Tusker explores male elephants and their tusks in Amboseli.

A Nature/PBS film follows male elephants in Kenya’s Amboseli, documenting individual personalities, variation in tusks and close social bonds while noting pressure from human development.

The film follows male elephants in the Amboseli ecosystem and focuses on their individual behaviors and physical differences. The production sought distinct elephant characters and worked with local trackers and rangers to find them. Crew members describe using high-end camera rigs and patient observation to capture behavior. The team filmed named males such as Esau and Pascal and recorded their interactions over multiple shoots. Key observations: - Elephants in the film are shown as individuals with distinct personalities and physical traits; tusk size and shape are described as inherited and unique. - The project concentrated on male elephants and tracked specific animals across weeks and seasons, with Esau and Pascal highlighted as recurring subjects. - Local contributors including Maasai tracker Eric Ole Kalama and ranger Daniel Kutato played essential roles in locating elephants and navigating the landscape. - Filmmakers used advanced camera equipment and varied angles to document close interactions and social behavior. - Scenes show gentleness and social bonds among male groups, including bachelor-group interactions. - The crew recorded the shrinking availability of wild land and described human development as a major threat to tuskers. Summary: The film presents an intimate view of male elephant lives, emphasizing individuality, tusk variation and social bonds while documenting pressures from habitat loss and development. Filmmakers frame the project to inform a broader audience about these animals and the changes in their environment. Undetermined at this time.