Giving Nature a Voice

Bonobos - Our Closest Kin GNV-052

Part 2 of our journey to Salonga focuses on Congolese anti-poaching patrols and attempts to wean the local community from the bushmeat trade. In the dramatic conclusion of Salonga: Africa's Biggest Rainforest we focus on Congolese eco-guards and the recent controversy of how they deal with poachers. Rare antelopes, monkeys, and even leopards are all on the menu and unfortunately goods for the commercial market. Conservationists are also trying to wean the local community from the bushmeat trade by promoting a more sustainable way to survive. A film by Olivier Grancher, Katya Katondolo, Andrew Tkach, Patrice Citera. GNV-051 "

Salonga National Park is Africa’s biggest rainforest. Its surface is larger than Belgium, the Congo’s former colonial ruler. An estimated 80,000 elephants once roamed Salonga’s forests. After decades of poaching, only elephants 1,800 remain, but the forest is largely intact GNV travels to the heart of Salonga, to see how rangers and conservationists are trying to save this biological treasure. A film by Olivier Grancher, Katya Katondolo, Andrew Tkach and Patrice Citera. GNV-050

"What are the strategies employed by Watamu’s Turtle Watch to save endangered sea turtles: promote alternative livelihoods in an area that is severely overfished, pay fishermen who return turtles they inadvertently caught in their nets, clean plastic debris from beaches before it's ingested, and relocate turtle nests from heavily trafficked beaches to more secluded spots. It’s part of Turtle Watch’s comprehensive community-based conservation model. A film by Thuku Kariuki. GNV-046

Pangolins are toothless, gentle creatures that feed on insects using their tongue. Unfortunately for pangolins, their protective scales are made of keratin, just like the rhinos’ horns. Used in traditional Chinese medicine, pangolin scales command a black market price of $6000 a kilogram. Up to 2.5 million pangolins are trafficked to Asia every year, where their meat is also considered a delicacy. In Kenya, pangolins can be found in the Massai Mara, Tsavo, and Samburu reserves. But they won’t be around much longer if nothing is done to save the world’s most trafficked mammal. A film by Samuel Waweru & Humphrey Odhiambo. GNV-048

They have a fearsome reputation in Kenya, but crocodiles are now being raised by the tens of thousands for the international skin trade. The Tana River Delta’s traditional communities are allowed to harvest the eggs, which are then grown by Mombasa's and Malindi’s booming crocodile farms. But is the community benefiting from the trade, and who is looking out for the animals’ well being? A film by by Raabia Hawa. GNV-045

They have a fearsome reputation in Kenya, but crocodiles are now being raised by the tens of thousands for the international skin trade. The Tana River Delta’s traditional communities are allowed to harvest the eggs, which are then grown by Mombasa's and Malindi’s booming crocodile farms. But is the community benefiting from the trade, and who is looking out for the animals’ well being? A film by by Raabia Hawa. GNV-049

It’s one of the rarest antelopes in Kenya, uniquely adapted to its watery home. Splayed hoofs and a slick coat allow the Sitatunga to silently navigate through watery swamps and thick reeds. Because Sitatungas are so elusive, no one had managed to capture high-quality films of Kenya’s Sitatunga until this project. Sitatunga is shy and secretive and in great danger. Their future depends on protecting wetlands, which many Kenyans believe are just wastelands. Now one community in Nandi County is trying to protect the Sitatunga to safeguard their own economic future. A film by Margaret Wacera. GNV-039

The Mau Forest, the source of the Mara River, is under assault from deforestation and charcoal burning. Land hungry farmers and unscrupulous politicians are responsible for the degradation of the environment, with drastic consequences for both downstream communities and wildlife, especially in the Maasai Mara Reserve. Kenya’s government, conservationists, and tour operators have all realized the gravity of the situation. Will they come together to save the “8th wonder of the world”- the annual wildebeest migration, and stop the violence between rival communities of pastoralists and farmers? A film by Sheila Sendeyo & Robert Gichira, co-produced with NTV Kenya. GNV-038

Coral Reefs are one of the most bio-diverse ecosystems on the planet, hosting as many species as tropical rainforests. Their bio-mass is so high because of the variety of fish and algae they shelter. They also protect the coastline from destructive waves. But coral reefs are being degraded at an alarming rate from climate change, fishing, and pollution. Kenya’s Wildlife Service must find a way to reduce the stress coral reefs are subjected to while working with local communities to insure their survival. A film by Faith Musembi. GNV-042

Jim Nyamu has just walked 4000 km in a personal quest to save elephants. “Ivory Belongs To Elephants” follows his epic trek from Kenya to Botswana and his effort to raise the alarm that elephants face extinction in our lifetimes. While following the path of these regal mammals, Nyamu experienced both roadblocks and a big welcome from wildlife officials, rangers, and local communities in 5 African countries. The variety of his welcome is not surprising, considering that many southern African countries favor the sale of elephant ivory to fund their conservation efforts. It’s a policy adamantly opposed by Nyamu and Kenyan officials, who believe it will serve as a cover for the illegal ivory trade. A film by Jackie Lebo. GNV-040

