A Life Among Elephants

The story of legendary elephant scientist Iain Douglas-Hamilton.

60 years ago, almost nothing was known of elephants in the wild. But then one young Scottish biologist changed that forever. In 1965 Iain Douglas-Hamilton arrived in Tanzania to live alongside African elephants. Later joined by his wife Oria and daughters Saba and Dudu, elephants became central to their lives with matriarch Boadicea and gentle young mother Virgo cherished like human relatives. But this garden Eden was short-lived as an ivory poaching epidemic swept across Africa forcing Iain to switch from pioneering scientist to maverick conservationist. He became a lone crusader against the international Ivory trade which was finally banned in 1989. Now back in the field and revealing even more about the fascinating world of elephants, Iain’s work continues alongside a new generation of Kenyan conservationists. This inspiring documentary combines stunning wildlife imagery with the story of a remarkable life showing how sometimes you have to stand alone to protect what you love.

Cast

Iain Douglas-Hamilton

Self - Portrait Subject & Interviewee

Saba Douglas-Hamilton

Self - Interviewee

Dudu Douglas-Hamilton

Self - Interviewee

Oria Douglas-Hamilton

Self - Interviewee

Jane Goodall

Self - Interviewee

David Daballen

Self - Interviewee

Frank Pope

Self - Interviewee

Festus Ihwagi

Self - Interviewee

David H.M. Cumming

Self - Interviewee (archive footage)

Idi Amin

Self (archive footage)

Daniel arap Moi

Self (archive footage)

Simon T. Roden

Self - Narrator (German version)