Gorongosa National Park is located at the southern end of the Great East African Rift Valley, in central Mozambique. It is a region known as "the place where Noah left his Ark." The area, 4,000 square kilometers of lush floodplains, was packed with some of Africa's largest wildlife populations until 15 years of civil war at the end of the 20th century wiped out 95 percent of the animals.
In a new documentary film by National Geographic, "Africa's Lost Eden," Wood River Valley resident Gregg Carr teamed with National Geographic to tell the story of the renaissance of the park and its wildlife. The film is a beautiful representation of a land that is in transition: New wildlife was introduced, biodiversity is making a comeback, and jobs were created for some area residents.
Ketchum resident and cinematographer Bob Poole was the primary cinematographer who captured the film's extraordinary footage, which was shot in high definition. Carr said Poole went to the park six times over 18 months, and he would sit in a tent day after day waiting for something interesting to happen.
The birth of crocodiles, underwater catfish feeding, predatory birds impaling fish and following the wildlife throughout the vast terrain of the park are presented in close-up camera work and breathtaking aerial photography.
Carr said it was a coincidence that Poole was working on the film and happened to live in the Wood River Valley. The two men were friends before the project.
"I think it's good (that) people see natural places that have been distressed and can be restored," Carr said. "It takes some action, but we can go and do it."
Carr was working in New York City when he met an ambassador to Mozambique. This meeting led to an invitation by the government of Mozambique for Carr to visit the country.
Carr then set up the Carr Foundation, a U.S.-based not-for-profit organization. His foundation teamed up with the government of Mozambique to protect and restore the ecosystem of Gorongosa National Park and to develop an ecotourism industry to benefit local communities.
"The idea of restoring a national park is a double win," Carr said. "I can preserve biodiversity and create jobs for people who live next to the park."
Carr said he hopes lessons can be learned from the work at Gorongosa.
"This is a new model for a national park," he said. "It cannot just be hardcore conservationists only here for trees and animals. The model has to include human development."
A free screening of "Africa's Lost Eden" is scheduled from 7-9 p.m. tonight, Aug. 25, at The Community School Theatre in Sun Valley. Carr and Poole will be present for a Q & A following the film.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
The nests of weaver birds hang from tree limbs in Gorongosa National Park, in central Mozambique, Africa.
Photo by Jeff Barbee
