The Moonbear Guardian
Rescuing Asiatic Black Bears
Photo: Sergey Kolchin
About the film
We follow the inhabitants of the Ussuri forests in the Russian Far East — Ursus thibetanus — the Asiatic black bear. The Asiatic black bear is one of the largest and, at the same time, one of the most elusive mammals. The bear will guide us through the enchanting world of the ancient forests. The film centers around Sergey, a Russian scientist and eco-activist who has dedicated his life to studying Asiatic black bear and rescuing the cubs left orphaned by poachers and hunters. Sergey's story highlights the dangers faced by the declining bear population and his efforts to single-handedly save them. Our goal is to uncover the hidden mysteries, to trigger the urge of preserving the magic and the life of the ancient forest.
Genre
Nature
documentary, family
Nature
documentary, family
Country
Russia
Russia
Runtime
52 min
52 min
Production
LESFILM
LESFILM
Release
2024
2024
With
the informational support of
the informational support of
Photo: Sergey Kolchin
Synopsis
Our film will tell the story of the challenges in the demanding life of the Asiatic black bear, intertwined with Sergey's journey as he works tirelessly to protect and rescue these bears. During a whole year of observing Asiatic black bears on expeditions and on trail cameras, we will show the hidden connections between a lone tree, an animal, and the whole ecosystem. The viewer will be given an opportunity to peek into the ancient home of thousands of beings, to experience the pace of the inhabitants' lives, to feel the rigidity and delicacy of its construction.
Photos: Sergey Kolchin, Alexey Bezrukov, Oleg Kugaev, Denis Kochetkov
The protagonist
The film presents Sergey's inspiring efforts as a bear scientist and eco-activist to raise awareness about the declining bear population and the urgent need for conservation.
The Asiatic black bear inhabits the mountainous forests of Southern, South-Eastern and Eastern Asia. Recently, as a result of poaching and habitat destruction, the animal has received the title of 'endangered' throughout the majority of the bear's habitat. The Russian Far East is home to one of the Asiatic black bear's largest subspecies: the Ussuri black bear. The combination of an athletic musculature, powerful shoulder girdles, relatively long forelimbs and a small body size allows for its semiarboreal lifestyle. The bears construct nests up in the trees from broken branches, where they can feed and rest. Forests with a healthy balance of Mongolian oak, Korean pine, acorns, and varied nuts play a crucial role in the survival of the species. Sergey, our protagonist, sheds light on the perils faced by these bears due to decreasing population and the measures he has taken single-handedly to ensure the survival of rescued cubs until adulthood .
The Asiatic black bear inhabits the mountainous forests of Southern, South-Eastern and Eastern Asia. Recently, as a result of poaching and habitat destruction, the animal has received the title of 'endangered' throughout the majority of the bear's habitat. The Russian Far East is home to one of the Asiatic black bear's largest subspecies: the Ussuri black bear. The combination of an athletic musculature, powerful shoulder girdles, relatively long forelimbs and a small body size allows for its semiarboreal lifestyle. The bears construct nests up in the trees from broken branches, where they can feed and rest. Forests with a healthy balance of Mongolian oak, Korean pine, acorns, and varied nuts play a crucial role in the survival of the species. Sergey, our protagonist, sheds light on the perils faced by these bears due to decreasing population and the measures he has taken single-handedly to ensure the survival of rescued cubs until adulthood .
Sergey Kolchin, PhD, a researcher at the animal ecology laboratory of the Institute of Water and Environmental Problems, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, one of the leading scientists on Asiatic black bears in Russia.
Photo: Sergey Kolchin
Photo: Oleg Kugaev
Locations
Ussuri forests of the Russian Far East at the Sikhote-Alin mountain range and the Primorsky and Khabarovsk regions:
— Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve with an area of 401 428 hectares. The reserve is located in the eastern and central parts of the Sikhote-Alin ridge of Primorsky Krai. The reserve is a prime location for observing Amur tigers and Asiatic black bears.
— 'Bikin' National Park of Northern Primorye with an area of 1 160 469 hectares. The land along the Bikin river contains the largest mass of intact Korean pine broad- leaved forest and the largest population of the Ussuri black bear.
— 'Durminskoe' game preserve with an area of 20 000 hectares (Khabarovsk Krai).
Over the past 15 years, the zoologists of our team have been conducting research on the behaviour and ecology of the Ussuri black bear.
— Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve with an area of 401 428 hectares. The reserve is located in the eastern and central parts of the Sikhote-Alin ridge of Primorsky Krai. The reserve is a prime location for observing Amur tigers and Asiatic black bears.
