“The Last Animals” is a documentary about an extraordinary group of people who are trying to save the planet’s last animals. Former war correspondent and photographer Kate Brooks follows the conservationists, scientists and activists waging war against illegal poachers and criminal organisations to protect elephants and rhinos from extinction. Production spanned four continents and was often undercover and within areas of conflict, but “the biggest challenge was doing justice to such an important story”, said US-based Brooks.
Animal genocide
Chad was once home to thousands of elephants but now only has about 1,000 spread across the country (Credit/Last Animals)
From the wilds of Africa to Asian markets—Vietnam, China and Laos are at the centre of trade in elephant and rhino horn—and the United States, the film examines global response to this slaughter and what conservationists are doing to try and bring the Northern White rhino from the edge of extinction. During the course of filming “The Last Animals”, Brooks and her team saw first-hand poachers halving the population of white rhino, which has no chance of reproduction.
As a global community, it is critical that we come together to close legal ivory and rhino horn markets and do everything in our power to end the illegal wildlife trade.
—Kate Brooks, photojournalist and director
Kate Brooks (Credit/Last Animals)
The extinction of these Big 5 animals is just a matter of time, and “The Last Animals” is a powerful and heart-breaking film documenting the violent and bloody battle against poaching.
Documentary premières and screenings
“The Last Animals” 2017 Tribeca Film Festival premiere on April 22 left audiences stunned into silence. The Hong Kong screening of the award-winning wildlife documentary premièred on September 5, 2017, at Hong Kong University, and was hosted by WildAid Hong Kong and the U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong and Macau.
Ecozine and Refined Travellers have previously written about other organisations involved in the conservation of elephant and rhino, urging people to support the complete ban of ivory products. Follow The THANDA Foundation’s KZN Project Rhino and the Gondwana Conservation Foundation (GCF) Rainbow Rhino Cape Pioneer Trek initiatives for more information on how to get involved.
“Think Globally, Act Locally: You Can Make a Difference”
Since African Parks assumed management of Zakouma National Park in 2010, an intensive anti-poaching program has been implemented (Credit/Last Animals)