Unwell leopards, orphaned rhino
calves, clever hippos and reluctant giraffes are some of the things the
Shamwari conservation team deals with on a daily basis, all of which and lots more
can now be seen in a 13-part Netflix series.
Called Shamwari Untamed,
the series provides an intensive behind-the-scenes look at what’s involved in
managing a 250km2 private game reserve, from ensuring there’s
sufficient vegetation for the herbivores to maintaining the balance between
predators and prey.
It also explores the difficult,
life-and-death decisions, on when to interfere and when to let nature take its
course.
Told largely from the
perspective of wildlife vet, Johan Joubert, and ecologist John O’Brien, the
series touches on nearly every aspect of managing the reserve. This includes
the work done at its Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, where sick, injured and
orphaned animals are patiently and painstakingly nursed back to health before
being released back into the wild, to the vital role of the anti-poaching unit
and the difficult and often dangerous work of the wildlife capture teams.
There are poignant moments,
such as the extraordinary bond a leopard called Sindile forges with John, who
later notices a deterioration in the animal’s health as she gets older. Sindile
was one of the first leopards reintroduced to the area over 20 years ago and
she reared four litters of cubs. Today Shamwari’s newest lodge is named in her
memory.
Other episodes capture the
tension inherent in dealing with potentially deadly wild animals. There’s the
night that Johan spends in a blind, with an insubstantial plywood door and hole
in the floor. While he waits to try and capture some very wily hippos, lions
prowl just outside his flimsy shelter.
Even the extras have their
moments, such as Patrick the sheep, who becomes the companion animal for a baby
rhino, orphaned when poachers killed its mother.
There’s also plenty of action
including mass game captures, with chase scenes involving helicopters and
vehicles, some of which go like clockwork and others where the wild animals
turn the tables on the capture teams.
Despite the hard work, long
hours, unpredictability, difficulties, dangers and often having to come up with
a spur-of-the-moment plan to save an animal’s life, John and Johan maintain
their sense of humour.
In one episode the two of them
have a narrow escape, when they are about to open transport crates containing
two apparently anesthetised lions. Fortunately, John – who describes his job as
‘keeping Johan alive’ – suggests doing a final check, and they discover the
lions are very much awake.
“Although Shamwari Untamed
was filmed a while ago, the timing of its international debut on Netflix is
apposite as it coincides with our 30th anniversary,” says Joe
Cloete, Shamwari CEO.
“It is the most accurate,
insightful and authentic depiction of the incredible work conservation team
does and now that it’s on Netflix people around the world with an
interest in conservation will be able to see what goes into making a project
such as Shamwari succeed.”
Shamwari Untamed can be found on Netflix
here: https://www.netflix.com/watch/81635518?trackId=255824129
