THE TRAIL OF THE OTTER
A 52 minutes Wildlife documentary on the European Otter (lutra lutra)
An otter which dives and splashes about in a river or in a pond is a genuinlely rare sight. A wanderer or a fisherman have little chance to meet one as this aquatic mammal has almost vanished in most European countries.
This documentary will allow us to discover this lively and playful animal, even in its privacy.
We have a unique opportunity of partnership with two Otter’s reintroduction centres in Europe, and with Portuguese scientists to film the wild otter in the south of Portugal and Spain. Therefore, we are certain to capture breathtaking pictures of the european otter (Lutra Lutra) and some of them remain unseen even until now.
* * *
The land otter, the Lutra Lutra, is a remarkable animal, renowned for its agility and its playful character. Without any effort this animal will instantly capture the hearts of young and old people. A funny animal indeed, but unfortunately entirely extinct from most of Europe. As a predator at the top of a varied and colourful food chain it has suffered firstly and mostly from the environmental changes in these industrialised countries.
The documentary will take us on a journey of rediscovering this remarkable animal up close.
Using scientific research carried out by the two reintroduction centres for the past 10 years, we will plunge into the otter’s world. This film will feature only animal pictures in wildlife or in semi-freedom, without the testimony or appearance of specialists. The great esthetical quality of the shooting will be strengthened by the richnness of natural sounds. A voice-over, unobtrusive and playful, will take us, step by step, along the otter’s trail.
* * *
The documentary will follow the life of some otters, accurately identified, through the four seasons. The landscape of the Alsacian Ried and the swamp area of Leeuwarden in the north of the Netherlands guarantee us beautiful natural surroundings. It will show the solitary life of the adult otters and their spectacular fishing techniques in their natural habitat as well as under water.
The variety of the otter’s food includes fish but he eats also enjoys frogs, toads, shellfish, snakes and small rodents. Following the trail of the otter we will also meet these species and explore the bio-diversity of the ponds, swamps and rivers.
The beautiful and touching hunting scenes will be mixed with sequences presenting otter’s favourite activity: playing. He displays as much agility and flexibility in catching a prey as in playing with wild grasses floating on the water.
By filming all around the year in all seasons, (4 periods of 3 weeks each), we will capture the coupling, the pregnancy and the birth of the young. We will see them growing up until their emancipation under the direction of the mother as she expells the male just before the birth.
Observing the apprenticeship of the young will allow for different emotional responses, as the little ones are born with several handicaps. For instance, aged two months old they are afraid of water. The documentary will show how they learn to swim, dive and hunt. We will learn how the young otters need 8 to 12 months before they are able to live alone and are ready to colonise new territories.
A coproduction from:
- France: Zorn Production international, La Cinquième, Odyssée, CNC
- Belgium: Kaos Films, RTBF, VRT
- Nederlands: Eye2eye Media, EO TELEVISION, COBO FUND
- Switzerland: TSR
And the participation of the Environment DG (European Commission)
For contact and informations:
Mr Rodolphe DIETRICH,
Zorn Production International 7
51 boulevard de Belfort
59000 LILLE FRANCE
Tél: +33 3 20 88 01 02
Fax: +33 3 20 88 01 03
Mail: zorn@mailbox.actimage.fr
| Last update: |
|
|