Babelgum - My Planet: ZED Documentaries

Jaglavak, prince of the insects

2008-03-11T15:05:23Z

In northern Cameroon, in the Mandaras Mountains, the Mofu live a unique relationship with insects, sharing with them their homes and cultivations.

Becoming a woman in Zanskar

2008-03-11T15:05:20Z

In the remote kingdom of Zanskar, in the northern Himalayas, Becoming Woman recounts the true and moving story of a friendship shattered by destiny when two young girls have to part and leave their village and their families forever... to become women !

Becoming a Man in Melanesia

2008-03-01T23:21:31Z

In Melanesia, we follow two young boys who must undergo their ultimate initiation quest to become men.

Becoming a Man in Africa

2008-03-01T23:21:31Z

In Africa, we follow two young boys who must undergo their ultimate initiation quest to become men.

Becoming a Man in Siberia

2008-03-01T23:21:31Z

In Siberia we follow two young boys who must undergo their ultimate initiation quest to become men.

Deadly Dance under the Sea

2008-04-17T12:01:29Z

Under the sea, a war rages, every creature is both predator and prey. This film covers the predation chain under water.

Rounding up Buffalo!

2008-03-01T23:21:31Z

We follow the story of three men, an Indian, a rancher and a cowboy, who have dedicated their lives to the survival of the American buffalo. Filmed in an amazing landscape.

Messengers of Sulawesi

2008-03-11T15:21:53Z

A long time ago, on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, a queen gave birth to twins. One of them was a varanus. The infant died at birth, but the varanus survived. A week later, he left and went far away from man. Since that time, the Bugis know that some varanus’ have an animal’s body but a human spirit. During the rainy season, Alhim lives with his family in a floating house, in the middle of Lake Tempe. His daughter is 4 years old. She is a varanus sent by Allah, and Alhim has to raise and to cherish her. But one day, his son Suardi breaks into tears : his twin sister has disappeared... To get her back, Alhim must go on a long journey to the kingdom of Goa, where a descendant of the former monarch lives. He is 34 years old. He has great powers, and he too is a varanus. Only he can bring Alhim’s daughter back and console Suardi...

Azalai

2008-03-25T15:01:10Z

The extraordinary journey of the Kountas nomads from the north of Mali, who travel 1500km across the desert every year for 40 days and nights to gather salt.

Balapan, Wings of Altai

2008-03-25T15:02:08Z

In the great plains of Mongolia, follow Khoda, a young boy, who learns to raise a baby eagle, a Balapan. If he succeeds he’ll be allowed to join the great hunts with his elders.

Guarani, the people of the Selva

2008-03-25T18:02:47Z

This film paints the portrait of Guarani, the last tribes of Latin America, as they struggle to keep their culture alive against deforestation and industrialization.

A Hospital for the King of the Skies

2008-03-25T15:01:02Z

In Dubaï exists a hospital at the cutting edge dedicated only to falcons. Discover this amazing facility where falcons are taken care of with the most up-to-date treatments.

Jungle nomads of the Himalayas

2008-03-25T18:02:45Z

A beautiful and poetic film on the Raji nomads of Nepal, who climb giant trees to gather honey for survival.

Komi, a journey across the Arctic

2008-03-25T15:02:02Z

A portrait of Komi people in Siberia. To feed their 5,000 reindeer, every autumn they have to cross the Urals into Asia, and return by the same route in the spring.

Mission Invisible

2008-03-25T18:02:35Z

The fascinating top-secret story of the largest Russian nuclear submarine a deadly weapon able to destroying any country in half an hour!

Project949, a nuclear submarine odyssey

2008-03-25T15:02:05Z

Based on unreleased archives, this film delivers the tragic story of the most famous and powerful Russian submarine: the Kursk.

The Reindeer People

2008-03-25T15:01:56Z

Filmed in the north of Mongolia, this is a story of Dukh, a nomad tribe that raises reindeer, and believes in communicating with the spirits of the forest.

The Sahara's Secret Garden

2008-03-25T18:02:32Z

Discover a garden of Eden in the middle of the Sahara desert : a forgotten mountain massif which shelters flora and fauna of breathtaking beauty.

Sea Soldiers

2008-03-25T15:00:50Z

This film recounts the true story of marine mammals who were captured during the Cold War and trained to become sea killers!

Great Desert Turf

2008-04-04T16:12:00Z

Djouri Bigué, a village chief in Niger, participates with his people in the grand dromedary race, in order to raise funds to continue the construction of the town school.

Mammoth Hunters

2008-06-10T16:01:56Z

Ever since the international ban on elephant hunting, Russia has cornered the market in ivory. But this ivory comes from mammoths; whose tusks, skeletons and sometimes even their preserved carcasses are constantly being discovered in the frozen earth of Siberia. Every summer, Russian businessmen and paleontologists set out on expeditions to these remote areas of the Arctic. Their goal is to find the frozen remains of mammoths in the Siberian permafrost. Ivory, or “ the white gold of the tundra ” sells for more than fifty dollars a kilogram and represents of market estimated at 2.5 million dollars and whose central point is Hong Kong. To supply this market, men obsessed by ivory travel long, arduous distances through the tundra year in and year out in search of a treasure imprisoned in the eternal ice…

Big cats

2008-03-25T18:02:42Z

Big cats have fascinated humankind since the dawn of time. Our ancestors, who could not equal their power and were sometimes prey themselves, believed they had supernatural powers: gods or demons, and sometimes half-human creatures, their mystery stems from our deepest beliefs. This program looks at the position of the big cat in the cultures of Thai Buddhist monks; the Indian Mati tribe; the African Masai tribe; and the Indian Sunderbans forest dwellers. Big cats were feared and worshipped in the earliest civilizations, from Ancient Egypt, to the Republic of Venice, and continue to fascinate us today. Some people in the West, evoking the initiatory riles of an earlier age, pit themselves against the felines, risking their lives. For the Indians of the Amazon, the jaguar is a civilizing hero, which transmitted its knowledge to man. Our ancestors may have held the same beliefs, when they drew images of lionesses in the Lascaux cave. Or perhaps they were paying tribute to the most powerful animal on earth—to this supreme hunter they tried to emulate.

