Programmers mark Earth Day with environmentally oriented shows
Saturday, April 22, marks the 54th Earth Day, and with it comes some noteworthy programming on broadcast, cable and streaming that celebrate the environment and all that live in it.
Leading the parade is "Secrets of the Elephants." Premiering Friday, April 21, on National Geographic (and available the next day on Disney+), the four-part documentary series from executive producer James Cameron travels the world from the savannas of Africa to the urban landscapes of Asia to spotlight the strategic thinking, complex emotions and sophisticated language of these gentle giants that help shape their unique culture. Narrated by Natalie Portman, it also reveals how similar they are to humans.
The next day on Nat Geo, the documentary "Path of the Panther" follows National Geographic Explorer and photographer Carlton Ward Jr. as he ventures into the uncharted world of the Florida panther, whose habitat in the Everglades is shrinking in an area on the brink of ecological collapse.
Over on PBS on Wednesday, April 19, is the Season 2 premiere of "Changing Planet," which revisits six of the Earth's most vulnerable ecosystems and catches up with the scientists and experts introduced in the first season who are working to safeguard their communities and wildlife. Dr. M. Sanjayan hosts this season's episodes from Australia, a country suffering from the devastating effects of climate change, but also on the forefront of potential solutions.
Climate change also plays a leading role in "Chasing the Rains," premiering Saturday on BBC America and AMC+. Narrated by actor Adjoa Andoh, the three-part documentary series goes to Kenya to follow three animal matriarchs - an elephant, a wild dog and a cheetah - as they try to raise their young in an environment stricken by a prolonged drought and patrolled by hungry predators. AMC+ subscribers also get a "Making of" documentary that also drops on Earth Day.
If the environment in the Cretaceous Period is of interest, Apple's "Prehistoric Planet," from Jon Favreau and the makers of "Planet Earth," may be worth checking out. Streaming its first season all month, it combines cutting-edge wildlife filmmaking, state-of-the-art technology and the latest paleontological findings to show what life was like for dinosaurs and present little-known facts about their environment. Season 2 of the series arrives on May 22.
Also streaming all month on Netflix are the first two seasons of "Down to Earth With Zac Efron," in which the Emmy-winning actor journeys around the world with wellness expert Darin Olien to seek out healthy, sustainable ways to live.
And on the travel/lifestyle streaming service and app Journy is the documentary "One Ocean," which follows leading marine scientists who endeavor to learn more about the four oceans' past and present in order to preserve their future.