Born in China (2016)

Dawa, a snow leopard loves her cubs! She lives in the wilderness, a vast rocky terrain where she hunts, feeds her cubs and nurtures them! She is fierce and so strong. She protects her territory for herself and her family until one day an intruder brings reinforcements and she is forced to flee her home with her cubs into a new unfamiliar territory. She has to find a new home for her family and provide for them, even when she’s hurt and she tries, she tries to feed her cubs to the end and I was left heartbroken. Why couldn’t the crew interfere? Why? They were there. Why? Why? Why? I swallowed dry the heart wretched I could not contain!

Ya Ya, a cute giant panda is very protective of her daughter Mei Mei. It’s understandable but Mei Mei like any other cub wants to explore here surroundings and climb trees but Ya Ya doesn’t let her which doesn’t stop Mei Mei from trying. One day, Mei Mei succeeds in climbing the tree, a very big tree with a great view and her independence journey begins while Ya Ya gives birth and nurtures another cub and the cycle continues. Giant pandas are known for living solitary lives and enjoying their days to the fullest, resting and eating tons of bamboo!

Tao Tao is cute and like an older brother in many situations is jealous of his younger sister whom he perceives to be getting all the attention and actually getting all the attention. He’s a golden snub-nosed monkey also known as Sichuan golden hair monkey. He lives with his family in the Southwestern Chinese Forests, that is until he decides he has had enough and moves in with a group of rebel monkeys, hoping to get affection. Things don’t quite go as Tao Tao thought and eventually he goes back to his family but his dad is like – you moved out, stay out. Except one day, his sister was about to become prey of a falcon and Tao Tao saves her. He becomes a hero and is accepted back into the welcoming arms of his family.

Chiru also known as Tibetan antelopes have an interesting way of living. They mate and then the females go on peregrination to a lake where they give birth to their calves in the summer and then migrate back to the males, joining them late Fall. The thing is as the females leave for such a long period of time, the males forget whom they’ve had relationships with sort to speak and the seduction game begins once again, repeated year after year after year.

This documentary is really poignant and heart-warming for those that like David Attenborough’s movies. I smiled and nearly cried and in the end I was content. China has such a rich wildlife that is wonderful to have been able to experience stories of their species on screen.

The film was produced by Disney Nature, Chuan Films and Shanghai Media Group.

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