Snakes

2008-03-26T12:00:23Z

Snakes are strange, dangerous and unpredictable animals. Man has never been indifferent to these mysterious creatures. He has sometimes hated and sometimes worshipped them. In Moslem and Judeo-Christian societies, snakes have been associated with evil and with the devil himself. In other cultures, they have been regarded as sacred messengers, or rain and fertility gods. This film enables us to discover strange rituals and ceremonies in which man still uses snakes in his quest to understand the great mysteries of the world. In North America, the Hopi Indians dance with rattlers. In India, snakes have their festival day, the Nag Panchami. In Burma, a priestess must kiss a terrifying king cobra in order to assure the survival of her village, and in Australia, the aborigenes still worship the great rainbow snake, creator of all things. Join us in a fantastic journey into the deepest recesses of the human soul, “ under the sign of the serpent ”.

Elephants

2008-03-25T18:02:37Z

Once upon a time there was the elephant, the source of all dreams. Worshiped as a God, or massacred for its ivory. A royal mount and loyal companion. But also a mountain of meat, to be killed for food. A unique bond has been forged between man and the elephant, one steeped in fascination and mystery. This program looks at the position of the elephant in the cultures of the nomadic Tuaregs of Mali; the Buddhist community of Sri Lanka; and its function as in the West as a war machine used by Hannibal during the Punic Wars, and as a special symbol in the Catholic religion. For many Africans, the elephant is a mountain of meat. Killing it is the only way to survive - and a way of proving one’s bravery for the Mandari in Sudan and the Baka in Central Africa. But the elephant – once hunted for its ivory - has been protected since 1989 and no longer has any direct contact with the local people. The only surviving link between man and elephant is among the Mnong, who live in Asia on the high plateaux in southern Vietnam. Because of their skills in capturing and training elephants, they are known as “ivory horsemen.” According to a Mnong legend, elephants have souls and are sacred, as they were once men.

Crocodiles

2008-03-25T15:01:42Z

In the two hundred million years since the crocodile first appeared on Earth, it has never ceased to fascinate and to frighten. Worshipped as a god or feared as a demon, it has inspired some of man’s most extraordinary stories, legends and beliefs. In ancient Egypt, one of the most powerful divinities was Sobek, the crocodile god. Still today, for certain peoples in Mali, Chad and Burkina, this reptile is sacred. For western societies however, the crocodile is first and foremost a symbol of terror. Massacred for his skin, he was threatened with extinction in the 1950s. Fortunately, certain populations quickly began to realize the key role the crocodile played in their own habitats. After a period of carnage came an era of overprotection. Reserves were created throughout the world. In the French city of Pierrelatte, visitors tremble, in total safety, at the five hundred specimens housed in the most important crocodile farm in Europe. Legends surrounding the crocodile have thus been revived all the way to Asia, in Papua, New Guinea and in Australia’s aborigine tribes. This unique reptile will continue to haunt our dreams and feed our imaginations for as long as man exists, and for as long as there are crocodiles.

Apes

2008-03-25T15:01:53Z

The extraordinary creature we know as the monkey has been an active participant in the adventure of our world since the beginning of time. The monkey's troubling resemblance to humans has left its mark on our imaginations, in addition to being at the root of a host of symbols and beliefs. This program looks at the monkey's position in the Hindu religion; in Indonesia and in India; in the African imagination; and it's key role in Egyptian civilization. In Western Culture, from the Middle Ages to the 19th Century, whether a follower of Darwinism and the theory of evolution or a die-hard believer in creationism, big monkeys continue to fascinate us. They are a source of inspiration and even at times, fantasy. They are also of tremendous interest to scientists who hope one day to solve the mystery of man’s closest cousins.

Sharks

2008-03-25T15:01:49Z

For a long time, the shark has been an important part of our imagination. In our western world, he is often considered to be evil, a marine monster capable of devouring us and who inspires a visceral and often irrational fear. He is a demon. In the eastern world, he is thought of quite differently. There, he is regarded in a less uniform manner. Feared or adored, and sometimes both at the same time, the shark is the incarnation of the forces of nature, or the spirit of tribal ancestors. He is a creator and a destroyer, he is a god. Why such a difference? This is what we are going to discover on a journey taking us from the Oriental to the Occidental world, through beliefs, legends and myths.

In Search Of The Giant Snake

2008-06-16T11:01:47Z

Kilo is a Dourou. He lives in Taboun, a small village of about a hundred inhabitants, lost in the middle of the huge savanna of northern Cameroon. This year, a bush fire destroyed a large part of Kilo's cotton crop. His eldest son, Gibi, who is eleven, has been promoted to a class in which the chalk and slate board he's used up to now have to be replaced by notebooks and textbooks. The only possibility for Kilo to meet this new expense is to capture a python and sell its skin. But the Giant snake is a feared devil… One needs a lot of courage and magic to confront him!

