Wildlife photographer Cheryl Alexander was drawn to the mysterious lone wolf on Discovery Island long before she ever laid eyes on him. Seven years later, she recounts their incredible story on The Nature of Things Takaya: Lone Wolf, premiering Friday, October 4 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC and on the free CBC Gem streaming service.
When a solitary wolf showed up on an island chain just off the coast of Victoria, British Columbia, it was headline news that frightened the community and threatened the life of this unique and misunderstood creature. Cheryl was determined to unravel the many mysteries surrounding the apex predator. Why would a highly social animal break away from the pack? How did the wolf, Takaya, get to his remote island home? And how was he surviving without a safety net or year-round supply of fresh water? Tracking his every move, what Cheryl discovered was a multi-faceted rogue animal that was blazing his own brave trail.
Weaving together exclusive footage, interviews with wildlife experts, and Cheryl’s own first-hand research, Takaya’s epic story challenges our misconceptions of wolves as blood-thirsty carnivores. It’s an inspirational tale of resilience, adaptation and survival that reveals humans can in fact co-exist with animals that are too often perceived as a lethal threat.
“We’re extremely proud of this documentary and are delighted to have CBC present this inspirational story to Canadian audiences. Collaborating again with the UK’s Talesmith and the creative team at MBM TV in British Columbia was essential to showcasing this unique relationship between human and predator to viewers around the world,” said André Barro, Cineflix.
“Cheryl’s deep connection to Takaya and her commitment to preservation of the wildlife he represents is truly inspiring. We’re thrilled to have partnered with Cineflix and Talesmith to share this incredible story with Canada and the rest of the world,” said Bruce Whitty, Producer, MBM TV.
Takaya: Lone Wolf is an international co-production with Talesmith, Cineflix, and MBM TV for BBC, CBC, and ARTE. The documentary is executive produced by Martin Williams for Talesmith, André Barro for Cineflix, and Cheryl Alexander. Gaby Bastyra serves as senior producer, and the producers are Kim Bondi for Cineflix and Bruce Whitty for MBM TV. The documentary is produced with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, and the Province of British Columbia Film Incentive BC, Ontario Creates, and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. Cineflix Rights has exclusive worldwide distribution rights.
