Expedition: Operation Noah’s Ark

Series: Expedition!

Year Published: 1960

Description: This episode of "Expedition!" is entitled “Operation Noah’s Ark”, and documents a remarkable wildlife rescue operation in Africa during the late 1950s. "Expedition!" was a groundbreaking documentary series hosted by adventurer John D. Craig. This episode aired on September 27, 1960. “Operation Noah’s Ark” chronicles the efforts to save thousands of animals from the rising waters caused by the construction of the Kariba Dam on the Zambezi River in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), which created one of the world's largest man-made lakes. As the dam's reservoir filled, vast areas of the Zambezi Valley were submerged, threatening the lives of countless animals. The film captures the daring and innovative rescue missions undertaken to relocate these animals to safer grounds, highlighting the challenges faced by conservationists in preserving wildlife amidst rapid environmental changes. The episode closes by reflecting on the dual nature of human progress—how industrial advancement and ecological devastation often go hand in hand, leaving both triumph and tragedy in their wake. Note: This episode is based on the book of the same name by Charles Lagus. The film provides an authentic glimpse into mid-20th-century conservation efforts, and the burgeoning environmental awareness and conservation movements which gained broad public support by the end of the decade. 0:00 The program Expedition introduces “Operation Noah’s Ark,” a true story of a British team’s mission to rescue wild animals endangered by the creation of the Kariba Dam in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). 1:00 Host Colonel John D. Craig explains that the dam’s construction flooded vast lands, trapping thousands of animals on shrinking islands. 2:03 The Kariba Dam, an immense engineering project on the Zambezi River, symbolizes Africa’s modernization, but also triggers an ecological crisis as land and wildlife are submerged. 3:51 Hundreds of villages and over 50,000 people are evacuated, losing ancestral homes but gaining new opportunities, such as access to clean water and fishing. 6:06 Bulldozers and massive steel balls clear forests for fishing grounds, showcasing industrial progress amid environmental destruction. 7:57 At dawn, rescue teams—volunteers and game wardens—plan daily operations to save animals stranded by rising waters. 9:03 Despite debates over their mission’s importance, rescuers persist, motivated by compassion and the horror of watching animals die from hunger or drowning. 10:13 The team rescues a green mamba and a cobra, then captures a terrified genet cat, showing their determination to save even small creatures. 12:00 They next free an aardvark from a flooded burrow, demonstrating the challenges and risks of handling powerful, frightened animals. 14:09 Antelopes and other species are carefully caught in nets and relocated to safety, though many die from shock or exhaustion. 17:01 As water levels rise, rescuers turn their attention to elephants, setting up nets and beaters to guide smaller animals while preparing for larger rescues. 19:28 The team locates a stranded young elephant and struggles to rope and calm her, hoping the noise and her distress will draw her herd to safety. 22:27 Eventually, both the calf and her herd survive, symbolizing the mission’s success and dedication. 22:50 The narration closes reflecting on progress and its cost—while humans gain electricity and development, animals pay the price. 23:15 Colonel Craig concludes by praising the expedition’s bravery and compassion, noting that Operation Noah’s Ark preserved much of Africa’s wildlife in the face of unstoppable change. John D. Craig was a businessman, writer, soldier, diver, Hollywood stuntman, film producer, and tv host. He worked in the diving industry from the 1930s on, and filmed aerial combat over Europe during WWII. He is best known for using film and television to show the public the beauties and dangers of Earth's underwater worlds.

Online Copy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0vMXoGwt9c

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