Channel 4 and Canada’s CBC have joined hands for a rare international natural history collaboration that will take viewers inside the world’s largest baby elephant rehabilitation centre.
Titled Baby Elephant School, the documentary project will follow the daily life and recovery of orphaned elephant calves at the Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Elephant Transit Home. The centre cares for up to 80 orphaned elephants at a time and has successfully returned more than 170 animals to the wild, many of whom have gone on to produce calves of their own.
The series will track the rehabilitation of 65 young elephants as they prepare for life back in their natural habitat, offering an intimate look at the challenges and triumphs involved in wildlife conservation.
Two separate versions of the programme are being produced for different audiences. The UK edition, commissioned by Channel 4, will be hosted by Welsh biologist and elephant researcher Lizzie Daly. Meanwhile, the Canadian version will air as a one-hour special on CBC’s The Nature of Things, presented by Anthony Morgan.
Baby Elephant School has already secured a pre-sale deal with Arte in France, underlining its international appeal. The project is being produced by Canada’s Serial Maven-backed Cantina Media in partnership with the UK’s Big Wave Entertainment, making it a rare factual co-production between the two countries.
Kirstie Mclure, head of Big Wave Entertainment, said: “From the outset, Baby Elephant School has embodied everything we stand for – access-driven storytelling, global collaboration and deep respect for the natural world.”
Julie Chang, executive at Serial Maven, highlighted the importance of international partnerships in bringing the project to life. “Projects like this come to life through creative deal-making, strong international partnerships and a shared commitment to getting bold, important stories off the ground, and we’re proud to be part of a co-production that brings together such an outstanding group of partners,” she said.
With its focus on conservation, rehabilitation and global collaboration, Baby Elephant School aims to shed light on the vital work being done to protect vulnerable wildlife while bringing audiences closer to the journey of some of the world’s most iconic animals.
About Author
Leave a Reply