How has your appreciation for them deepened over the years, and are you still learning things about them?
Bob Poole: Yes, [I’m] absolutely still learning.
What was the story?
Bob Poole: I was filming forSecrets of the Elephantsin Namibia, in the desert.
You’ve always got to be prepared; you’ve got to be ready for when things happen.
I was like, “I know that sound.”
We were next to a herd of elephants that had happened to be not doing much of anything.
I was on a long lens, a 50 to 1000.
All I saw was legs; it was just elephant legs.
The legs parted, and there was a wet pile of baby elephant laying on the ground.
I was like, “Oh my God.”
The family moved on.
I’m sure why that happens.
The elephant fell asleep, the family left, and the little baby couldn’t keep up.
I’ve filmed baby elephants [die] in this situation before; it’s horrible.
It’s a long, agonizing, slow death, [and] it’s trauma for the mother.
Anyway, the baby got up and walked for over 45 kilometers in the hot sun.
[It was] less than 48 hours old, and caught up to the family.
It was really one of the most amazing things I’ve ever witnessed.
I have seen the first episode; I know exactly what you’re talking about.
Even just watching it was so stressful.
Bob Poole: Yeah, it was unbelievable.
I was so stressed out that whole time.
Does it take restraint to not try and find some way to help?
Bob Poole: Not so much.
It’s sad, but there’s nothing you might do.
We’re filming what’s going on; we’re not really meant to be there.
That’s exactly what we don’t do.
How do you set your expectations when you go out to shoot these animals?
Bob Poole: It’s pretty daunting, really.
I wouldn’t say it’s terrifying, but it’s daunting because the bar is high.
The expectations are huge.
As a cameraman, as DP, what you want is time.
You want all the time they’ll give you.
There’s never enough time, but you know, time is money.
Is there something that’s tough about shooting elephants?
Bob Poole: Every animal, like you said, is different.
For crocodiles, for example, you have to hide from them because they have very keen eyes.
[With] elephants, it’s smell.
You learn to work upwind.
If they’re nervous at all about being around people, [though], it’s the smell.
The conditions in the Namib Desert sound insane.
Was that the toughest place for you to shoot?
Yeah, for me, that was the toughest location.
It’s super hot, and intense sun.
If you’re out in that sun, it’s crushing.
Night time is gorgeous, and the rest of the time, it’s just hot.
Wind can be bad, too.
Imagine all that in your camera gear, and in every crack, and every pocket, and everywhere.
In your teeth…
Wow.
Bob Poole: Oh, absolutely.
We can all do our part.
It’s hard because we are living in this system that, just by itself, is destructive.
I always say if you want to help African animals, go to Africa.
The money that you would spend will help people.
Bob Poole: You know, there are lots of them.
It changes over time.
I think it’s safer to say that there are always things that are happening out there.
The only way you get good at this is through making a lot of mistakes and overcoming them.
The ground-breaking, award-winning natural history franchise Secrets of returns with its next installment, Secrets of the Elephants.
Secrets of the Elephants will change everything you thought you knew about elephants forever.
Check back soon for our otherSecrets of the Elephantsinterview with conservationist Dr. Paula Kahumbu.
Secrets of the Elephantswill premiere Friday, April 2 on National Geographic TV and on Disney+ the following day.
