“The lives of elephants have much in common with our own: tender family bonds, remarkable communication skills, and an uncanny ability to co-operate under pressure”

Acclaimed wildlife filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert bring viewers an unprecedented look at African elephant society in their co-operation, memory and communication ability. These remarkable traits confirm the elephant as a unique and precious creature.

Following elephants day and night for over two years, the Jouberts deliver an extraordinary documentary in Reflections on Elephants.

Discover that the lives of elephants have much in common with our own - powerful but tender family bonds, remarkable communication skills, and an uncanny ability to cooperate under pressure.

Join renowned wildlife filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert as they capture the drama of Africa’s largest free-roaming elephant herds.

An instinct for filming wild animals, a deep knowledge of life in the bush, and a profound commitment to documentary filmmaking has established Beverly and Dereck Joubert as among the premiere producers of their generation.

The couple’s success in making wildlife documentaries is due in part to their nomadic lifestyle. Unlike other film crews, which typically operate from a base camp and take day trips into the bush, the Jouberts follow the herds for days at a time, sleeping in their four-wheel-drive vehicle and cooking on its manifold. They edit much of their footage on an editing table sheltered only by a tent, with the help of a portable generator. Their unique way of life enables them to observe the animals closely and acclimate their subjects to their human presence.

Dereck and Beverly made their home in northern Botswana in 1980, initially as researchers studying lions with the Chobe Lion Research Institute. It was here that they saw the potential for spectacular wildlife documentaries and decided to change careers from ecology to filmmaking. They travelled to Great Britain to gain experience and education in cinematography and sound recording, and returned to the bush to film the animals with which they had become so familiar.

By 1985, the Jouberts established their own successful production company, Wildlife Films Botswana, in Kasane, Botswana, turning out films acclaimed for their unique style: stunning close-up photography and natural sound combined with a deep understanding of animal behaviour and animal/environment interactions.

Narrated by Stacy Keach.
Produced by Dereck and Beverly Joubert for National Geographic.

EXCLUSIVE:  our DVD also includes an exclusive, free bonus film by National Geographic 'Motola – An Elephant’s Story':
Motola, a 38-year-old elephant, was taking a break from logging duties when she stepped on a land mine,  shattering her left foot.  By the time her ‘owner’ got Motola to an elephant hospital in northern Thailand, after a three-day trek, Motola was in agony.
Television footage shows the pachyderm holding her shredded foot up and weeping. Motola underwent several operations to tidy up the wound and to fit a prosthesis. The Thai nation followed her plight on TV and the story was broadcast around the world.
This film follows Motola through her operations and shows the extraordinary lengths her owner went to in order to save Motola’s life.

 To watch a pre-view of this DVD please visit YouTube or watch it at the bottom of this page