NATURE . WILDLIFE

GIRAFFE – UP HIGH AND PERSONAL

52' (ENG, GER)

Giraffes are extreme in every way – nearly six metres tall, they are wonders of physiology. But for a long time, scientists and conservationists paid little attention to Africa’s high society.

Filmmakers as well often seem to overlook these gentle giants: in many films about the African savannah, giraffes are just the extras since they don't seem to do anything exciting – but nothing could be further from the truth.

Behaviour, social life, and body constitution offer a lot of surprises: giraffe families seem to mourn for their dead. According to science, the dark patches of their fur serve to regulate their body temperature in the hot savannah. Furthermore, giraffes have a head start into life: during birth, the mother is standing – so the newborn calf falls about two meters down to the ground.

Following a creative approach and unusual perspectives, outstanding aerial footage and breathtaking landscape photography complement the behavioural sequences, depicting the fascinating, yet little-known lives of giraffes.