The Fish Of Gods

2008-06-16T11:01:40Z

In an isolated region in the west of Nepal, lies the land of the river people, the Rajis. They live on a day-to-day basis on the fish they catch and the gold dust they collect. One day, the goddess Kanyakumari threw a handful of gold dust into the river to thank the Rajis for helping her to cross to the other side of the river. The golden dust settled on the fish: and that is how was born the legend of the Golden Masheer. Fakir Bahadur, the chief of the Raji village of Ghatgaon, and his son go up the Karnali river in search for the golden masheer, the fish of gods.

World of the Punans

2008-06-16T11:01:26Z

Until the end of the 19th century, visitors came back with strange stories, which have since become legends, like the existence of a half man half beast, a ferocious, cannibalistic sort of humanoid with a long tail. Since that time, we have learned that human beings have always travelled through this primeval forest, a people known as the Punans.

Hassan Bai'ake

2008-06-16T11:01:49Z

In Kirghizistan, in the Tian Shai mountains, lives Hassan Baï’ake, one of the last eaglers of Central Asia. At 62 years old, he is still hunting with his predator, as his ancestors did more than 3.000 years ago. Recently, he finished training the bird he has captured a year ago, and will begin to hunt with him. It will be the opportunity for him to teach his grandson Azat the art of being an eagler. Together, high up in the mountains with Hassan’s eagle, they will venture on the trail of rabbits, foxes and even wolves…

Once Upon A Time In The Sunderbans

2008-06-16T11:01:38Z

Taking its sources from the most remote regions of Tibet and Nepal, the Ganges and the Brahmapoutre Rivers empty into the Gulf of Bengal, which separates India and Bangladesh. The last lands they cross form the largest delta in the world: the Sunderbans. Raton belongs to the Malos caste, the caste of the fishermen. They come from villages in the north, days away by boat. During the fishing season, they live on their boats for several months , far from their families. Raton is one of the last otter fishermen alive. In a region where ancestral methods of fishing are preserved, he helps perpetuate old and rare traditions.

The Messenger Of The Gods

2008-06-16T11:01:28Z

"The Condor, the condor ! ". With their faces swollen by alcohol and reddened by the cold, their eyes misty with tears, and their voices choked with emotion, only one word, "condor" is uttered when this great bird circles above their heads.

I-Kwan, The Mnong Child

2008-06-16T11:01:48Z

I Kwan is a Mnong. He has just turned ten.

Ta Peshala

2008-06-16T11:01:30Z

Kami is a young Mustangi from the Jomsom region of Nepal. An old Mustang tradition says that a boy without a horse is not a man. Although Kami doesn’t have a horse, this will soon be remedied, since his father has promised the boy that he can participate in the great race of Dzar. Kami and his entire family cross the Mustang mountains every year in the pleasant August weather. Their destination is Dzar, where the great horsemen’s festival is held to pay the tribute to the defenders of Tibet, the proud Campas warriors. Mustang horses are thoroughbreds with tremendous breathing capacity and incredible endurance. They survive in altitudes of more than 4,000 meters, and are accustomed to the high mountains. For the big race, the riders consult the horse healers, a wise and highly respected caste. These longhaired men are the Mustang’s veterinarians.

The Vampire Fish

2008-06-16T12:00:51Z

On the seas once crossed by Sinbad the sailor, the Bajun people have practiced an extraordinary technique for centuries: remora fishing.

In The Shadow Of Ganesh

2008-06-16T12:00:52Z

My name is Dependra Gaja. My title is royal elephant, because I am the biggest and the most respected of all the elephants in Nepal. Men think that I am the embodiment of Ganesh, the Hindu god with the head of an elephant. Dhoraï, my servant is a Cornac. With him, I go through the jungle of the Chitwan reserve, and I help prevent wild animals from threatening Tharus villages. The Tharus and the animals were the first to live on the Teraï plain at the foot of the Himalayas.

Sunderbans.... The Honey Or The Tiger

2008-06-16T11:01:34Z

“ Sunderbans ” means “ beautiful forest ” in Bengali. It is the largest mangrove in the world, irrigated by the arms of the Ganges in India, just before the sacred river plunges into the waters of the Gulf of Bengal. Located a hundred kilometers south of Calcutta in western Bengal, Sunderbans is a strange land of murky waters and forests teaming with wildlife. In order to gather the wild honey of the giant bees coming from the Himalayas, the men must first pay homage to the gods of the forest, and more importantly, avoid running into the master of the woods, the dreaded man eating tiger… !

Sacred Rite Of Fishing In Entogo

2008-06-16T11:01:37Z

In Dogon country, the dry season is rugged and water very rare.

The Friend of the N'Dorobos

2008-06-16T11:01:29Z

In the south of Kenya every year, when everything is in blossom, the N’Dorobos go through the bush in search of honey. Their strange ally in this search is the “euchoshoroi”, a bird that has led them to the precious nectar since the beginning of time. Kiloussou is an N’Dorobo. He lives near the Masaï Mara animal reserve. Along with his father, M’Zegobe and his young nephew Kisset, he leaves for the forest looking for honey. For Kiloussou’s people, honey plays a vital role. It provides food and the means to obtain cattle, but it is especially used to make a beer which is the focal point of all of the tribe’s important rites. In the heart of the bush, Kiloussou and M’zegabe call upon their guide bird, which immediately responds and leads them to a tree. Actually, the bird’s cooperation with the N’dorobo is not selfless. Once the honey has been removed, the bird can eat what it likes best without fear of being stung: the wax and the larvae which the “ hunters ” let fall on the ground. Thanks to their faithful ally, Kiloussou and his people can soon return to the village to celebrate their abundant harvest.

