Realms of the Russian Bear: Green Jewel of the Caspian
(1992)
The first episode of a six part series examining the wildlife, and the unique terrain it inhabits, in the former Soviet Union. Presented by enthusiastic Nikolai Drozdov (the Russian equivalent of British naturalist David Attenborough) the series takes an extensive tour of the beautiful, harsh environment and the interesting wildlife it supports. Visually stunning, over five years of filming went into this overview of a spectacular and varied continent. Produced by John Sparks, the series features contributions from some of the top names in wildlife cinematography including Martin Saunders, Hugh Maynard and Martyn Colbeck.
Exploring the Volga delta wetlands, Green Jewel of the Caspian focuses in on Russia’s oldest nature reserve - Astrakhansky Zapovednik. The production beautifully captures the diverse ecosystem, with wildlife from Asia, Africa and Europe all thriving on the fertile land. Spring floods trigger breeding of amphibians, fish and birds. Impressive footage of white-tailed sea eagles, saiga antelopes, pipefish and sturgeon provides a glimpse into the variety of creatures this intricate maze of waterways supports.
Realms of the Russian Bear: Born of Fire (1992)
Martin Saunders
