Season 1
Saving a Species: Gorillas on the Brink is an American documentary produced for Animal Planet and Discovery Kids Media by Spectrum Productions as part of the Saving a Species series of documentaries, in which actress Natalie Portman travels to Rwanda's rainforest to learn more about the endangered mountain gorilla.
The documentary originally aired in the USA on Animal Planet on 26 October, 2007. It is an hour long.
Saving a Species: Gorillas on the Brink aired in South Africa on DStv's Animal Planet channel on Tuesday 22 April 2008, at 14h15.
Repeats
Tuesday 22 April: 21h00
Wednesday 23 April: 03h30
Synopsis
In this edition of Animal Planet's Saving A Species series, actress Natalie Portman journeys deep into Rwanda's rainforest for the adventure of a lifetime: she is in search of the mountain gorilla.
Deep in the mountain jungles of Central Africa, one of the rarest great apes, the mountain gorilla, wages a daily fight for survival. For decades their numbers declined because of habitat loss, disease, poaching and war.
With newfound stability in the country of Rwanda, this critically endangered animal has new hope.
But the mysterious killings of four critically endangered gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park, bordering Rwanda and Congo, in August 2007 sent shockwaves through the international conservationist community.
Animal Planet, in a twist of fate, was there shortly before and filmed a television special documenting gorillas from this region and their desperate struggle to survive.
Actress Natalie Portman partnered with Animal Planet to appear in the special as part of her travels to Rwanda in 2007. There, she witnessed firsthand the plight of the diminishing number of gorillas in the region shortly before the recent accounts.
Welcomed by the Rwandan government, Portman and animal icon Jack Hanna spotlight the gorillas – that so closely resemble humans – in an international effort to bring attention to their dire crisis.
Gorillas on the Brink is an intimate journey through the mysterious lives of these endangered primates.
“Meeting the gorillas is indescribable, and I was unbelievably honoured to be in their presence. It’s absolutely critical that we do something to save these beautiful animals. I hope the television special will help make the world take notice before it’s too late,” said Portman, who is a life-long environmental advocate and animal lover.
“The Rwandese people, their beautiful land and my experience with the gorillas have made a huge impact on me.”
Hanna, television personality and director, emeritus, of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, was Portman’s guide during the once-in-a-lifetime trek through a nation trying to heal and overcome its infamous history.
The two journeyed deep into the jungle to bear witness and learn more about these gentle creatures as they live, play and mate in their forested homes.
During their adventure, they meet a variety of locals and experts who paint a grave portrait of the gorillas future yet continue to make progress for their tomorrow.
Portman also took part in a gorilla-naming ceremony while in Rwanda and helped name an orphaned baby gorilla.
With less than 700 gorillas left in the wild, the documentary shows how the government and people of Rwanda are fighting to keep this revered population from diminishing even further.