Elephant Diaries is the title for a series of programmes that provide a unique insight into The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s (DSWT) elephant orphans’ project in Kenya.
First broadcast in the UK in July 2005, series one consisted of five 30 minute episodes and was a collaboration between the BBC and Animal Planet. Forming part of the BBC’s ‘Diary’ series, which has featured Big Cat Diary, Bear Diaries and Orang-utan Diaries.
The series’ subtitle ‘being orphaned is just the beginning’ captures the essence of the DSWT’s orphans’ project, which through the rescue and hand rearing of orphaned elephants, offers these innocent victims a second chance of a life in the wild.
Series One captured the heart of the nation, before becoming a global success for the series producers, winning a number of industry accolades. Importantly, it went some way to informing the public of the series threats facing elephants in Kenya and the tireless efforts of one charitable organisation, The DSWT, to help the species.
Series One of Elephant Diaries will be made available by the BBC in March 2008 and you will be able to buy it from this website at that time. Safe in the knowledge that you are buying the film from the DSWT, where all profits from the sale will be directed back into wildlife conservation.
This year, 2007, marks the completion of Series Two of Elephant Diaries, offering another five 30 minutes episodes and produced solely by the BBC. The second series takes viewers to Kenya, where the series presenters, Jonathan Scott and Michaela Strachan, catch up with old friends from the first series and meet new orphans now relying on the DSWT’s keepers for their survival. Series Two is now scheduled for broadcast in January 2008.
A valuable addition to Series Two is the inclusion of two other vital aspects of the DSWT’s wildlife protection work; anti-poaching and mobile veterinary support. Many of the orphan elephants arriving at the DSWT’s orphanage in Nairobi have witnesses their mothers killed by poachers for their ivory, while other elephants and wildlife require in the field veterinary care due to spear, poison arrow, snare and other injuries.
The Nature section of the BBC website contains programme information - www.bbc.co.uk/nature.