Mahi Mahi Hunters

2008-06-12T16:01:09Z

Mahi Mahi is a delicate and expensive fish, as it’s capture is difficult and rare. In Rangiroa, in the Polynesian Archipelago, Guy Boisson has discovered an unsual and spectacular technique to capture Mahi Mahi... Thanks to a special boat built for its needs, he is surfing the waves, racing the Mahi Mahi that he then harpoons . On good days, he catches more than 40 of them. Guy is considered as the best Mahi Mahi hunter of the Archipelago. His fishing exploits have gone down in island history. Not only has he mastered the techniques of his ancestors, he's taken them one step further. He once caught forty-two Mahi-Mahi in one expedition. Fishing Mahi Mahi is a delicate operation that requires split-second timing, speed and precision. Mahi Mahi are surfing fish, they cut in and out of the waves, speeding up and slowing down... Guy chases them with a speedboat and harpoons them one by one. Thanks to his great talents, Guy has helped raise a small local economy. Tourists come from around the world to enjoy the island delicacies.

The Fishermen and The Saints

2008-06-12T17:01:17Z

In the Caribbean area, the waters around the “Saints” are known to be full of fish. So it's not surprising that fishing is one of the archipelago's principal activities. Over the years, the Saint fishermen have acquired the enviable reputation of being the most skilled in the Caribbean. Here, the ocean is omnipresent Jean Claude and Philippe Maisoneuve consider fishing as a real job and not an adventure... The fishing methods they use are both traditional and natural: no radar, no sounding line, just them, the sky and the sea. We follow them on an impressive fishing expedition that lasts for several days, following a school of tuna fish. The goal is to keep the school at the surface of the water, and while some men dive in to the water to frighten the fish, the others throw a large net capable of supporting several tons of tuna.

Yadav, The Last Refuge

2008-06-12T16:01:01Z

Yadav is a Tharu. He is 35 and lives with his family in the Teri plain, South of Nepal. In his tribe, called Tharu, for generations, people have learned since childhood all about the animals and the beliefs of the Nepalese jungle. Thanks to his knowledge of animals and his incredible bravery, Yadav has quickly become the most famous guides of the Chitwan reserve. Riding on an elephant, he guides the veterinarians to sick animals that only he can locate thanks to their tracks. The “Unicornis rhinoceros” is one of the animals that needs most care, since it is often hurt in fights or by human attacks.

Tisno, Game Warden

2008-06-12T17:01:09Z

Nature, at the end of our century, has become a very precious treasure. Tisno is the youngest chief game warden in Java. He is 25 years old. As a qualified botanist, he lives among the animals on the island of Andelum, the richest and most famous Indonesian island. Equipped with small means and only a rowing boat, the “Bateng”, he is in charge of protecting one quarter of the reserve as well as the nearby waters regularly plundered by the numerous poachers of the area.

The Stockmen of Grand Caillou

2008-06-12T17:00:45Z

In New Caledonia, Hilaire is a stockman. Like many New Caledonians of European decent, he has embraced the Australian breeding methods... Hilaire is part of the Ateu tribe whose land stretches out over several thousand acres of dense forests and rolling pastures. The cattle are free to roam on the edges of an immense mountain range that stretches out from the centre of the island. The wild nature of the cattle does not make grouping them together an easy task. But with the help of dogs, Hilaire manages to bring back even the wildest livestock. Rodeos are organized every year and stockmen compete to see who has the most finesse and strength, in a sport that necessitates as much acrobatics as talent. The Stockmen of New Caledonia live up to the their legendary reputation in a passionate adventure.

Porcelain Crawfish

2008-06-12T17:01:04Z

In the south of New Caledonia, the Island of the Pines is the most meridional area of Melanesia. For centuries, Vao tribesmen have been diving down to the ocean depths in search of just one thing: porcelain crawfish. The bolder, more adventurous members of the tribe usually carry on this fishing tradition. The bay's seductive beauty and turquoise water can be deceiving: deadly vipers, tiger sharks and other predators swim around in the lagoon and can attack fishermen. Each new dive into this strange and fascinating marine environment requires courage and agility. Joachim and Nasser are porcelain crawfish fishermen. While one catches crawfish with his bare hands, the other uses a spear gun to hunt larger fish. Fishing is their livelihood. And, although they're confronted with danger every time they go out to sea, it's one of their greatest pride and pleasures. Some porcelain crawfish can attain three feet in length and can weigh up to thirty pounds! The brothers only have one hour to bring back as many as they can…

The Shark Fin

2008-06-10T17:01:04Z

Between Java and Sumatra, shark fishing is very popular. It is a treasure hunt for fins, the “white gold” of the Sunda strait... As a matter of fact, Shark Fin is one of the most delicious and expensive ingredient in Chinese gastronomy, and Sawa has been hunting this treasure for over 40 years with his two sons. Through his story and his spectacular fight with a 500 kilos “Big White”, this episode will recounts the importance of Shark Fin in both Chinese gastronomy and business.

