17 Jan 2020

Airlines teaming up to save a species

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A number of international airline companies will be taking the message of pangolin conservation to the skies this year.

British Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines have all committed to screening the ground-breaking documentary Eye of the Pangolin on their long-haul routes. Pangolin Photo Safaris who co-produced the film through their non-profit organisation Pangolin.Africa , is also in negotiation with several other key carriers to include the film in their inflight entertainment programmes.

Pangolins are currently the most trafficked wildlife species on earth, and the film aims to raise much-needed awareness around the plight of this extraordinary animal.

The film was released online for free on YouTube in 2019 and is now also being made available to airlines for onboard viewing, as inflight online streaming is not commonly available.

Pangolin Photo Safaris are delighted that it has captured the attention of the airlines. Says director Toby Jermyn: “We see passengers in flight as the perfect captive audience to enjoy and learn from our 45-minute film about two men’s mission to get all four species of African pangolin on film for the first time. The move to make the film available to airlines for free is in line with our goal to make Eye of the Pangolin the most-watched wildlife documentary ever.”

Onboard screenings are set to run from February this year to coincide with World Pangolin Day on 15 February. This will be supported by social media campaigns targeting potential travellers at major international airports where the participating airlines operate out of.

Pangolin Photo Safaris is inviting other international airlines to also ‘come on board’ and join Team Pangolin in this global conservation initiative. Visit www.pangolin.africa/inflight for details.

About Eye of the Pangolin

From the co-director of Blood Lions, this powerful documentary is the story of two men on a mission to get all four species of African pangolin on camera for the very first time. As they travel the African continent to learn more about those caring for and studying pangolins they are captivated by these strange, secretive creatures and document the race to save them from being poached to extinction. Filmed on location in South Africa, Ghana, Central African Republic and Gabon, Eye of the Pangolin has been made freely available as an open-source film, accessible for viewing around the world via numerous online platforms including YouTube. The film has also been taken to wildlife and conservation film festivals and is part of an education campaign aimed at rural schools and other educational establishments in high poaching areas across the continent. Learn more at www.pangolin.africa/the-film