Exciting new local wildlife show coming to M-Net

Limpopo – M-Net has announced an exciting new wildlife show, The Wild Ones set to premiere on Sunday, 6 May at 15:00 on DStv 101.

The 13 episode series has a number of different stories with a strong local angle. 

The first episode focuses on the wildlife in the Philippines where the sixth season of Survivor: South Africa was shot, thereafter three episodes will focus on a rhino orphanage and five episodes will focus on The Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town with a behind-the-scenes feature.

The remaining episodes will have more of a traditional wildlife feel – one on whales, another at the De Hoop Nature Reserve and one in the Ivory Coast focusing on a rhino transfer.

Channel24 was treated to an exclusive screening of one of the rhino orphanage episodes at M-Net’s Local Content Showcase in Limpopo.

There wasn’t a dry eye among the media as we followed the amazing work volunteers are doing with orphaned rhinos. 

After the screening, Homebrew CEO Jaco Loubser and producer Josef Moller sat down for a Q&A session.

About the series Jaco says it is a sense of wonder kind of wildlife show; "Although these are environmental issues we focus on the pretty...the good side...and on the people who are making a difference.”

Jaco adds; "Most importantly it is South African stories. It is local stories on local television. The more you watch the more you will get to know the characters. There are animal characters that are coming to come out in the different episodes. And obviously the human characters who are the vehicles for these stories to come out. We hope that you will be really locked in and enjoy it."

ON CHOOSING THE STORIES

Speaking about how they went about finding the stories, Jaco says they usually go back to places where they have been before and with people they have had relationships with over many years.

"We don’t want to tell sensational stories. We want to try and tell honest stories. The stories are emotional so we don’t need to try and ham it up artificially. You don’t want to make things that people only react to. The brief was that it must be entertaining but also have a cause associated with it. On the social media side there will be a call to action," says Jaco.

He added; "We hope that people are entertained and have some kind of care for the people doing the amazing work and that viewers will have a a deeper understanding of wildlife."

(Photos: Channel24)