The Last Wayana Hunter

2008-06-12T17:01:16Z

Wayanas are American Indians of Caribbean origin. They live in the immense tropical forests of Guyana, in South America. Hunting is still the main ressource to feed the village. The Wayana hunters know and respect Mother Nature because they are part of it. They don’t hunt out of pleasure, but out of necessity. Mimisiku is without any doubt one of the last Wayanas hunter. Leaving for overnight hunts along the river, he catches crocodiles and other wild game with a lasso... The Wayanas were the first inhabitants of Guyana and now, they're the last of a vanishing culture. Since the region is developing and getting more industrialized, children are compelled to go to school and get an education to decide the course they wanted their lives to take. Classes are given in the mornings while afternoons are reserved for games and hunting. Ancestral knowledge was once important to each and every Wayana. Today, many prefer watching television and will later leave for the city to find a job. Those who stay, leave a glimmer of hope for survival of the Wayana's culture.

The Cocks of Pilot River

2008-06-12T17:01:18Z

Cock fighting in the West Indies is as popular as horse races in France, USA, or Hong Kong... In Martinique, as in societies worldwide, men base their identities on the customs and traditions of their community. Here on the River-Pilot farm, the men of the region abandon themselves to their most singular passion: cock fighting. Taming roosters is a long and careful preparation, that will allow the best fighters to go through 20 fights before retirement. Here, roosters are bred, raised and transformed into demigods. Breeding methods are anything but ordinary. These volatile birds are treated with painstaking care and precision. Their feathers are cut in a unique manner; they are the focus of fierce rivalries and almost ritualized attention. Men often compete with each other personally through the birds. More is at stake than just money. For many, victory represents honor.

The Cowboys of Ua Huka

2008-06-12T17:01:15Z

Ua Huka is an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, part of the Marquezas, a string of islands that forms a pearl necklace extending from one end of the archipelago to the other. Teikehee is from the village of Vaipee. He owns and oversees the largest herd of wild horses on the island. Although the horses live in perfect freedom, their development must be closely monitored.

Fundi Sharks

2008-06-12T17:01:13Z

Madi and Sudjail ar not ordinary fishermen. On the island of Mayotte, they are considered as a “Fundi Shark”, literally : masters of shark fishing. While Madi fishes on a canoe using ancestral island traditions, Sudjail is better equiped, with a motor boat and large chains to capture the heaviest sharks. The island of Mayotte is located halfway between the Northwestern tip of Madagascar and the African coast. This small French territory is part of the Comoros archipelago, and lies poised on one of the world's largest lagoons where fisherman catch tiger sharks, hammer sharks, or dagsit that can measure up to four meters in length and weigh up to several hundred kilos. Shark fins are to China what fois gras is to France. A subtle ingredient used in very refined gastronomy. The renowned 'sharkfin soup' is an important part of any traditional Chinese banquet. On the Chinese market fins are sold for $400 per kilogram.

Turtles of Sazily

2008-06-12T17:01:03Z

The “Green Turtles” are the treasure of Mayotte, located a few miles off the northeast coast of Madagascar. Hunted down by men, they have almost disappeared. But they found a guardian angel in Ali -the protector of the “Green Turtles”- and a heaven in the lagoon of Saziley... Ali is a scientist who studies Saziley turtles, these "angels of the sea”, survivors from another geographical time, and contribute to the magic of the site. All year round, he keeps track of every turtle of the island, where they lay eggs, when they go out to sea, … Today, the turtle is protected and it is illegal to hunt it. Ali’s job is also to patrol he lagoon in search of poachers who would sell turtle’s meat and carapace for a high price on the black market. A beautiful love story between men and animals: thanks to Ali’s passion, the number of “Green Turtles” in Saziley is increasing every year.

The Scented Sailboats

2008-06-12T16:01:10Z

In the Indian Ocean, the Comoro Islands is an archipelago that stretches between the oriental African coast and the island of Madagascar. For centuries now, Comorian sailors have used little Arab boats called boutres to navigate towards the Red Sea. These four islands are enchanting to see but are equally seductive to smell. Cloves, nutmeg, Ylang-Ylang, and vanilla travel from island to island before being exported. The numerous spice plantations have won Comoros the nickname of "the perfumed archipelago". Discover the local economy and the traditional methods of treating these world famous spices known throughout the world.

Teuira, the man who talks to sharks

2008-04-17T12:01:30Z

Teuira lives in Bora Bora as fisherman. He has learned everything from his father. This fish enclosure is inherited, passed down from generation. There are only three left on the island. It seems that Teuira is not the only one fishing here today.

Crocodile dreams

2008-03-01T16:42:01Z

Australian aborigines consider children’s dream to be messages about the future, sent by the spirits. Ombee is a young aborigine of the Kidja tribe, and he has dreamt about a crocodile. The initiation time has come, and the old Jerry will explain to him that he will have to challenge a crocodile to become a man. Together with his uncle, he will leave for a long journey to learn how to survive in the bush and, at last, how to confront the crocodile...

Black Island

2008-03-01T23:21:31Z

Ambryn - one of Vanuatu’s forty islands - is the black island, an island of volcanoes and magic. This island is volcanic, and its coasts sink deeply into the waves. In the past, fishing here was very difficult. But thanks to a reel that he has fixed on his pirogue, Koran can fish for vivanot, which live between 200 and 300 meters deep. But by using this new technique, Koran penetrates the unknown parts of the abyss, haunted by the Yarimus spirits. To get their approval, he will need the sorcerers’ help...

Tanna Magic Stones

2008-03-04T15:09:25Z

On the island of Tanna, every year, people from the sea and people from the land exchange the magical powers of a turtle against those of a pig. Thanks to this ancestral rite, peace and harmony reign supreme over this small island of the Vanuatu archipelago, in the south Pacific. This year, Hveuk has been given the task of fishing a turtle, and bringing it - alive - to the land village. But first, he will have to learn from his father the secret of the magic stones : thanks to their power, he will be able to find and to capture the sacred turtle...

