In honor of Earth Day on April 22, we would like to celebrate some of the most recent documentaries that raise critical environmental issues. Environmental documentaries are becoming increasingly popular. They are supported by thorough research, scientific findings, and reliable data. They bring us a significant learning component.

The Last Glaciers (2022), Haulout (2022), and The Elephant Whisperers (2022) are just a few of the incredible documentaries addressing urgent environmental challenges facing our planet. Through impactful storytelling, striking visuals, and expert data, environmental documentaries transport us to a robust yet fragile world, revealing the delicate balance of nature.

The Last Glaciers is a 40-minute documentary film directed by acclaimed Australian filmmaker Craig Leeson focusing on climate change and its impact on glaciers. Joining forces with extreme athletes, scientists from NASA, and other research projects, Leeson explores the effects of climate change on the mountain environment, documenting the changes first-hand. The documentary explains how ice, especially glaciers, can reveal the history of past climate change and how humans affect the Earth’s climate. It also alerts us to the plight of our global ecological system and its potential destruction. The film has limited release in theatres across the world. The official trailer and information about the film can be found on the official thelastglaciers.com/film website.

Haulout is a 25-minute documentary about the movement of walruses in the Arctic, from water to land. “Haulout” refers to a place of refuge where walruses congregate to rest and mate. However, as the ecology of the world changes, the threat to these mammals is growing at an excessive rate. Written, directed, and produced by brother and sister Maxim Arbugaev and Evgenia Arbugaeva, the film follows marine biologist Maxim Chakilev. He is based in his remote hut in Chukotka, nestled within the vast expanses of the Russian Arctic. That’s where he spends the three autumn months every year. During his stay, the beach fills up with countless walruses every night, often resulting in many animals’ deaths. Warming seas and rising temperatures are causing the ice to recede, drastically reducing the living space available to them. During the times when the water is entirely free of ice, land areas become so dense with walruses that Chakilev is unable to leave his hut through the door, forcing him to climb onto the roof of the building. It’s from that vantage point that the camera best conveys to the viewer the colossal mass of creatures washed ashore. When the period of land rest for the walruses ends, numerous lifeless bodies are left behind crushed by their own species. Sadly, the number of walrus deaths is increasing from year to year. The documentary is available for viewing on The New Yorker website.

The Elephant Whisperers, directed by Indian filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves, tells the story of a local couple, Bomman and Belli, entrusted with an orphaned Indian elephant named Raghu. Making great efforts to ensure that the fragile, traumatized baby survives and grows into a healthy teenager, they create a solid bond with the young elephant. The documentary, set in the Mudumalai National Park on the border of the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, showcases the beauty of the natural world and the emotionally touching connection between humans and animals. Through this relationship, the film emphasizes the importance of compassion, devotion, and concern for nature. The film won the Best Documentary Short Film Award at the 95th Academy Awards. It’s currently available on Netflix.

Based on our increasing concern for the ecological realities of the world we are creating, such documentaries have the power to enlighten, inspire, and stimulate. By watching and supporting these films, we can contribute, directly or indirectly, to protecting our planet and helping build a more sustainable future. As climate change and other environmental issues continue to affect our world, it has become imperative that action be taken on multiple fronts. These documentaries serve as an essential tool to raise awareness and inspire immediate change. We have no other planet!