In his latest documentary Assam India: Quest for the One-Horned Rhinoceros, Richard Bangs is traveling in a remote state on the northeastern cusp of India called ‘Assam.’
It’s a throne-room of rushing rivers, raving monsoons and the most soothing of tea. But perhaps most thrilling of all, Assam is home to a staggering range of wildlife. One animal, the Indian one-horned rhinoceros, stands as a special symbol to the people here. Richard is off to find what the one-horned rhino means to the people of Assam, and why it flourishes here as in no other place.
Details
LENGTH: 6 x 60 Minutes
FORMAT: Series
CAMERA: HDCAM
INTERNATIONAL TRACK: Yes
TEXTLESS: Yes
CLOSED CAPTIONS: No
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
PRODUCTION YEAR: 2007-2009
RELEASE YEAR: 2009
SUPPLIER: Small World Productions
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
RIGHTS TERRITORY: Worldwide exclusive of USA
Somewhere in the far, far reaches of India; in the shadow of the Himalayas; along the misty banks of the Brahmaputra River glides a grey blur that almost became a ghost—the one-horned rhinoceros. It’s a rare species that a hundred years ago nearly vanished from the face of the earth. What kept the rhino from falling into the chasm of extinction? In this documentary Richard examines what the rhino’s story can teach us about our world today; about saving precious wildlife, and—for that matter—all living things.
About the size of Ireland or Indiana, Assam is a fertile valley in northeastern India. It’s a sweep of farmland and wildlife ranges, peppered with cities and towns. We’ll begin our journey in Manas National Park, and travel to villages near Guwahati, Assam’s largest city. We’ll sail the great Brahmaputra River, visit Majuli Island, and end in Kaziranga National Park.
For many Westerners, India conjures images of frenetic cities, filled with economic extremes…Or daunting hikes up Himalayan slopes. But our focus this trip is different. The quiet state of Assam floats like a kite off the shoulder of mainland India. It’s a place of deep, rich culture, and conservation work that’s been remarkably successful
Rhinos once roamed the earth. Not long ago, Africa teemed with them, too many to count. But today that continent is almost empty of the tank-like beasts. While in Assam there are still tracks where thousands roam. What went right in Assam? What threats still exist, and what help is still needed? What can we learn?
Ultimately Richard concludes that Assam’s record is enviable, but going forward more help will be needed. New visionaries, like Richard’s guide Avinash Kohli, are stepping up to encourage visitors to come to Assam, to experience the wonder of these magnificent animals in this wild place, and to be part of a movement that sustains rhino footsteps far into the future.
Awards
2010 Lowell Thomas Gold Award for Broadcast Journalism
2009 Lowell Thomas Gold Award for Broadcast Journalism
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I am an assamese artist living in Yorkshire. Having painted Venice, Russiaand ofcourse Yorkshire I would like to do an exhibition on Assam . Are there any possibilities of having an exhibition in the USA.I am very impressed with the Assam footage.
Thank you.
Thanks for your comments on the film. I’m afraid we are not in the art exhibition business, and can’t really help in that regard. Maybe check with the folks at Assam Tourism — I believe they are on the web.
@Richard, very nice read and a great documentary. Nice work.
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