The Wings Of The Sea

2008-03-04T15:08:41Z

In southwestern Madagascar, the shores of the Indian Ocean are home to the Vez, a nomadic sea people. Jean Louis is one of the greatest shark fishermen of his tribe. Together with his family, he has sailed to Be Angolo, a fishermen’s camp facing the shark. But despite his net, he hasn’t caught any sharks... Diliemo, an old and wise keeper of Vez traditions will then recount him the legend of the guitar-shark : to catch sharks again, Jean Louis will have to respect the pact his people and the guitar-shark concluded long ago...

Tika Pana Pana

2008-03-04T15:09:23Z

In the Societe archipelago, on the island of Huahine, bonito fishing is a man's affair. Tika Pana Pana is an extremely physical kind of bonito fishing, which consists of striking and then quickly removing the fish from the water. Armed with their longest bamboo poles and guided by the birds, fishermen launch their floating nacres at these legendary Polynesian fish. They must constantly check the fish’s speed and the direction in which they are going, so as not to lose them. In less than half an hour, they can catch over a hundred bonitos...

waves gold silver

2008-03-04T15:08:55Z

A long time ago, Rua Hatu, the god of the sea, gave Polynesia a wonderful treasure : gold and silver colored fish. Once, a man who had nothing, not even enough to feed his family, was on the verge of total despair. He then remembered the traps he had inherited from his ancestors : old traps made of stone, too old to be of any use. He looked at all the traps and saw waves of gold and silver colors. There were a hundred fish caught in the traps. He understood Rua Hatu’s message and went to tell everyone that no man must ever destroy the traps, because they could save man from famine. Today, in Huahiné, in the Société archipelago, six traps are still active. Only three families continue to use them.

The Quest of King Lambo

2008-03-01T16:42:00Z

In the thick forests bordering the Mangoky River, in southwestern Madagascar, live the Bara. These semi-nomadic forest people, with secular traditions, share their territory with an animal of a thousand legends.... the lambo, a wild boar considered to be king of the forest. To demonstrate his courage and to make sure that his descendants will have the necessary qualities for surviving in the forest, a man must bring to his wife the feet of a lambo before the end of her pregnancy. That is why Doula has come to see Naouda, who is the best hunter in Mangoky country. Doula’s wife is going to give birth soon, and Doula must bring her the feet of a lambo, in order for the child to have the qualities of the most powerful animal in the Mangoky forest...

Wings of fisherman

2008-03-04T15:08:48Z

Wapo is the traditional chief of the Aikawa, the oldest tribe on the island of Santa Catalina, in the south of the Solomon archipelago. Every year, in June, he goes kite fishing in the waves of the Pacific Ocean. This year his young nephew Jay has been designated to follow Wapo's footsteps and perpetuate the legend of kite fishing. And that is why Wapo teaches Jay how to make the bait with a spider web and to build the kite with leaves collected in the forest. Wapo then shows his pupil how to let the kite reach its flying altitude and, at the same time, how to control the line, so that the bait is carried by the kite, and skims the crest of the waves. If he lets it drag in the water, the fish won't be interested. Jay will need many years of experience before becoming a great fisherman like Wapo, but he is already beginning to master all the elements of kite fishing. Wapo is delighted. He is now sure that when he goes to join the spirits, Jay will become the new owner of the legend, and will keep the custom alive.

Firebird Rio Maximo

2008-03-01T16:42:00Z

Fefo is responsible for the Rio Maximo reserve in Cuba, where thousands of pink flamingos arrive at the end of June from Colombia, Venezuela and all the Carribean islands, to reproduce in what has become the largest nesting zone for Caribbean pink flamingos. Along with his men, Fefo has created this reserve to shelter young flamingos abandoned by their parents during the great migration, either because they were born too late, or because they were too weak to travel. To capture them, they have to reach the flamingo city, deep in the heart of the reserve. Once the birds are surrounded, the men have to herd them back to the enclosure where they will be raised and cared for during two years. Then, when they will be strong enough, they will be released in the wild...

Crocodrileros

2008-03-01T16:42:01Z

Years after the Cuban revolution, as Fidel Castro was flying over the swampy region of Zapata, he landed his helicopter in order to talk to the crocodile hunters, the cocodrileros. He asked them to help them save the rombifer, a Cuban crocodile, symbol of the country, and a vanishing species. At that time, Eusebio and Ruben were young hunters. Today, these Hemingwaylike personalities devote their lives to the capture and protection of the same animal they hunted for years. During their frequent missions, cut off from civilization and armed only with machetes and lassos, they inventory, study and look after their crocodiles. To capture the rombifers, they use the lasso technique, which requires skill and strength : a bait is used to lead the crocodile's head into the slipknotted lasso, attached to a stick long enough to anticipate any attack by the animal. But crocodiles do not surrender easily...

Men of big rock

2008-03-01T16:41:59Z

Futuna is a small and sparsely inhabited island in the south of the Vanuatu archipelago, where lives Roland, in the village of Harold Bay. Like the other two hundred people living in Futuna, he has adjusted to a very hostile environment, as the island has many steep cliffs of different levels. Roland’s son, Renaldo, is now old enough to learn the ways of his people, traditions created for survival on the island. They consist of farming, building houses and also fishing. Very soon, flying fish will be present near the Futuna coast, and it will be time to take out and repair the necessary equipment.

