National Geographic's 'Africa: Earth's Wild Home' Aims to Launch Seven-Continent Franchise
National Geographic's seven-episode 'Africa: Earth's Wild Home' took four years to film across nearly 30 African countries and is meant to launch a franchise covering all seven continents, Ars Technica reports.
The documentary features animals including chimpanzees fishing for algae, in what Ars Technica described as a rare example of primate tool use; a wild African black panther prowling for prey; an orphaned baby pangolin learning to climb on its own; and a green turtle rescued by local humans after laying eggs on a remote island and struggling to return to the water.
Each episode focuses on a specific African ecosystem, including jungle, desert, plains, mountains and islands. The series closes by spotlighting the scientists, photographers and National Geographic explorers whose work made it possible, according to Ars Technica. The final episode focuses on local conservation leaders and researchers working to preserve Africa's biodiversity for future generations.
Narrator Wunmi Mosaku, who has appeared in "Sinners," "Loki" and "Lovecraft Country," said she was honored to be asked. "I was incredibly honored that they even know my name at Nat Geo," Mosaku told Ars Technica. "It was wonderful to be asked to narrate the series, it means so much to me." She added that as someone born in Nigeria and raised in England, she takes opportunities to "reconnect and celebrate this incredible continent where life is so diverse and so extreme and beautiful and relentless and peaceful." She said she wanted to be part of the series "because it's a part of me."