra and eland — Africa’s largest antelope. Discover a hero who kept Gorongosa alive after the war. “New Blood” is available for online viewing through Oct. 22, 2015.
“Hidden Worlds” airs Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. - Bob and a team of scientists estimate that the park may hold Africa’s largest croc population. Rappelling into deep gorges, they discover forests full of new species and unexplored caves, putting Gorongosa on the map as one of Africa’s last frontiers. "Hidden Worlds is available for online viewing through Sept. 22, 2015.
“Battle Lines” airs Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. - A new lion’s arrival sparks a conflict among Gorongosa’s dominant lions. Joyce has questions about the mysterious behavior of the Gorongosa’s elephants, and Bob tastes the danger of crop-raiding elephants. Joyce has a breakthrough with the elephants. "Battle Lines" is available for online viewing through Sept. 22, 2015.
“Roaring Back” airs Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 9 p.m. - When Bob Poole returns to Gorongosa, he discovers a huge nesting colony of water birds. He resumes his search for the lion cubs that went missing. After many sleepless nights, he finally meets the park’s new cubs — the future of lions in Gorongosa. "Roaring Back" is available for online viewing through Sept. 22, 2015.
Gorongosa National Park is on Facebook, Pinterest and Tumblr.
Bob Poole Films is on Facebook, Instagram, and you can follow @bobpoolefilms on Twitter.
GORONGOSA PARK: REBIRTH OF PARADISE was produced by Off The Fence. Episodes and clips from this series are available for online viewing on KPBS Video.
GORONGOSA PARK Rebirth of Paradise | Trailer
"Experience the inspiring rebirth of an African wilderness through the eyes of Emmy Award-winning wildlife cameraman Bob Poole. Darting lions
How to Rebuild a National Park
"From Episode 1 | Lion Mystery | Hear what it takes to restore a war-torn National Park from Greg Carr
A Wildlife Cameraman's Dream
From Episode 1 | Lion Mystery | It's been Bob Poole's dream to work in a national park ever since he was a child. Now he gets a chance to live in Gorongosa National Park for two years and document it's recovery.
Every Lion Counts
"From Episode 1 | Lion Mystery | Gorongosa was once a stronghold for Africa's lions. Today
Africa's Largest Crocodile Population?
"From Episode 2 | Elephant Whisperer | Meet croc expert Sven Bourquin
Key to a Hidden World
"From Episode 3 | New Blood | Hidden worlds are all around us
Tricks of the Trade
From Episode 3 | New Blood | Wildlife cameraman Bob Poole shows the tricks of the trade as he cheats an aerial view of the eland capture from the top of a hill in Gorongosa National Park.
Science Isn't for the Faint Hearted
"From Episode 4 | Hidden Worlds | Meet Gorongosa's very own Tarzan
Losing Track of Time in the Drowned Forest
From Episode 6 | Roaring Back | Wildlife cameraman Bob Poole takes a tour in a traditional dugout canoe through Gorongosa's flooded forest. Hear why he thinks Gorongosa is one of the greatest national parks in Africa.
WildCam Gorongosa: Citizen Science to Support Conservation
WildCam Gorongosa is a citizen science project to identify animals taken by motion-activated trail cameras in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique. These are some of the images captured by those trail cameras. Join in on the fun at www.wildcamgorongosa.org and contribute to the rebirth of one of the most biodiverse places in Africa.
