Planet Earth Live Blog: Sri Lanka and the Toque Macaques

As part of our Planet Earth Live global event, here’s an exclusive post from Andrew Chastney, Director. Andy is in Sri Lanka with the ‘Temple troop’ of toque macaques, following the activities of baby Gremlin.

Andrew Chastney

It’s been an interesting few days here in Sri Lanka, the full moon (a ‘super-moon ‘I believe) is marked by a Buddhist festival, honouring the birth and death of Buddha.

Our location, the ancient ruined city of Polonnaruwa, is one of the holiest places in Sri Lanka and attracts thousands of visitors each year to its temples, but at festival times the number of visitors explodes! Continue reading

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Planet Earth Live: Elephant haven in Samburu

As part of our Planet Earth Live global event, here’s an exclusive post from Jasper Montana, one of our researchers in the Samburu National Reserve, Kenya.

Elephant calf. (C) Emma Napper – Photographer: Emma Napper

Samburu, where we are filming for Planet Earth Live, is a haven for elephants. A silt-filled river runs west-east through the red sand and scrubby landscape, acting as the lifeblood that draws the elephants into the reserve to cool off in the heat of the day. At the moment in Samburu, it is a time of plenty. It is the rainy season and afternoon storms fuel sprouting grass and budding acacias – food fit for an elephant king. Continue reading

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Planet Earth Live: Meerkats in the Kalahari

Cameraman Toby Strong makes a good look out point for a meerkat. Photo from Planet Earth Live team in the Kalahari, South Africa.

As part of our Planet Earth Live global event, here’s an exclusive post from Toby Strong, Witness Cameraman.

A week into our shoot and already there is a lot to tell. Myself (cameraman), Stuart (producer), Gianni (Edit Assistant) and Tracy (Editor) are based on the Southern fringes of the Kalahari Desert.

We are filming a group of twenty-five meerkats called ‘Whiskers’ led by Thunder cat and Enelie; the dominant male and female. Continue reading

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