Dinga dinga season

2008-03-01T16:42:00Z

The ocean swarms with animal and plant life. For centuries, some species have been greatly sought after by man. Among them is a peaceful, inoffensive animal which has become one of the great food delicacies of Asia. Men go out further and further from shore in search of it. Challenging their physical limits, they dive deeper in order to snatch the sea cucumber from the sand. This is Madagascar, where the sea cucumber is called the dinga-dinga. Amad belongs to the Antakaran people. In the village, he is called Amad « the diver ». When the dry season arrives, he takes advantage of the wind shifts to go out to the sea for diving. But diving is dangerous, and the medium of the village consults the ancestors to ask for their protection. If the fishing is successfull, the dinga dinga will have to be prepared before the merchant comes.

Pearl Diving (Aru archipelago, Indonesia)

2008-03-26T15:00:32Z

Babar lives in Kodjabi, one of the many villages of the Aru Archipelago in Indonesia. For centuries, Aru pearls have been renowned for their purity and their beauty. They are the most precious resource of these remote islands and, from September to November, Babar dives for oysters, using a traditional, ancestral method. These oysters are then sold to specialized farms, where a delicate operation is performed. They are then gathered together and permitted to age peacefully in the water and produce pearls. In his quest for pearl oysters, Babar is perpetuating a legend. The mother of oysters is found again and again, bringing peace, prosperity and fertility to the islands.

Sacred Yak of Mani Rimdu (Nepal)

2008-03-26T15:00:27Z

An old Himalayan legend recounts that long ago, a young hunter was fatally wounded by a bear. To save him, his father decided to offer, as a sacrifice to the gods, the sacred animal of the Sherpa people, the white yak. The sacrifice took place during a religious feast called Mani Rimdu and, according to the legend, the young Sherpa was saved. Pfou Tchotar is 77 years old. He was born in the Khoumbou, in Northeastern Nepal. Soname, his youngest grandson, is ill. Pfou Tchotar has tried everything, but he cannot bring the fever down. Pfou Tchotar then decides to go and get Karsang, his white yak, and to offer him to the gods. It is his turn to save Soname.

Sacred Crocodiles of Lake Anivorano (Madagascar)

2008-03-26T15:01:28Z

Zance’s dream is to become a sailor. But buying a sailboat costs a lot of money, and without the help of his ancestors, Zance will not succeed. Together with Jinoro, his grandfather, Zance will return to the village of his forefathers, near the lake Anivorano. The journey to Anivorano will be long for them. But when they arrive, they will sacrifice a zebu to the crocodiles of the lake. If the spirit of their ancestors accepts the sacrifice, the crocodiles will leave the lake and climb onto the bank. Only this would mean that Zance could become a sailor.

Sacred Flamingos of Lake Bhamke (India)

2008-03-26T15:00:38Z

A long time ago in India, to escape the Moslem king of Jaisalmer who fell madly in love with her, a Rabari princess named Nira changed into a pink flamingo and took refuge in the center of the Kutch desert. Ever since that time, there has been very strong ties between the flamingos and the Rabaris. As his daughter is about to get married, Dayan will have to go to the center of the desert, and to pray to the godess Nira. He will have to make a long journey on his camel to reach the sacred lake of Bahmkhe, where the princess took refuge centuries ago...

The night of silver helmets (Taïwan)

2008-03-26T15:00:58Z

A long time ago, guided to the shore by strange fish, the ancestors of the Yami people reached the Orchid island, 60 kilometers from Taiwan. There, shipwrecked, a treasure awaited them. With the metal coins from this treasure, the Yamis forged their helmets. Their own reflections in the metal, symbolized the silver bodied fish that had shown them the way to this island refuge. Still today, so as not to forget that first day, they seek out the flying fish, and relive the night of the silver helmets.

The Riders of Sumba Island (Indonesia)

2008-03-26T15:00:37Z

On Sumba island in Indonesia, close ties have always united men and their horses in memory of their ancestors. A long time ago they reached and settled on Sumba island, riding their winged horses. Nowadays, to commemorate their ancestors and their warrior past, the bravest men participate each year in the Pasola. The Pasola is a real battle during which two mounted teams chase and attack each other with spears. This year, Herman will participate in the Pasola. Together with his friends, he will have to prepare his horse to the combat.

The Salmon People (Canada)

2008-03-26T18:00:23Z

On the Queen Charlotte islands, off the northwestern coast of Canada, live the Haïda Indians. Every summer, thousands of salmon come to their shores to spawn and to die. But for many years, fewer and fewer of them have crossed the Pacific Ocean and come up their rivers. Perhaps this is a warning. Have the Haïda forgotten how to respect the salmon? Have they forgotten what they owe to the past, to the land and to the animals? Keurthland has not forgotten anything. That is why, just as his ancestors did, he decides to go up the river and tell the salmon that his people know what they owe to them. He will not be alone, the eagle will show him the way. The salmons must return to Haïda Gwaii.

Soul Bearers (Indonesia)

2008-03-26T15:01:24Z

In the south of the Indonesian Sulawesi island live the Toraja people. There, Ne’Uban (the old man with white hair) has dedicated his life to buffalo. The Torajas would not exist without the buffalo. An old legend recounts that when the world began, the Toraja ancestor came down to earth with a buffalo that walked behind him. Ever since, the Toraja feel that the dead need a guide to help them find the land of happy souls, and only the buffalo know the way. That is why they must respect their buffalos, care for them and love them, so that they will agree to be sacrificed, when the time comes for the buffalo to accompany their soul.

