This is a story about the re-introduction of three orphaned sun bear cubs (two females and one male) in Borneo, Indonesia, and their relationship with documentarian Patrick Rouxel. Inspired by Wendy (who he met as a tiny cub, but saw again five years later exhibiting symptoms of stress in zoo captivity), Rouxel decides to help save another orphaned cub named Boom Boom by acting in loco parentis to protect her from a fate like Wendy's. He stays in Indonesia and lives with her in the wild in a national park until she is mature enough to care for herself. Seeing young Boom Boom take to the wild is remarkable—within minutes, she goes from taking her first tentative steps on an unfamiliar forest floor to scampering up high in the trees with monkeys, and burrowing in old logs below to find food. Rouxel's self-appointed job was to act as Boom Boom's parent: accompanying her daily during her explorations (and keeping her safe from predators in the process), bonding with her in the evening, and locking her safely in a large cage so both could sleep soundly at night. One day Rouxel went into town and left Boom Boom in the care of animal-loving neighbors, but she disappeared. With Boom Boom apparently lost (perhaps to predators), Rouxel met two other young cubs named Bernie and WaWan who he also aimed to rescue (this time using microchip transmitters that could help him find the animals if they became separated). These two have the benefit of discovering their forest world together. Life Is One offers a rare glimpse of the lives of animals given a second chance of life in the wild—opportunities that can lead to success or tragedy. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (C. Block)
Life Is One
(2016) 52 min. DVD: $25: public libraries & high schools; $49: colleges & universities. DRA. Green Planet Films. PPR. SDH captioned. Volume 33, Issue 1
Life Is One
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