Episode Information

Of all the countries of Africa there is one that wears the wildlife crown: Namibia. But human settlements and industry are steadily swallowing the land where Namibia’s wildlife once roamed free. Even worse, poaching is on the rise. With the perils comes hope. Namibian government experts, biologists and scientists are developing simple, innovative strategies that are truly making a difference, especially for some of Africa’s most iconic and leviathan creatures – the elephant, the rhinoceros and the cheetah. Huge areas of land have been set aside for elephants and rhinos to roam free and secure under the watchful eyes of scientists, guards and volunteers. This human presence sends a serious message; poachers beware. Kunene and neighbouring Etosha National Park are now home to most of the remaining populations of these African giants. Hundreds of thousands of cheetahs were once found all over Asia and Africa – only about 7,000 animals remain. Around a third of them live in Namibia. But the cheetahs prey on livestock and the herders want retribution. Enter The Cheetah Conservation Fund: through research, intervention and compassion they diffuse potentially fatal confrontations between people and cheetahs. This film is a celebration of the people who are making Namibia a sanctuary for the giants of Africa and an intimate look at the majestic creatures they are fighting for.