Zoya Akhtar-backed documentary Turtle Walker, directed by Taira Malaney, will premiere on Animal Planet on October 19 as part of its wildlife anthology India: Epic Wild Stories.
Produced by Tiger Baby, Emaho Films and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, the documentary follows conservationist Satish Bhaskar’s efforts to document sea turtle nesting sites along India’s coastline and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and his subsequent work to protect them.
Beginning in the late 1970s, Turtle Walker traces Bhaskar’s solitary expeditions, including his stay on the uninhabited Suheli Par island in Lakshadweep, where he communicated with his wife through letters sent in bottles.
The film also follows his return to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after the devastating 2004 tsunami, as he sought to understand the disaster’s impact on sea turtles and their nesting beaches.
“Satish Bhaskar’s is one of those extraordinary stories that deserves to be told widely. Animal Planet has been bringing stories that foster deeper connections with the natural world, and we are so glad Turtle Walker has found a place in India: Epic Wild Stories,” Akhtar said.
“What stays with you about Satish’s journey is how much one person can do simply by caring deeply and refusing to give up. After seeing his story connect with audiences around the world, it feels special to now have it reach a wider audience back home through Animal Planet,” Reema Kagti added.
“After nearly 9 years in the making, and screening at 75+ international film festivals, 20+ awards and 100+ community screenings, we cannot wait to bring this film to Animal Planet’s vibrant and varied audiences across India. I hope viewers feel the same sense of awe for our country’s rich marine biodiversity that I did while making this film, and are inspired by the immense impact that a single individual can truly have,” Malaney said.
“Turtle Walker presents the perfect confluence of a deeply personal journey with a larger story about conservation. It reflects our belief that the most powerful wildlife stories are those that connect the natural world with the people who dedicate their lives to protecting it,” said Sai Abishek, Head of Factual Entertainment, Lifestyle & Kids - South Asia, Skydance.
Turtle Walker premiered at DOC NYC in 2024 and has since screened at several international film festivals, including Raindance, the Hamptons International Film Festival, BANFF Mountain Film Festival and Brisbane International Film Festival.
The documentary has received awards at events including Jackson Wild Grand Teton, Academia Film Olomouc, where it won the Best Film Award, the SILBERSALZ Science & Media Awards, where it received the Best Nature Programme award, and the Tasveer Film Festival, where it won a Jury Award.
It has also been nominated for the Grierson Awards in the Best Science and Natural History Documentary category.