New film 'Wild Hope: Rhino Ops' explores Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife's dehorning programme
A documentary ‘Wild Hope: Rhino Ops’, which premiered last week, showcases the work of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to embark on a massive programme to dehorn rhino in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The park, has in recent years, become a prime target for rhino poachers. However the dehorning programme has proven to be successful and last month Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife said there has been an 80% reduction in rhino poaching in the park.
The film came about when Ezemvelo invited Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) to document their rhino dehorning programme.
In a statement, NEWF said the project then evolved into a Wild Hope episode, after NEWF pitched the project to Tangled Bank Studios. It brought a crew of NEWF Fellows, from across African countries, on as the production team along with veteran filmmaker and Executive Producer of Wild Hope, Geoff Luck.
The film premiered on Wild Hope TV and on PBS Nature’s YouTube Channel, on October 6.
“This film, an African production being featured on a global platform, is a testament to our mission; to offer a platform where African conservationists and filmmakers can create stories that echo across the world,” said Noel Kok, co-founder and executive director of NEWF.
The ‘Wild Hope: Rhino Ops’ film was written, directed, and edited by South African filmmaker, Nathan Rice with veteran South African conservation and environmental storyteller and National Geographic Explorer Ntokozo Mbuli as assistant producer on the project.
NEWF said the film offers an intimate look at the daily challenges, innovative strategies, and deep commitment of those on the frontlines of conservation.
“For too long, African voices have been positioned on the margins of conservation storytelling,” said Kok.
“Our mission is to shift that lens – to show that we are not only protectors of nature, but also creators, scientists, and storytellers whose perspectives can redefine how the world understands and values our shared environment.”
Underscoring the importance of the film, Pragna Parsotam-Kok, executive director of NEWF and National Geographic Explorer said: “We encourage audiences across the world to watch the film, not only because it articulates the need to protect our rhinos, but also for the fact that it is an example of African excellence being brought to the world’s stage, in terms of conservation as well as filmmaking.”