Discover how, in one of the driest deserts on earth, life finds a way to thrive in “Desert Elephants,” opening January 18
Through incredible cinematography and storytelling, Fernbank’s upcoming giant-screen film,“Desert Elephants,” shares the story of an extraordinary African elephant population on the brink, exploring a timeless tale of resilience, ingenuity and family bonds.
In the southwest corner of Africa, the Namib Desert, spans almost twice the size of Texas. It’s here that “Desert Elephants” takes place, detailing how, despite having significant needs for water, these elephants have learned to thrive in a land of extremes.
The film provides access to one of the two remaining populations of desert elephants in the world, with numbers totaling close to 150 elephants — down from a historic 2,500-3,500 elephants in the 18th century.
“I don’t think you can meet elephants and spend time with them without being profoundly affected or changed by them,” said filmmaker Paul Phelan. “We need to give them a voice.”
Family journey
Audiences will follow the elephant calf Little Foot, who is barely a month old, on an epic and whimsical journey and witness how the largest land mammals on the planet grow through important familial relations and use their adaptations to survive.
With a slow reproduction cycle of 3+ years and a high mortality rate due partly to the desert conditions, every calf’s life is priceless.
As they make their way across the dry, desert landscape, this herd of elephants teach Little Foot — and the audience — important lessons for survival, including how an elephant uses its trunk, how much food an elephant family should eat in a day and how the growth process for female elephant calves is integral to their relationship with their mother, whom they will stay with for their entire life.
Viewers will journey with this family as they search for fresh food and water in a harsh environment that is continuously drying due to an ever-changing climate.
Hope for the future
“Desert Elephants” also shows how the herd’s matriarch uses intuitive “superpowers” to stay alive, through her ability to find a water source below ground and sense a dust storm 100 miles away. As the herd makes its way to an oasis by the end of the film, guests will leave with a newfound hope for the elephant species as a whole.
Although desert elephant numbers have dwindled, Little Foot stands as a beacon of hope for the future existence of the resilient desert elephants.
The details
“Desert Elephants” opens January 18, with multiple showtimes daily. Running time is 26 minutes.
General admission tickets range in price from $23.95 to $25.95 per person and include access to all museum exhibits, outdoor experiences and a film in the Giant Screen Theater.
“Desert Elephants” is produced by Definition Studios and distributed by K2 Studios in IMAX®/Giant Screen and other specialty theaters located in science centers, museums and other cultural destinations and attractions worldwide.
The film is sponsored locally by the Isdell Family Foundation.
For more information, visit fernbankmuseum.org.
