Attenborough and Elephants - a great combination!
D. J. Nardi | Ann Arbor, MI | 07/07/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Readers of my reviews will know that I am a sucker for both David Attenborough and Elephants. I'm happy to see a good documentary that combines the two. This set is actually a combination of several documentaries focused on the elephants in Amboseli National Park in Kenya. Each episode was done at a different point in time, so you can actually see how Echo and the other elephants in the family grow up. Cynthia Moss, a top elephant expert, provides commentary along with Attenborough.
The second disc stars Saba Douglas-Hamilton, daughter of the famous elephant expert Ian Douglas-Hamilton. Her documentaries include a mix of elephants, experiences with locals, following researchers, and other wildlife. It goes beyond Amboseli into the Namib and other parts of Africa, which is a nice touch. My favorite scene on this disc is actually her attempt to radio-collar desert lions.
This disc is far superior to another documentary about Echo, Nature: Echo of the Elephants. First of all, it has Sir David Attenborough as the narrator, which makes a big difference (trust me, having seen both recently, I can attest there is a difference). Second, this disc has several episodes and over 5 hours of footage, whereas Nature: Echo of the Elephants only includes the first documentary (around 40 minutes).
Those of you interested in African Elephants might also want to check out:
The Elephant's Secret Sense: The Hidden Life of the Wild Herds of Africa
Elephant Reflections
Elephant Destiny: Biography Of An Endangered Species In Africa"
Echo- can re-echo over and over in my life
Amber Mullen | LA USA | 09/27/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A wonderfully written and produced series. Not only does it inform people about the life of elephants but can also teach us about life and the meaning of life. It can be used to teach children about family and the purpose of extended family, the sense of belonging to a group and the reality of belonging to something larger than oneself, the purpose of sacrificing the good of one for the good of the many, and the meaning of working together to insure the continuation of all of life of the group.
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