— 'Bikin' National Park of Northern Primorye with an area of 1 160 469 hectares. The land along the Bikin river contains the largest mass of intact Korean pine broad- leaved forest and the largest population of the Ussuri black bear.
— 'Durminskoe' game preserve with an area of 20 000 hectares (Khabarovsk Krai).
Over the past 15 years, the zoologists of our team have been conducting research on the behaviour and ecology of the Ussuri black bear.
Photo: Oleg Kugaev
The threats
The flora and fauna of the Korean pine broad-leaved forests are characterised by the great variety of species with different origins. The 'Southern' and 'Northern' species form a diverse ecosystem of the Ussuri forest which ecologists refer to as 'The Northern Jungle'. Over 90 % of the Korean pine broad-leaved forests are currently exploited by human activities. Every year, the Asiatic black bear is faced with the challenge of occupying even smaller habitats.
Moreover, Asiatic black bear organs are often in high demand on the black market: the feet and bile of the species are used in Chinese cuisine and medicine. And just as the situation is worsening in other countries, habitat loss and poaching have become the main threats for the populations of the Asiatic black bear in Russia.
Moreover, Asiatic black bear organs are often in high demand on the black market: the feet and bile of the species are used in Chinese cuisine and medicine. And just as the situation is worsening in other countries, habitat loss and poaching have become the main threats for the populations of the Asiatic black bear in Russia.
Photos: press service of the border department of the FSB in Primorye; Sergey Kolchin
Photo: Sergey Kolchin
Filming, post-production, release
The funds raised will allow us to purchase at least ten Browning Recon Force Edge 4K camera traps.
We will also conduct five expeditions of 7-14 days to various areas of Sikhote-Alin (Primorsky Krai, south of Khabarovsk Krai). The expenses include gasoline, boat rental and food.
We will also conduct five expeditions of 7-14 days to various areas of Sikhote-Alin (Primorsky Krai, south of Khabarovsk Krai). The expenses include gasoline, boat rental and food.
April 2021 - September 2023
Filming during expeditions
Filming during expeditions
The Asiatic black bear is a very cautious animal. The filming of the bear requires special skills and equipment. To capture the hidden aspects of the life of this animal we will need camera traps. In April, we will travel to the mountains where these bears can be found wintering in order to film the animals leaving their dens. Throughout the year, we will be installing more hidden cameras in places where Asiatic black bears are often observed. In addition, we may be able to obtain footage from skilled experienced naturalists.
Autumn 2023 — December 2024
Editing, colour-grading, music composing
Editing, colour-grading, music composing
2024
Release
Release
We aim for the film to be screened at multiple festivals, in theatres across the country and for it to be available online.
Throughout the filming process, we will discuss ancient forests, their role in the life of people and the planet, about the scientists and the protectors of the Russian forests, about our team and our work on the project. We will also be sharing amazing behind-the-scenes footage while producing the film.
Throughout the filming process, we will discuss ancient forests, their role in the life of people and the planet, about the scientists and the protectors of the Russian forests, about our team and our work on the project. We will also be sharing amazing behind-the-scenes footage while producing the film.
About LESFILM Studio
LESFILM unites wildlife filmmakers, animators, environmental conservationists and scientists who are among the leading experts in Russian wildlife. Our goal is to create wildlife films with unique visuals and sounds that would urge viewers to preserve the fragile environment.
Our cinematography is rooted in the energy and rhythms of nature, we rely upon its fine-tuned system, immerse into it — following its rules that sometimes are elusive to the standard human perception. Our team uses the most current filming techniques to capture the life of flora and fauna. LESFILM also specializes in the recording of fauna and nature soundscapes.
Photo: Igor Shpilenok
Previous project
Kamchatka Bears. Life Begins
Kamchatka Bears. Life Begins
Lesfilm's first major project is Kamchatka Bears. Life Begins film directed by Vladislav Grishin and Irina Zhuravleva, which showcases the story of two mother bears and their newborns. This beautiful meditative film brings audience up close to the first and the most eventful year of brown bear cubs lives and their adventures. Kamchatka Bears. Life Begins is a movie that differs from the other nature documentaries. The movie was premiered internationally on February 2018 at the DocPoint Festival in Helsinki, Finland, had been selected for 45 festivals and received 24 awards from special prizes to Grand-Prix at Russian and international festivals in Finland, Slovakia, Canada, Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Korea, etc., 20 countries total. The film was broadcasted in Russia and Europe, and shown in the biggest cinemas of Russia, Finland, Estonia and Lithuania.
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Photography: Sergey Kolchin, Alexey Bezrukov, Denis Kochetkov, Oleg Kugaev