Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey Wins Best Documentary — Another Boost for African Wildlife Film

Photo Credit: Netflix

The Netflix documentary Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey has just won Best Documentary at the 2025 National Film & TV Awards (NFTA) in Pretoria, marking a major win for wildlife storytelling and conservation cinema in Africa.

Directed by Pippa Ehrlich — the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind My Octopus Teacher — the 2025 film tells the story of a rescued pangolin named “Kulu,” rehabilitated after being trafficked, and the man who risked much to give the animal a second chance.

Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey follows South African conservationist Gareth Thomas as he rescues Kulu, a baby pangolin captured by traffickers, and undertakes the difficult task of rehabilitating and eventually releasing her back to the wild. The film doesn’t sugarcoat the odds — from pangolin endangerment to illegal wildlife trade — but still manages to offer hope, empathy, and cinematic beauty.

Critics have described the documentary as “intimate and gripping,” praising its ability to humanise wildlife conservation without slipping into preachiness.

The success of Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey serves as a reminder: African stories — even about small, often-overlooked creatures — can carry global weight. When storytelling meets purpose, and purpose meets craft, what emerges isn’t just a film — it’s a movement.