Snakes are some of the most vilified creatures on earth, responsible for 900 deaths a year in Kenya. But they play a vital role in the rural environment by controlling the rodent population. Kenyan scientists say people and snakes can be better protected and that poisonous snakes are the only source of life-saving anti-venom. Travel to Baringo County which has the highest rate of snake fatalities in Kenya. Meet the snake scientists of Bio Ken Snake Farm in Watamu, who collect snake venom and respond to the public’s emergency calls to remove snakes from their property. A film by Maurice Oniang’o & Alan Oyugi. GNV-041

Food waste is one of the leading causes of climate change. Farmers in Kenya are lasting up to 50% of their harvest when their crops are rejected for cosmetic reasons or dumped because of last-minute order cancellations. Millions of tons of food waste end up in landfills and the decomposition creates methane. Food waste generates as much greenhouse gases as road transport and four times the level of aviation. Activists say this should not be happening in a country where many still suffer from hunger. A film by Marete Selvin and Cyprian Ogoni. GNV-043

Mount Kenya is a sacred place for the Kikuyus who live below its southern and western slopes. The people are agriculturalists, who make use of the highly fertile volcanic soil. They also believe that Mount Kenya is God’s resting place. This is a story about their worries as the rivers turn into dry furrows and climate change impacts the once mighty glaciers. The film also answers the most troubling question: “could this be the last generation to climb this age-old ice?” The answer comes from glaciologists who compare photos of the Lewis Glacier today with those from a 1912 British expedition to Mount Kenya. A film by Marete Selvin. GNV-036

The Indian Ocean is one of East Africa’s greatest assets, but sadly, it is under serious threat. Large-scale urbanization and population growth have created an environmental crisis, one major issue being that of waste management. This film seeks to address this problem by documenting the effects of untreated sewage on the ecosystem and the health of marine and human populations in the Mombasa city area. A film by Alan Oyugi. GNV-035

When the fishermen of Ras Fumba on Zanzibar Island discovered that their catch was rapidly decreasing they took action. Outsiders were ruining the marine environment by overfishing and the use of poisons and dynamite. With the help of the local government and international NGOs, they set up patrols on the newly created Menai Bay Conservation Area. Now visitors from around the world come to see how this local initiative conserved the marine environment. A film by Richard Magumba. GNV-034

In the 1980s, 155,000 giraffes roamed the African landscape. Today, estimates put the population at less than 100,000 - a drop of almost 40%. In some areas traditionally regarded as prime giraffe habitats, numbers have dropped by more than 95%. After the ban on elephant trophies, 40,000 giraffe parts have been imported into the United States, to make luxury pillows and cowboy boots. This film explores the steps being taken by dedicated individuals and organizations to preserve and protect this great animal. A film by Hassan Mugambi & David Kabiru. GNV-033

Cheetahs, the world's fast land mammals, are racing towards extinction. In 1975, 14,000 cheetahs roamed Africa. Today there are only 7,100 cheetahs left in all of Africa and only 600 in Kenya. The biggest reason for their decline here is the fencing off of Kenya's wild spaces. Uncontrolled development cuts off the wildlife corridors needed by this most endangered of the big cats. This is a story about the cheetah’s fight for survival as they leap into the 21st Century. A film by Teeku Patel & Amit Ramrakha. GNV-032

The indigenous Sengwer people have been hunters and gatherers in Kenya’s Embobut Forest and Cherengani Hills since ancient times. But unlike most traditional communities in Kenya, they were never given title to their land. The Kenya Forest Service has in the past tried to evict them from what is now a Forest Reserve. Violence erupted again in January 2018, when Sengwer herders were shot and killed. This story looks at the Sengwer’s struggle for land rights, exposes illegal logging by officials, and examines the challenges of inclusion when conservation and development collide with indigenous opposition. A film by Joan Kabugu. GNV-031

Pollinators are responsible for the production of various crops, fruits, fibers, medicinal plants, and the regeneration of wild plants. However, many farmers lack the knowledge to identify the beneficial insects from damaging pests. At the same time, indiscriminate use of pesticides as clearing techniques are contributing to their decline. There are serious implications in pollinator destruction for food security, livelihoods, human health, industries, and the global economy. This film showcases some of the pollinators and highlights how important it is for scientists and farmers to work together for conservation and better yields and incomes. A film by Martha Mutiso & Caroline Njoki. GNV-030

Almost every year the Nyando River in western Kenya breaks its banks and nearby residents are forced to cope with massive flooding. Entire towns are submerged and precious crops are washed away. In April 2017, catastrophic floods swept through Kenya displacing hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom were forced into makeshift refugee camps. But is the annual deluge a natural disaster or a man-made catastrophe? A film by Samuel Waweru & Humphrey Odhiambo. GNV-029