Parsnip and her cub Pushki are the stars of the film. Our team tracked and documented their struggle for survival for an entire summer. Photo Brad Josephs
The moment we have all been waiting for is here! What is arguably the best bear documentary to date
has been released. the first episode aired last night in the UK, and episode 2 will air tonight.
In the US, Discovery Channel will air the episodes on May 12. Click here for tons more information, clips and images on the BBC 1 website here. This was one of the highlights of my career as I was given the chance to work with fellow bear lovers Chris Morgan, and Buck Wilde, and the greatest film wildlife crew in the world. Ill let the film and BBC website do the talking, as I am in China now in between two amazing Natural Habitat Expeditions that I will tell you guys about soon.
Hopefully the film will help show the world how special brown bears are, and encourage their conservation. Threats to their habitat loom throughout their range. In my opinion, the greatest threat to these bears is the proposed Pebble Mine. This mine would be catastrophic to the bears of the Alaska Peninsula. Bears are easy to fall in love with, and when we decide to conserve bears, we must conserve giant, intact ecosystems. To me, the words Grizzly and wilderness are synonymous.
We call this bear Van, because like Evander Holyfield, or Van Gogh, his ear is damaged. He is biggest bear I have ever seen in 17 years working in the Alaskan Wilderness.
A wolf inpsects Rolf Steinman’s Alexa Arri one morning as we were tracking the location of Pushki and Parsnip.
This was a magic moment as the wolf stared into our eyes. In episode 2 you can see the footage Rolf got during this encounter. It is a dreamlike sequence that sends chills down my spine, and reminds me of my all time favorite movie, Never Cry Wolf.
The speed, agility and power of these grizzlies is a sight to behold.
8 Comments
Thank you, Brad, for sending the incredible photos, and information about your experience out there! I envy you! Chris emailed me about the show and I sent the information to all of my “bear” friends. Can’t wait to see it! I saw your picture on Chris’s blog. How inspiring it must have been to work with all those dedicated bear biologists! Bringing this story about these magnificent animals to the screen will surely aid in their conservation. We are all counting on that! Job well done by all of you and thank you! Mary Ann
Hi Brad,
Love the photos. Looking forward to watching the show when it airs in May on Discovery. As you know, I love those bears too. Safe travels…..Bobbie
They are awe inspiring. They make an eloquent statement of the importance of wildlife and conservation. We should learn a great deal from the immediacy of their family life, their ability to protect, and train their children, their selfsufficiency and the power that they direct at the important life-sustaining acts that they perform everyday. For those of us who celebrate life, this film will be thrilling. You have made a classic. Hopefully it will get the coverage it deserves!
Thank you so much for making this wonderful programme about bears in Alaska! We already have seen it here in UK- BBC! I have seen several programs about animals, but none has been like this. This story about bears in Alaska doesn’t leave me for days and I am thinking about Pushki and Parsnip so often! It was so true waht was said in the film- humans are just like bears!! I watched it together with my fiancé and we were a bit disapointed it was only 2 one hour long episodes..so wanted more!!! Hoping so much there will be following episodes next year and Parsnip and Pushki will have survived the winter!
Fantastic programmes,loved watching Parsnip and wee Pushki fight for survival,Van is some bear!! Beautiful photos on your site,looking forward to seeing more adventures!!!
Watching the documentary now, Brad – WOW!! Just amazing footage. What an adventure, I can’t even imagine. Thrilling to see it.
I remember Van very well, with his ear. I think we were there with you as you took this photo, running after his fish, because we have almost the same. How’s Melissa doing, this time I mean the Bear.
The video is great, this is something else !! I had hidden my GoPro at a Vulture side, they were also very curious and start picking on it, really hilarious, it’s on my YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/AnitaGilden
Thanks and take care
I wish this documentary didn’t have to end. It was so full of information and the photography was gorgeous!