Films by Ralph Stutchbury

Ralph has been a filmmaker and cameraman his entire working life. Starting out as a news cameraman during the Zimbabwean war of independence, his career changed after the end of the war, with the focus shifting to making commercials. Although creating commercials became the main thrust of his career and source of income, his passion always lay in wildlife filmmaking and photography.

Over the years Ralph has produced many wildlife documentaries, including The Lion Tree, All About Elephants and The Upside Down Tree (a documentary on Baobab trees).

Nature Documentaries

The Lion Tree

In the middle of the Busanga Plains, a Zambian wetland in the north of the Kafue National Park, stands an enormous fig tree on the top of a rise that looks out over the wetlands, home to thousands of lechwe. This is the territory of a pride of lions whose lineage stretches back many generations. Change is coming to the fig tree pride. Big John, the alpha male, has disappeared, most probably lured into the neighbouring hunting area, never to be seen again. Two contenders to take over Big John’s pride have appeared on the plains: a young male starting out on his quest for a pride of lionesses and an old, battle-worn male whose only chance of survival rests on gaining a pride of females to support him in his hunts.

The Lion Tree follows the pride during the dry season, tracking their movements and the developments until the plains change altogether with the arrival of the rains.

All About Elephants

Among Africa’s, and indeed the world’s, most charismatic of the megafauna: African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana) holds a special place in the hearts and imagination of people everywhere. Drawing on footage taken over the course of his long career as a wildlife filmmaker, All About Elephants is the definitive record, setting out the facts about these creatures. It is a tribute to the intelligence, grace and enduring spirit of Africa’s giants.

The Upside-Down Tree