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Stories of extraordinary lives and extraordinary lands across the globe.
“Extraordinary Lives, Extraordinary Lands”
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The sanctuary of Bird Island is highly prized by the seabirds that lay their eggs there. Yet this Subantarctic paradise has become severely threatened by rats.
2019
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2023
2026
After humans, orangutans are the primates that remain most attached to their offspring for the longest period: females care for their young for nine years. Victims of poaching, adult females are sometimes abducted or killed. Only the luckiest orphans are taken in by sanctuaries such as the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation.
The bear has returned to the Pyrenees, especially in Ariège and Haute-Garonne. In this region, home to its preferred habitats, humans must adapt to the presence of this powerful predator. Scientists and passionate conservationists on one side, critical residents and concerned farmers on the other, are all fighting to make their voices heard.
For centuries, nomads roamed the Kenyan bush with their herds of cattle and goats. But years of drought decimated their livestock. To help the semi-nomadic herders, the Kenyan government implemented a camel distribution program. This initiative proved successful, as the milk from the females turned out to be an unexpected boon for the local population.
For centuries, the inhabitants of the Danish island of Læsø have covered the roofs of their houses with dried-out seaweed. The fire-resistant natural material protected the houses from storms and rain and this sustainable material is still in use today. Roofer Henning is the keeper of this rare craft and wants to pass on his knowledge to the younger generation.
The cultivation of cannabis has a long tradition in northern Morocco - around 300,000 families have long made a living from growing the plant, from which marijuana and hashish are extracted. As its therapeutic properties have been proven, some countries, including Morocco, have legalised medical cannabis use. However, legalisation does not guarantee a promising future for small farmers.
2025
Of all the countries in the European Union, Bulgaria is experiencing the most severe demographic decline, particularly in rural areas. The small village of Dobralak, in the Rhodope Mountains which lie on the country's southern border, is a good example of this decline.
Set alongside the Étang de Thau, Sète is home to the Mediterranean's main fishing port. The town is also famous for its great nautical jousts, which take place in late August during the Saint Louis Festival.
In Brittany, in Finistère, a kitesurfing champion and her partner have set themselves a crazy challenge: to brave the Iroise Sea, which is said to be one of the most dangerous seas in Europe, to discover its legendary lighthouses...
The live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid”, with Halle Bailey in the lead role, has definitively buried the cliché of the blonde, blue-eyed nymph. From now on, naiads of all origins, genders and physiques enter the picture. In particular, African-American mermaids, whose fourth gathering in Miami is being held by Melanee Schneider.
An island paradise with breathtaking beaches, Florianopolis is located in southern Brazil. Every winter, it perpetuates an ancestral tradition: mullet fishing, known in Portuguese as pesce de tainha. But times are hard for the professional fishermen, as fish are becoming scarce. Despite these difficulties, they dream of making a record-breaking catch.
Anxious to see the traditions of the Georgian Orthodox Church perpetuated and to bring his country's cultural heritage to life, Brother Iakobi works to preserve the lineage of Caucasian shepherds, a breed of dog originating from the region.
Several times a year, Dr. Jorge Fusaro heads to the highlands of Argentina's Andes, where families who live far from any infrastructure impatiently await him. Isolation makes medical care difficult. However, these people also need regular care.
The Tien Shan mountains, in the heights of Kyrgyzstan, are home to a predator that has become mythical: the snow leopard. Threatened by the disappearance of its habitat and by poachers who mainly attack its beautiful fur, this feline is very discreet.
Inseparable from Japanese culture, the katana is the prerogative of samurai. Crowned with spirituality, this sword is highly symbolic. He embodies strength, honor and discipline. In Yamagata, master blacksmith Kanbayashi shapes a katana for weeks using the three-steel technique, an artisanal method that has become rare.
Selim Hutoglu and his family live in Turkey in the province of Rize, at the foot of the Kaçkar Mountains. Every year, at the beginning of summer, they go with their cows for three months to the mountains, at an altitude of 3,100 meters. Up there, the animals graze, the family makes cheese and enjoys the great outdoors. But every year, the climb to reach the plateau is perilous.
In Peru, indigenous communities have started breeding Meliponini, stingerless bees. Producing honey that is as noble as it is expensive, they play an essential role in the pollination of vernacular plants, thus paving the way for sustainable forest management. Could these stingless foragers help save the Amazon jungle?
In Zimbabwe, the art of African braids has been a women's affair for generations. The growing number of men embracing the profession is reshuffling the cards. Will there be enough room for everyone?
Like Venice, the Portuguese city of Aveiro is crisscrossed by numerous canals where moliceiros, gondolas carved from pine, ply the waters. Every August, these traditional boats compete in a regatta during the Emigrants' Festival. This flagship event allows many members of the Portuguese diaspora to reunite.
2022