The Mermaids of Lake of Sebu (Philippine)

2008-03-26T15:01:20Z

Anita is a Tiboli. She lives in a floating house on Lake Sebu, in the south of the Philippines, on the island of Mindanao. There, all the women are musicians, and Anita wants to be a singer. But she is unable to free her voice, that is 'like a prisoner deep inside of her'. Together with Mendung, the old singer of the village, she will learn that 'in the beginning, only animals were musicians', and she will start to listen to the sound from nature, like the wind, the birds or the river. She has to pass the initiation, if she wants to be ready to sing for the spring festival.

The Twins of Lake Temple (Indonesia)

2008-03-26T15:01:21Z

During the rainy season, Alhim and his family live in a floating house, in the middle of Lake Tempe, on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. There, a legend recounts that a long time ago, in the land of the Bugis, a queen gave birth to twins. One of them was a varanus. Since then, Alhim knows that the varanus must be loved and respected.

Ema, Child of the Forest (Philippine)

2008-03-26T18:00:25Z

Ema belongs to the Dumagat’s tribe. She lives in the Sierra Madre mountains in the Philippines, where the forest is thick and humid. She knows the forest, its paths, rivers and animals very well, the forest is her home. A soul of a woman has come to live inside Ema and she will soon be married to a young Dumagat named Rubens. But living with him will mean a new life for Ema, as Rubens has begun a different way of life: cultivating the earth, growing rice, and only hunting occasionally. The journey to reach Ruben’s village will be long, it will last several days. On the road, Ema’s mother and her sisters will show her, for the last time before she gets married, everything they know about the forest.

The Cobra Brotherhood (Morroco)

2008-03-26T15:00:24Z

For centuries, the descendants of Ibn Aïssa are immune to snakebites. A four-century year-old 'baraka' protects them. These people are called the Aïssaouas. Abdallah is one of them. Like his ancestors, he travels throughout all of Morocco capturing reptiles whose names alone frighten people away: the sand viper or the Atlas cobra. But conquering snakes is not his only power. He is a descendant of Sidi Rahal, the Master of the Spirits. That is why he attends exorcism rituals which free the possessed from the spirits that haunt them.

Fisherman of the full moon (Madagascar)

2008-03-26T13:50:42Z

Fititsike is one of the main Vez villages on the southwestern coast of Madagascar. There, during the autumn equinox, the Vez prepare the biggest fishing adventure of the year. For four days during the equinox tides, the reef is a trap for fish, surprised by the sudden drop in the water level. At that time, more than 200 pirogues leave the village to participate in a big race, which takes the Vez to the reef. Each family must catch enough fish to survive the rainy season, when it becomes too dangerous to take the pirogues out to sea. This year, Lorake will go fishing for the first time. His mother, Fina is pregnant. She can't go fishing on the reef and it's up to Lorake to replace her.

Tambopata Kingdom Aras

2008-03-01T16:41:59Z

In the south of Peru, where the first of the Andes Mountains meets the Amazon tropical forest, we find the reserve of Tambopata Candiamo. This protected zone of 700,000 hectares is home to the Aras, the largest parrots in the world. In the heart of this reserve, a group of researchers have been working since 1989 to protect the Aras. This species, once present throughout all of South America, has become more and more rare. The destruction of its habitat is the primary threat, and the possibility of nesting is less and less frequent. Aware of these problems, Donald Brightsmith and Cesar Carrasco of the Tambopata Research Center, are trying to find solutions and thus increase bird reproduction. Created by a Peruvian, Eduardo Nicander, this center is the first of its kind, and its Peruvian structure is totally independent.

Rhinoceroses massi land

2008-03-01T16:41:58Z

At the foot of Mount Kenya and at the eastern point of the Laikipia plateau, lies the Massaï land known as Lewa. Lewa in Massaï means, "men". David and Leikeirio cross this land every day. They are the guardians of this protected area, a sanctuary for the rhinoceros. David comes from one of the numerous village located around the reserve. He used to consider rhinos as a threat, since they competed for food with the cows and goats in his village… but times have changed, and David is now aware that without the Massaï’s protection, this prehistoric animal will disappear. For the Massaï, life is a struggle to overcome fear. That is why these men are able to face all the dangers found in this area.

Last chance for lemurs

2008-03-01T16:41:58Z

In southeastern Madagascar, near Fort Dauphin, a program for the protection of lemurs has been set up by QMM, ANGAP, the Madagascan Waters and Forestry Board. Its goal is to save groups of lemurs from a sure death as a result of constant deforestation in this seaside area. Roger and Jilsan belong to the Antanouch ethnic group. They work for Qit Mineral Madagascar, the QMM mining company which is financing the program. Lemurs have suffered a great deal at the hands of man. Their flesh and their fur are both considered valuable. Today, they are more threatened by the disappearance of the forest than by hunters. They're a symbol of the island's fragility. The creation of reserves, managed by local natives, is the last chance for the lemurs of Madagascar.

Saving spider monkey

2008-03-01T16:41:59Z

For the past ten years, Adelina Chutt and her assistant, Aldemar Bejarano have been running the Curu refuge, and its program of reinserting the spider monkey into Costa Rica. As an endangered species cited in annex one of the Washington Convention, the majority of spider monkeys in Costa Rica are found in zoos, or as pets in private homes. Costa Rica is a country committed to preserving the environment. It has 75 protected sites, about a quarter of its territory. This is enormous for a small Central American country with only 3 million inhabitants. The Curu reserve is on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, at the tip of the Nicoya pensinsula. The land at Curu has belonged to the Schutt family for several generations. By creating a refuge for wild animals, Adelina has been fulfilling the dream her father didn't have the time to realize.