Eye of the Tiger
Over the past 100 years, 95% of tigers have been wiped off the face of the earth. The loss of tiger habitat has been just as dramatic. History has proven that poachers and big cats cannot share hunting grounds and both survive.
Scientist Tony Lynam from Bronx Zoo’s Wildlife Conservation Society, has come to Khao Yai National Park, central Thailand, to work out exactly how many tigers are left. Thailand is the heart of the Indochinese tiger’s habitat – but of the world’s remaining 5,000 wild tigers, possibly less than 300 remain. Tony sets cameras in isolated areas of forest and waits for tigers to reveal themselves. After three years, he has evidence of people, elephants, deer, wild-dogs, macaques, leopards and a single, large, male tiger. He has also found the prints of one smaller tiger. But with evidence of only two living tigers he does not lose heart. This is the incentive to work harder and faster at creating sanctuaries for whatever remains of wild tigers.
Tony believes the only way to do this is to get people out of the forest. In Khao Yai there are around 500 poachers working daily in the jungle. Thousands more rely on the riches which these poachers extract from the park. Many of these villagers once owned the land which was seized to create the park. They were never compensated for the loss of their land and have no alternative means of survival. Meanwhile, some of the world’s last Indochinese tigers exist in such low numbers they appear to have stopped reproducing. Kuman Prachobchan feeds his three children by poaching. He, and all his neighbours, have no education beyond their expert understanding of the forest. They take bag loads of the exquisitely scented ‘aloewood’ which sells for $900US a kilo. They also set snares and hunt to feed themselves as they work. The greatest and rarest prize for all is a tiger – worth its equivalent weight in cocaine.
Undercover agent and environmentalist, Steve Galster, is closing in on Kuman and his Bangkok dealers. There is no doubt that for both the tiger and the people of Khao Yai National Park, major changes are about to happen. For Kuman and his family, saving the tiger could be disastrous. Eye of the Tiger tells the story of modern conservation challenging ancient traditions. It explores the complexities involved in preserving a magnificent cat and the dwindling forest on which it relies. From the dense forests of Khao Yai to the bustling streets of Bangkok, we meet the people who all have an interest in the tiger. And watch how the people who most threaten the tiger, can become their most important defenders.
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reviews
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‘Delightful’
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"... already acknowledged as the world's most exciting visual and physical theatre company...the reason to go and see Stalker is the way they marry jaw dropping spectacle with real purpose."
"This is engaging and entertaining telly that also has something important to say"
"Set in WA, this is one reality series we all should watch."
"Setting this documentary apart…is the effort it makes to humanise the poachers and explain the circumstances which compels them to hunt."
"A dose of Reality TV without the hype"
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“The great achievement of Lobster Tales, a delightfully oddball WA-made documentary on the lucrative local crayfish industry ... strikes such a lovely balance between the lobsters and fishermen that it’s more like a well-wrought tragi-comedy than a traditional nature doco"
“Even for non-lobster-lovers, this quirky feature provides plenty of interest ... the highlight is the underwater photography by Leighton de Barros which is up-close and stunning."
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"This documentary never becomes bogged down in legalese and is a compelling tale of one family's devotion to their son"
"A remarkable story and a clever and affecting piece of storytelling"
"An emotional journey...unflinchingly captured on camera"
Koori queens proudly get out and about in this high-spirited and affirming documentary."
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"Considering the double whammy served up by homophobia and racism, Sissy insists on having a good time while handling thought-provoking material."
[Shaun Micallef’s] quest to discover if there is ‘‘greater purpose than being a semi-professional Australian TV personality’’ makes for a funny and watchable journey.
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"It's a compelling story and you made a compelling film out of it. Just terrific."
"A fascinating insight into the world of the night"
“Surprising, raunchy, hilarious, crazy! Expect the unexpected!”
"Puppetry most certainly is an art from and some of the performances here will take your breath away"
“I have been directly or indirectly involved in WDYTYA productions in the U.S., Canada and the U.K …I must say that this one [Andrew Denton's episode] of the very best I have seen”
"...it's the most engaging detective series in years"
"... surprising, extraordinary and often moving"
"A compelling, lovely adaption of an excellent British format"
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This series is fascinating and so well done...
(pick of the week)
"... explores the family histories of its subjects with class and humour. Verdict: A Hit."