WaterBear, Nikon launch The Missing Lynx doc
March 8, 2023
New documentary, The Missing Lynx, has launched on free environmental streaming platform WaterBear in partnership with Nikon. The documentary comes as WaterBear and Nikon solidify their efforts to deliver impact through a new NGO storytelling initiative.
The Missing Lynx follows Nikon creators, George Turner and Lara Jackson, as they travel to Switzerland to meet Kora, a conservation NGO helping to bring the Eurasian Lynx back from 200 years of extinction in Europe. The film delves into Kora’s role in supporting Switzerland’s lynx reintroduction programme, which has seen the population grow to over 250, making it one of European conservation’s biggest success stories to date.
Following conservation experts at Kora, the film investigates whether the return of this keystone species in Switzerland could set the stage for the comeback of the Lynx across Europe. This comes as conservationists sound the alarm for lynxes in France, with research showing they could die out in France in 30 years unless the gene pool is expanded.
Nikon Creator, Lara Jackson, originally worked as a field researcher for conservancies in Africa before moving into wildlife photography. Realising that images spoke louder than data, she understood that storytelling was key to inspiring change. The Missing Lynx is built on this premise, leveraging the power of film to spark activism.
The documentary comes as WaterBear and Nikon solidify their efforts to deliver impact through a new NGO storytelling initiative. This month, the duo will also launch the second episode of a new ‘Lens on the Ground’ initiative to empower 12 NGOs to ignite action through film. With funding for NGOs falling year on year, visual storytelling is consistently considered one of the most effective ways for charities to cut through the noise and reach a greater pool of donors.
Through the initiative, NGOs including Black Jaguar Foundation and Commonland will be given the tools to harness the power of film to connect with new audiences. This includes cameras, one-to-one filmography training from Nikon, and access to experts at WaterBear to provide storytelling support and advice.
Lara Jackson, Nikon Creator, saidd: “From my many years in the field, I’ve learned that photographs can have more impact than anything published in a scientific journal. By leveraging the capacity of film to move audiences, The Missing Lynx aims to foster a deeper level of activism and spark real change.”
Sam Sutaria, CEO of WaterBear, commented: “I am so excited for the launch of The Missing Lynx, as well as the launch of our wider ‘Lens on the Ground’ initiative. Data and statistics are no longer enough to hold people’s attention. Story-telling is vital to engagement and securing funding. That’s why we’re delighted to work with Nikon on this initiative, to help NGOs harness the power of storytelling to change minds and hearts.”
Stefan Maier, General Manager Marketing, Nikon Europe, added: “We are delighted to have collaborated once again with WaterBear, alongside Nikon Creators Lara Jackson and George Turner and the NGO, Kora, to create this engaging, insightful and thought-provoking piece. Photography and filmmaking is used to document the world around us. Through this medium photographers and filmmakers have the power to change the world entirely. This story has an emotive and positive narrative at its core. We hope that its impact will contribute to the future of the Lynx across Europe.”