Takaya: Lone Wolf

Takaya: Lone Wolf is a documentary film which premiered on CBC’s The Nature of Things in October 2019.[1] The film documents the life of Takaya, a wild lone wolf, and the development of his unique relationship with conservation photographer Cheryl Alexander.[2]

After the film's release in Canada, it was subsequently broadcast on BBC in the United Kingdom[1] and on ARTE in France and Germany.

Synopsis

The film follows Alexander as she travels alone to Discovery Island by boat, seeking to observe and learn about the wolf. She is intrigued by the mystery of his story, wondering where he came from, how he has adapted to a marine environment, and why he has chosen to live a life of solitude, over 40 kilometres away from the nearest wolf packs.[2]

Alexander begins by setting up hidden trail cameras on the island and shooting over a thousand hours of video footage of the wolf.[2] Over time, Alexander learns that he has adapted to his new environment in remarkable ways, learning to hunt unfamiliar prey and learning to dig for water during periods of drought.[2] She also traces his history by collecting photographic evidence of his journey through the city, and seeks to gain a deeper understanding of his behaviour by interviewing wolf experts and journeying to Yellowstone National Park, which is home to some of the best-studied wolves in the world.[2]

Production

The documentary was produced by Martin Williams for Talesmith, André Barro for Cineflix, and Gaby Bastyra.[3]

Martin Williams' films have won critical acclaim and numerous industry awards, including three Emmys.[4] Amongst many other films, he has produced films with David Attenborough,[5] Stephen Hawking,[4] and Prince William.[6]

Due to the location of Takaya in Canada, Martin partnered with Cineflix Productions in Montreal and MBMTV Productions in Vancouver to complete the filming.[3] Funding for the project was provided by CBC, Cineflix, BBC and ARTE.[7]

Cast
  • Cheryl Alexander, narrating and appearing as herself
  • Jamie Dutcher, co-producer of Wolves at our Door and co-founder of Living With Wolves, as herself
  • Dr. Fred Harrington, wolf vocalization expert, as himself
  • Kira Cassidy, research associate with the Yellowstone Wolf Project, as herself
  • Lesley Wolfe-Milner, local resident, as herself
  • Doug Paton, local resident, as herself
  • Meredith Dickman, lighthouse keeper, as herself
  • Paul Harder, local resident, as himself
  • Jytte Kaffanke, local resident, as herself
  • Mike Sheehan, local resident, as himself

Note: Some cast members do not appear in all versions of the film.

Release

Takaya: Lone Wolf was released in Canada on CBC's The Nature of Things in October 2019. This version of the film had a running time of 44 minutes.[2]

An extended, 60-minute version of the film was released in the United Kingdom on BBC in December 2019.[8]

In February 2020, the French- and German-language versions of the film were released on ARTE in France and Germany.[9]

The film aired on SVTPlay in Sweden in October 2020.

Awards

Cultural and Political Impacts

Since the release of the film, artists from around the world have created artistic tributes to Takaya, including music, paintings, sculptures, and jewelry. Over 80 of these pieces were showcased at the Takaya Lone Wolf International Arts Festival in Victoria on October 24, 2020.[18]

Several public art installations have also been created to honour Takaya's life and legacy.

  • Victoria mural artist Paul Archer has painted a larger-than-life mural of Takaya on the side of a lighthouse building on Discovery Island, where Takaya once lived.[19]
  • Local artist Kent Laforme has received a commission to create a sculpture of Takaya from a 25,000 pound block of marble.[20]
  • Sculptor Tanya Bub has created a five-foot, 150 pound driftwood sculpture of Takaya, which was displayed temporarily at the historic Empress Hotel in Victoria.[21][22]

Takaya's story has also inspired political campaigns. Over 65,000 people have signed Takaya's Legacy Petition to stop wolf hunting in British Columbia. Two nonprofit organizations, Pacific Wild and Raincoast Conservation Foundation, have also used Takaya's story in campaigns to end the recreational killing and government culling of wolves.[23][24]

References
  1. Cecco, Leyland (2020-03-27). "Canada mourns Takaya – the lone sea wolf whose spirit captured the world". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  2. "CBC Gem". gem.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  3. "Talesmith and Cineflix to co-produce Takaya: Lone Wolf for BBC, CBC, and ARTE – Cineflix". cineflix.com. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  4. "Martin Williams". talesmith.tv. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  5. "Hold the world". talesmith.tv. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  6. "Talesmith partner with HRH Prince William, ITV & Oxford Films on environmental documentary". talesmith.tv. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  7. "Inspiring Documentary Takaya: Lone Wolf, Breaks Away from the Pack Friday, October 4 at 9 p.m. ET on CBC's The Nature of Things – Cineflix". cineflix.com. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  8. ""Tuesday December 3 2020: Schedule."". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  9. "Programme tv de Arte du vendredi 21 février 2020". Play TV (in French). Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  10. "2020 LEO AWARDS, Nominees & Winners by Name". secure.leoawards.com. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  11. "The Grierson Trust - Shortlist". griersontrust.org. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  12. "FINALISTS 2020". Nature Awards. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  13. "2020 Nominees". Yorkton Film Festival. 2020-04-14. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  14. "Tickets". WCFF. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  15. "SWW Schedule | Sedona Wolf Week". www.sedonawolfweek.org. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  16. "Takaya: Lone Wolf • International Wildlife Film Festival". International Wildlife Film Festival. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  17. "2020". sffla. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  18. Glidden, Ariel. "First Annual Takaya Lone Wolf International Arts Festival - Downtown Victoria Business Association". https://downtownvictoria.ca/. Retrieved 2020-11-21. External link in |website= (help)
  19. "Vancouver Island artist paints memorial for lone wolf Staqeya on Discovery Island". Vancouver Island. 2020-06-26. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  20. "Stone Takaya sculpture could soon 'howl' at Cattle Point". Oak Bay News. 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  21. Gaetz, Wells (2020-10-01). "Takaya, the lone wolf of Discovery Island, comes to life in driftwood sculpture". Vancouver Island. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  22. "Artist creates five-foot driftwood sculpture of Takaya". Victoria News. 2020-10-04. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  23. "Celebrating the life of Takaya, the lone wolf of Discovery Island". Pacific Wild. 2020-04-30. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  24. "Takaya". Raincoast Conservation Foundation. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
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