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Animals on the Frontline

The old saying 'War is for the Dogs' is only partly correct. It's also for the horses, elephants, pigeons, rats, dolphins, camels, sea lions, oxen, chimps, sharks, bees, dragonflies, even the glow worm. Not to forget the thousands of handlers and trainers preparing, caring for and ultimately sending their charges into the most difficult of circumstances.

In the fascinating 3-part series, we’ll come face to face with this strange menagerie of recruits and find out what it is that makes them so invaluable, in the sea, the sky and on the land. Initially used to traverse rough terrain or simply to frighten the wits out of a ferocious enemy, animals and the technology developed to support them, have become tools of war as useful and utilized as the latest fully automatic weapon.

Immense budgets are spent every year on scientific and technological support systems for the use of animals in military conflicts. Be it visual imaging, sonar spy systems or training facilities, there are laboratories everywhere, including in some of the poorer regions of the world, where dedicated scientists spend years working to better the natural advantage that animals possess over humans in certain situations.

Animals on the Frontline will visit several scientific facilities and introduce some of the animal heroes that are working to save countless human lives every day. Armies spokespeople argue that in the past may indeed have some ugly, black spots but animals in the modern warfare era are treated with love, dignity and great respect. International animal rights groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on the other hand, denounce the utilization of animals by the military services of the world.

While generally focusing on the ability, successes and astounding facts of the animals' roles filled in military campaigning, Animals on the Frontline will not shy away from asking the tough questions and examining some of the more vicious rumors that tend to dominate public discussion of the subject.

Each episode of Animals on the Frontline will explore the modern developments and widespread use of animals in human conflict. We will travel to all four corners to seek out the whole gamut of animals that have been taken to the frontline. We will tell stories of animals in the frontline that are warm, sad, unbelievable and just plain insane.

Executive Producer: Carlos Alperin
Producer & Director: Robin Newell
Length: 3x52’

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