A person in a mask is pushing a red wheelbarrow with two young orangutans inside, cradling fruit. In this sun-dappled forest, Nature's Return is evident as the green-shirted and boot-clad caretaker guides them through the trees' embrace.
In Nature's serene embrace, a mother cougar sits in a grassy field with her two cubs. One cub snuggles against her, resting its head on her chest, while the other gazes into the distance. The scene is calm and warm, bathed in soft golden lighting.
A zebra walks gracefully across a sunlit, dusty plain, embodying Nature's return to tranquility, with a herd grazing in the blurred background. The scene captures the serene beauty of wildlife in its natural habitat.

Nature’s Return

Nature & Wildlife·1 x 50 min·Completed

Nature's Return: Discover how wildlife rebounds, migrations thrive, and ecosystems heal as nature reveals its extraordinary power to restore and renew.

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Genre
Conservation
Nature & Wildlife
Duration
1 × 50 min
Definition
4K
Audio
5.1
Status
Completed
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Synopsis

Is everything constantly changing, or is there more to it?

The natural world appears to be governed by constant change, with life full of unexpected twists and turns. Whether influenced by humans or not, progress often seems inevitable. But is this truly the case? A closer look at life’s intricate networks reveals that nature can reverse course, filled with interconnected cycles and patterns that make life on Earth both possible and miraculous.

In Europe, the Morava River demonstrates the importance of breaking down old barriers to discover new horizons. Once part of the “Iron Curtain,” efforts by conservationists, scientists, and engineers have allowed the Morava to flow freely again. Stone banks were dismantled, enabling the river to carve out its own path. Now, when the river floods in spring, fish swim in areas that were previously meadows and fields, benefiting the entire ecosystem.

Returning to the same place repeatedly is a fundamental aspect of nature, though it may not always be apparent to humans. Each spring, humpback whales appear near the islands off Alaska to hunt and replenish their energy. They use nets made of tiny air bubbles to capture young fish. Eventually, they vanish again – but where do they go? That only becomes clear when you see their journey as a whole: The whales travel 5,000 kilometers to Hawaii, where the females give birth in warm waters. With little food for mature whales, they soon embark on the long journey back to the cold north, starting their migration anew.

Zebras also demonstrate this cyclical nature. In Botswana’s Okavango Delta, thousands of zebras migrate southeast each November when resources become scarce, following rainclouds to the Makgadikgadi salt pans. For a few weeks, the salt pans transform into a zebra playground. As grasses dry out, zebras move to the Boteti River for water and food. Once pastures are grazed, they return to the Okavango Delta, completing one of the world’s longest zebra migrations. This migration had ceased due to veterinary fences but resumed once obstacles were removed, showing the importance of reevaluating human impact.

In Patagonia, pumas faced a precarious situation as human land use for sheep grazing led to a decline in their prey, guanacos. This caused pumas to hunt domesticated animals, angering farmers. Changing attitudes led to the recovery of guanaco populations and a shift in farmers’ focus to protecting their herds, allowing natural balance to return.

The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation exemplifies efforts to reverse human-caused damage. They rescue and rehabilitate orphaned orangutans, advocating for rainforest protection and establishing new forest patches. This ensures orangutans can return to their natural habitat.

Orangutans and humans share approximately 97% of their DNA. When we look into their eyes, we see a reflection of ourselves. It is time to undo the damage we’ve caused and break down barriers between ourselves and nature. We must find new ways to coexist with the incredible creatures that, like us, call Earth home. Without them, the world would be a much poorer place. If we allow and encourage it, nature will always find a way to restore itself and return to its former glory.

Team

A film by Petra Lederhilger, Susanne Lummer, Andreas Ribarits
Executive producer Sabine Holzer
Production companies A production of Terra Mater Studios
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