Disneynature Film ‘Born in China’ Premieres on April 21

A new Disneynature movie, “Born in China,” gives another side of the Asian giant beyond the images of Beijing and other landmarks China has been known for. Dame Jane Goodall, the ambassador of Disneynature, said the more than one-hour documentary took three years to shoot. The movie, the seventh theatrical release, is scheduled to show on April 21, one day before Earth Day.

Capturing the Animals’ Characters

It took the photographers a long time to shoot the documentary because they had to wait year in and year out to capture the animals’ characters, she said. Among the images that viewers would see are a snow leopard hunting in a terrain not fit for most mammals, a mother giant panda and her cub, and golden monkeys causing tree branches to crash to the ground while chasing and playing with one another in trees, East Oreganian reported.

Goodall said part of the proceeds of "Born in China," directed by Lu Chuan, a Chinese filmmaker, would go to the World Wildlife Fund. The 83-year-old, who had observed chimpanzees for 55 years in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park and worked on animal welfare issues and conservation for decades, said that China deserves to be commended for protecting snow leopards and pandas.

Tanzanian Chimpanzees

Meanwhile, Goodall discussed her life and career studying the behavior of wild Tanzanian chimpanzees as a doctoral student in the 1960s. The avid international conservationist and animal advocate shared her experience as part of her Birthday Tour.

To secure the survival of the chimpanzees and other wild species, she founded in 1977 the Jane Goodall Institute and in 1994 the Jane Goodall Institute in Canada. The institute also provides training and support for environmental and humanitarian education and action, Vancouver Sun reported.

The institute’s Roots & Shoots program is now in 98 countries and active across Canada. It encourages young people to create sustainable solutions within their communities.