JUMBO THE LIFE OF AN ELEPHANT SUPERSTAR
CBC TELEVISION, THE NATURE OF THINGS
BBC ONE | CHANNEL 10 AUSTRALIA
UK/CANADA CO-PRODUCTION
2018 | 58/44 mins
Jumbo was once the most famous creature on earth - the star of the Barnum and Bailey Circus and our first animal celebrity. But for more than a century his life and tragic death have been cloaked in mystery. Now his long-buried story - and the secrets that surround it -- are revealed in an extraordinary journey from the heart of Africa to the streets of Manhattan.
Today, Jumbo’s skeleton lies deep within the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. But for the first time ever, the Museum has granted special access to an international team of experts and to our hosts, -- naturalist Sir David Attenborough, and scientist, Dr. David Suzuki.
Using the latest DNA, isotope and forensic analysis, they will attempt to answer the questions that still swirl around the world first animal superstar who died suddenly and suspiciously on a railway track in Canada.
Was Jumbo really the biggest elephant in the world? Was he suffering from tuberculosis? And was he murdered because of it?
But our famous hosts will do more than unlock Jumbo’s secrets. Through his forgotten skeleton, they will gradually build a picture of this giant over the course of his life.
And by travelling to a baby elephant orphanage in Africa, and examining the latest elephant science, they will take what they’ve learned from Jumbo to discover what we need to do now to ensure that these majestic creatures continue survive and prosper.
View Credits
Written and Directed By
Christine Nielsen
Executive Producers
Dugald Maudsley
Stephen Dunleavy
Editor
Enzo Anile
Composer
Jeff Morrow
Additional Directors
Sharmila Choudhury
Winston Gallagher
Director of Photography
Jerry Vienneau
Eric Huyton
Jeffrey Morales
Robin Smith
Additional Camera
Terry Zazulak
Sound Recordists
Scott Chappel
Graham Ross
Andrew Yarme
David Jalenga
Igal Petel
Archive Producer
Elspeth Domville
Visual Research Assistant
Kristine Ryall
Visual Effects Designer
Mark Alberts
Colourist
Arlene Moelker
Post Production Supervisor
Eric Wiegand
Re-recording Mixer
Grant Edmonds
Sfx Editor
Marc Chiasson
Assistant Sfx Editor
Denice Badua
Special Thanks
Mike Baker
Kate Grounds
Dirk Hackenberger
Emil Karpinski
Karen Mccomb
Steve Peters
Hendrik Poinar
Mcmaster Ancient Dna Centre
Amboseli National Park
The British Geological Survey
Elgin County Museum
Mcmaster University
Tsavo East National Park
Tufts University
The University of Roehampton
The University of Sussex
Via Rail Canada
ZSL (Zoological Society of London)
Archival Material Courtesy Of
Elgin County Museum
Andrew Mcclellan
Bridgeport Public Library
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
BBC Motion Gallery/Getty Images
Karen Mccomb
Library of Congress
London Zoo
John Edwards
New York Public Library
Steve Peters Collection
Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives
The Strobridge Lithographing Company
Collection of John and Mable Ringling
For Infield Fly Productions
Producer
Dugald Maudsley
Production Manager
Diane Marcotte
Production Coordinator
Gillian Main
Business Affairs
Gillian Main
Publicist
David Mccaughna
Production Assistants
Dave Grenon
Tania Piunno
For Humble Bee Films
Producer
Stephen Dunleavy
Consulting Producer
Sharmila Choudhury
Production Manager
Elena Wong
Head of Production
Lisa Walters
Post Production Supervisor
Patsy Hayden
Edit Assistant
Adam Evans
For the CBC
General Manager, Programming
Sally Catto
Executive Director, Unscripted Content
Jennifer Dettman
Senior Director, Documentary
Sandra Kleinfeld
Director of Production, Unscripted Content
Alexandra Lane
Executive in Charge of Production
Sue Dando
Director of Finance, Unscripted Content
Julie Lawlor
A United Kingdom-Canada Co-Production
Co-Produced by Infield Fly Productions
and Humble Bee Films
In Association With
BBC Television
Radio-Canada www.radio-canada.ca
Jean Pelletier, Senior Director, Information Television, French Television
Network Ten
With the Participation Of
The Canadian Media Fund
The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit
Ontario Media Development Corporation
Rogers Telefund
Writers Guild of Canada
Produced in Association with
The Nature of Things
With David Suzuki
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
cbc.ca/natureofthings
(Copyright 2018)
© 2018 IF: Jumbo Productions Inc. & Humble Bee Films Ltd.
View Distributor
TVF International
375 City Road
London EC1V 1NB
United Kingdom
+44 20 7837 3000
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