Taking a positive and generally light approach, Escape From Extinction: Rewilding takes an altogether hopeful viewpoint on what groups are doing worldwide – an easy and educational watch.

The Earth is rapidly approaching a sixth mass extinction event, with a quarter of all species under threat. But there is still hope. Armed with a radical new vision known as ‘rewilding’, follow the world’s top environmental leaders on a spectacular journey across six continents as they work to rebuild ecosystems, restore biodiversity, and transform lives.

While filled with warnings if the efforts currently going on worldwide are disrupted or ended, Escape From Extinction: Rewilding takes a hopeful approach. We are presented with the dire circumstances that humans have left nature as we continually industrialise our land and sea. Still, strikingly, Matthew R. Brady’s documentary wants to show us what we are doing to try and course correct and what fantastic actions are taking place to ensure species and habitats are revitalised and allowed to flourish from lions to gorillas and even sea otters eventually.

There is a multitude of methods for rewilding, like creating artificial boxes in trees for Macau to feel safe to breed in Peru. In contrast, the trees can only breed in growth and age appropriately. In Rwanda, a business concept has been in place. Making the animals there and seeing them as financial assets to the local communities due to tourism. Locals can take ownership in ensuring the growth of the animal population, and as the animals benefit, they benefit. From electricity to education, a better general way of living with farming, etc. By bringing the community to action, hunting lessens, and the animals can thrive along with humans, empowering them to be part of the solution.

The optimistic tone that Brady takes with Escape From Extinction: Rewilding is surprising, but it also allows audiences, especially younger audiences, to appreciate more about the work that is being carried out to further rewilding efforts. There are the odd lines that admit that eco-tourism is not the ideal concession in some of the examples presented. But, for now, it’s the best option to help invest in much-needed conservation.

Then, we get to the complex discussion of hunting. An example is given of the African elephants, who are struggling due to continually reducing land, destroying their habitats out of stress. So, is it better to ethically kill the older animals to keep the species alive? Or is it better to try and relocate them? It is these interesting topics, along with the role of indigenous communities in conservation and the ethical considerations of eco-tourism, that Escape From Extinction: Rewilding brings forth for audiences.

In addition, how conservation work doesn’t wholly utilise the local/Indigenous to keep parks or land safe for animals is a sore subject and one rightfully brought up. Capitalism in Latin America and Borneo for illegal logging and mining has taken dangerous levels, with Governments not overly able to support the indigenous people.

Escape From Extinction: Rewilding is an utter success of a documentary. It is so right to invest us in the efforts of conservation that you realise that not all documentaries need to venture down the dire and, although correct, fear-mongering approach. This style also works in spades. As one talking head notes, the work isn’t done; we are just getting started and damn if it doesn’t want you to try and help out in some manner. Afterall, wildlife should live in the wild.

★★★★

Support Us

I am but a small website in this big wide world. As much as I would love to make this website a big and wonderful entity. That would bring in more costs. So, for now, all I hope is to make Upcoming On Screen self-sufficient. Well, enough to make any website fees less of a worry for me in the future. You can support the website below…

Patreon

You can support us in a variety of ways (other than that wonderful word of mouth) and those lovely follows. If you are so inclined to help us out then you can support us via Patreon, find our link here! We don’t want to ask you much, so for now, we have limited our tiers to £1.50 and £3.50. These will, of course, grow the more we plan to do here at Upcoming On Screen.

Thanks for reading; every view helps us out more than you would think (we have fragile egos). Until next time.

Social Media

You can also support us via Twitter and Facebook Instagram and Blue Sky! by giving us a follow and a like. Every single one helps!