Conservation and Biodiversity
5 Crazy Documentaries that Will Help You Advocate for Endangered Species
October 31, 2025
On October 31st we revel in all things spooky, scary, supernatural, AND everything to do with lemurs! That’s right, it’s World Lemur Day!
At EARTHDAY.ORG, lemurs hold a special place in our hearts. Since starting the Canopy Tree Project in 2010, EARTHDAY.ORG has worked to reforest communities across the world, including in Ambatobe, Madagascar where 60,000 trees were planted to restore the forest. This regrowth benefits all species, but particularly lemurs, since 98% of lemurs in Madagascar face extinction, and habitat loss is a key factor.
However, lemurs aren’t the only species at risk; from cheetahs, to rhinos, to panthers, to manatees, to owls, thousands of species are reaching a critical point. Here are five nature documentaries that will help you better understand the threats facing endangered species and inspire you to take action to support their right to life.
Wild Connection (Kenya)
The cheetah, the world’s fastest land animal, is racing toward extinction. Its global population has plummeted from around 100,000 in the 1900s to 7,100 in 2016. Today, it’s estimated that less than 7,000 exist in the wild. Habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and the illegal exotic pet trade are the primary threats to these cats.
The short documentary “Wild Connection,” directed by Jack Zakrajsek, offers a hopeful glimpse into cheetah conservation efforts. The film follows Nick Kleer, a corporate worker turned conservationist, and his wife, Kristina, as they develop deep, personal bonds with cheetahs at Tiger Canyon Private Game Reserve in South Africa.
Though the focus is on South Africa, the film’s message about conservation is universal, connecting to the cheetah’s plight across Africa. In the documentary, viewers see Kleer’s unique rewilding approach as cheetahs acclimated to human presence are prepared for release into the wild. By showcasing the power of an empathetic connection between humans and wildlife, the film makes a compelling argument that we can be a positive force in species survival, reminding viewers that, like Kleer says, “If you can’t love it, you can’t save it.”
Path of the Panther (United States)
Having once roamed the entire South East, Florida Panthers are now confined to a tiny stretch along the Gulf of Mexico. It’s estimated that only about 200 panthers remain in the wild. “Path of the Panther,” directed by Eric Bendick, catalogues the efforts by photographers, veterinarians, ranchers, indigenous people, and conservationists to track and protect the endangered Florida Panther. Stunning images of panthers lightly springing over streams, recovering after hurricanes, and finally crossing the Caloosatche River (no female panther had been seen in this territory since 1973) captured by Carlton Ward Jr., a National Geographic Photographer, make a compelling argument to preserve the land.
The film also highlights tensions surrounding development in southern Florida. In 2020, a proposal for three new toll roads threatened to fragment wildlife habitat, ranches, farms, and spur residential development in previously wild areas.
One proposed road, the Southwest-Central Florida Connector, would have passed directly through Florida Panther habitat. Community opposition was swift, and while it might be a spoiler to say more, the film’s story of resilience, survival, and community is certainly worth a watch.
Saving the World’s Rarest Lemurs | In Her Nature Special (Madagascar)
Thought to be extinct in the 1970s, there are still fewer than 1,000 greater bamboo lemurs living in the wild. Considered critically endangered after their latest assessment for the IUCN Red List in 2018, these lemurs’ diets are 95% bamboo. As slash and burn agriculture, a farming technique that involves deforesting sections of a forest and burning undergrowth, continues to destroy lemur habitat, many bamboo lemurs are struggling to find enough bamboo to eat.
“Saving the World’s Rarest Lemurs,” an episode of the “In Her Nature” series on PBS, highlights the work of Maholy Ravaloharimanitra, a Malagasy conservationist. She works with communities in Madagascar to survey, protect, and preserve greater bamboo lemur populations and habitat.
A brief 22 minute feature, the documentary opens with picturesque images of lemurs peering out from trees in the Ambalafary Forest before focusing on Ravaloharimanitra’s community-centered approach to conservation. By helping Malagasy farmers learn principles of agroforestry, develop finance plans, and plan ahead for sufficient yields, Ravaloharimintara hopes to change community narratives around slash and burn agriculture. If you need an adorable lemur fix and an uplifting story to get you through a long week, this documentary is the perfect option for you.
The Last Rhinos: A New Hope (Kenya)
Devastated by poaching and habitat loss, the last male white rhino died in 2018. Today, only two female Northern White Rhinos remain in the world. With the females functionally extinct and unable to carry a pregnancy to term, preservation efforts for the species relies on a team of scientists who are trying to use in vitro fertilization to preserve northern white rhinos via surrogacy.
“The Last Rhinos: A New Hope,” directed by Katie Cleary, follows photographer Ami Vitale and a team of scientists and conservationists who work with the two surviving female rhinos at the Olj Pejeta conservancy in Kenya. This moving documentary chronicles the effort of the international BioRescue team to adapt cutting-edge reproductive technologies to the Northern White Rhino.
The film offers a hopeful, and urgent, look at how far science and humans are willing to go to correct a conservation catastrophe before it’s too late.
Burrowing Owls: A Love Story (North America)
The burrowing owl, a charismatic, long-legged bird that lives underground in abandoned prairie dog or ground squirrel burrows, is endangered in Canada and declining in the western United States, primarily due to habitat loss from development and agriculture. The number of breeding pairs continues to fall in Canada, where it’s estimated that only 270 breeding pairs remain.
“Burrowing Owls: A Love Story,” directed by Alan Lacy, follows the remarkable work of owl biologist David H. Johnson, whose groundbreaking efforts (quite literally!) have helped restore this endangered bird to parts of its historic range, particularly in Oregon. At one site in Oregon, Johnson has dug over 182 artificial burrows to help preserve the owl’s breeding grounds. Interspersed with touching images of an owl family fighting to survive the loss of their grassland habitat, this short film will have any viewer ready to fight for our changing planet.
Acting for All Species
These five documentaries reveal a powerful truth: the conservation challenges that species face are interconnected. Habitat loss, fragmentation, and human encroachment are global threats, but the solutions are often local, driven by community involvement, scientific innovation, and individual passion.
As EARTHDAY.ORG continues our mission to restore forests in Madagascar, for lemurs and other species, we are reminded that celebrating World Lemur Day on October 31st is about more than just a single animal; it’s a celebration of global biodiversity and the people fighting to protect it.
The stories of resilience and hope captured in these films can inspire us all. Whether it’s through supporting organizations on the ground, advocating for sensible land policies, or educating ourselves and others, every action helps.
Today, as extinction rates climb, consider supporting lemurs and other species by donating to the Canopy Tree Project and helping preserve the world’s forests.
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