This week for our #OptInside series we’re sharing some of the best Netflix nature documentaries to help keep you connected to the outdoors even when you’re stuck on the couch. From the highest mountains to the deepest seas, these selections feature stories about nature and humankind’s relationship with animals. We hope they keep you inspired about wild animals and the outdoors. And no, watching Tiger King does not count!
Mission Blue
Legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle is on a mission. This documentary follows her campaign to save the world’s oceans while exposing the viewer to the beauty of the sea. Earle takes you around the globe to witness firsthand the impact humans are having on our oceans. Her objective; save the ocean from the threats of overfishing and toxic waste. With stunning underwater videography, this film will leave you inspired to take a dip in the sea!
Virunga
Winner of 54 international film awards, VIRUNGA is the true story of the park rangers risking their lives to protect the animal inhabitants of Virunga National Park. Home to the planet’s last remaining mountain gorillas and one of the most biodiverse areas on Earth, these rangers protect this forgotten UNESCO Heritage Site from poachers, armed militia, and those wishing to take control of the Congo’s natural resources. Part nature documentary, part investigative journalism this documentary exposes the realities of life in the Congo and the struggles that wildlife face to survive.
Night on Earth (series)
Using new low-light camera technology, the formerly unseen world of nocturnal animals comes to life in this series. From jungles to urban cities, this documentary brings to light (quite literally) a hidden world never before captured on camera. You’ll be enthralled by the world that comes to life after we close our eyes.
The Ivory Game
Elephants have been hunted to near extinction for what they possess; ivory tusks. A keystone species in both forests and savannas, their populations have been reduced by 97% in the last 100 years. Beyond educating us on this endangered species, this documentary exposes the illegal ivory pipeline that extends from Africa to China. The Ivory Game is lauded one of the most ‘powerful’ nature documentaries. This film will leave you chilled by by statistics and eager for change.
Our Planet (series)
This Emmy Award winning series brings you around the world on a quest to display how human impacts affect all living things. Featuring beautiful landscapes and incredible creatures, this series with both inspire you to take action and force you to acknowledge your complicity in nature’s destruction. Introducing you to animals from all over the world, this documentary shows you first hand how humans disrupt nature cycles and destroy critical habitats. The message it portrays is clear – these matters are urgent, but there’s still time to reverse course and restore the natural world.
Tigers of Scotland
This documentary focuses on a little known critically endangered species; the Scottish Wildcat. The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) is recognized worldwide for their phenomenal nature documentaries. However, the UK has drawn criticism for overlooking conservation needs in their own backyard. A national symbol of Scotland, this film aims to bring awareness of the wildcat’s existence to a wider audience. It does so in the hope of helping prevent its extinction. (Also available on iTunes and Amazon Prime)
Into the Inferno
Following volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer, director Werner Herzog travels around the world gaining understanding about the mysterious subject of volcanos. Part history lesson, Herzog learns about indigenous belief systems tied to volcanos in Indonesia, Iceland, Ethiopia, and North Korea. Seeking to minimize their destructive power, Oppenheimer helps educate the viewer about the power of molten lava. Above all this documentary will leave you in awe of nature’s power, and with a sense of respect for the origin stories surrounding it.
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