Stories in the Park

There is probably no better place to contemplate evolution, animal behavior, and conservation than Gorongosa National Park.  This is why we are developing these chapters for E.O. Wilson’s Life on Earth during this expedition.  The past few days we have been developing stories for each of these sections.  Yesterday we filmed Ed for a section on human evolution.  It was incredible to set this up on the edge of the floodplain surrounded by fever trees at sunset.  

A local butterfly visits Ed for a display of behavior. 

Morgan chats with Ed about the next phase of the book.

Today we focused on animal behavior.  Once again the biodiversity of the region lends itself to this topic.  Actually, everyday has been filled with stories of animal behavior.  Whether it is the conquest of an ant colony over a termite colony on the move, or a monitor lizard seeking out crocodile eggs along the river, this place is full of interesting animal interaction.   Great inspiration. 

Sunset after shoot; (l-r) Ed Wilson, Morgan Ryan, Bob Poole and Jay Vavra
(photo by Kathy Horton).

It has also been great to work with Bob Poole again.  Many around this project know his filming of Africa’s Lost Eden and the recent National Geographic release War Elephants.   Every trip is an adventure with Bob and his wife Gina riding in the elephant-proofed Land Rover with no doors or windows.  In terms of filming, he always knows when to shoot, where to shoot and how to shoot it anywhere in the Park.  He also makes every trip a good time.  Bob is a man of the bush.  Ed commented that Bob’s hell would be being forced to live in a high-rise in a major city being unable to leave that city block. 

Bob Poole wraps up the set on location near the Lion House.