Image credit: Matteo Vella via Unsplash.
Earth is home to an abundance of diverse and distinct nature and wildlife. Every once in a while, we like to catch up on documentaries that shine a light on the wonders of our planet. If you’re on the hunt for your next documentary, you’re in luck! Today, we are highlighting five must-watch documentaries that truly showcase just how amazing our planet really is.
Chasing Coral
Coral reefs are some of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. Climate change is a significant threat to the health and safety of our world’s coral reef population. Coral reefs face threats brought on by climate change, including rising sea levels, warming ocean temperatures, rising acidity, runoff and pollution, overexposure to sunlight, and exposure to air during extreme low tides.
The 2017 documentary directed by Jeff Orlowski, Chasing Coral, is a beautifully shot film centered around a team of divers, photographers, and scientists set on recording the loss of coral reefs around the world. The film uses technological advances and innovative thinking to document the impact of climate change through coral bleaching. This documentary gives us a glimpse into the real-world consequences of climate change and brings awareness of how human actions impact our world.
You can access this film through YouTube or Netflix.
My Octopus Teacher
Octopuses are vital components of the oceanic ecosystem. They’re exceptionally intelligent creatures that can do some pretty cool things like camouflage their skin, use human tools, solve tricky puzzles, and so much more. But, just like coral, they’re not immune to the effects of climate change.
My Octopus Teacher is a tale of how filmmaker and founder of the Sea Change Project, Craig Thomas, immersed himself in nature and wildlife to help himself heal. After losing his passion for his work and having trouble with his mental health, Thomas decided to free-dive in False Town, South Africa. During his dives, he met and befriended an octopus, and the two formed an inspiring bond. This friendship helped Thomas develop a newfound connection and relation to nature and wildlife.
You can access this film through Netflix.
The Territory
Indigenous wisdom is integral to nature and wildlife conservation, climate action, and much more. Many Indigenous communities and cultures are place-based as they have cultural ties and place significance on particular natural sites. Because of this, those native to a particular area possess knowledge of the local flora and fauna that others may not be aware of.
The Territory, a National Geographic film, takes us to Brazil, where the Uru-eu-wau-wau people have been engulfed in a tenacious battle against the ongoing deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon. The Uru-eu-wau-wau people, native to the Brazilian state of Rondônia, fight to preserve their protected land from being burnt and cleared by illegal farmers and settlers. Using primarily on-the-ground footage, we get a new perspective on how devastating the consequences of deforestation really are.
You can access this film through Disney+.
JANE
Dr. Jane Goodall is a pioneer and visionary in wildlife conservation with a background in anthropology and primatology. She has dedicated her life to studying chimpanzees and is considered the world’s foremost expert on the topic. Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute, an organization dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and nature, furthering her passion for the chimpanzee. Goodall’s field discoveries and research can be deemed major and essential breakthroughs in the understanding of chimpanzees.
In this 2017 National Geographic film, we see never-before-seen footage of Dr. Goodall that tells the story of who Jane Goodall is. In a male-dominated field, Goodall did what no man could do: live among the chimpanzees and meticulously document their habits.
You can access this film through Disney+.
Night on Earth
Contrary to popular belief, many animals are nocturnal, but their nighttime habits often go unnoticed. Showcasing groundbreaking footage of wildlife at night, Night on Earth is a must-watch 6-part docuseries. Thanks to technological advances, this Netflix special satisfies our curiosity about what goes on when the sun sets in several different ecosystems, from the African savannah to bustling cities. You can access this film through Netflix.
You can access this film through Netflix.
We at OneNature firmly believe humans have an innate connection to nature. We need nature to survive, not solely because of the benefits nature provides us with but because of the effects nature has on our minds and bodies. Our connection to our natural world doesn’t just stop at nature; just as we’ve seen in the documentaries mentioned above, wildlife is an integral component of our world’s ecosystem. We have a deep connection with animals that we see not only with our pets but with our local wildlife. It’s crucial that we recognize how essential nature and wildlife are to our environment and our lives.