The Texas PBS nature special Texas Wildlife: Our Future won an Emmy Award at the ceremony in San Antonio. The documentary took home the award in the Environment/Science category, honored for its stunning showcase of the state’s diverse and beautiful landscapes.
In a series of documentary shorts, the special puts the spotlight on the researchers working around the clock to safeguard Texas’ delicate ecosystems and endangered species. Ben Masters, who directed Emmy-Winning program Deep in the Heart, led the project as executive producer alongside producer Kierstan Schwab.
The four short films, “Batsies,” “Redfish Revival,” “Second Chance,” and “Ranching With Ocelots,” bring forth five different narratives centering efforts toward species protection and environmental conservation, from reversing the effects of overfishing to preserving habitats for the nation’s most endangered big cats.
The 60-minute special is the result of a partnership between Texas PBS and H-E-B, as well as the production company Fin & Fur Films. A longstanding partner with Texas PBS, Texas Wildlife: Our Future intends to educate Texans on their state’s environment while also demonstrating H-E-B’s sustainability efforts. The program was funded in part by H-E-B’s Our Texas: Our Future campaign: a commitment to protecting Texas’ natural resources by raising awareness for environmental issues and encouraging Texans to engage with the outdoors.
In addition, Texas PBS created six lesson plans that are available in PBS LearningMedia to provide resources for teachers on Texas Wildlife: Our Future. The Texas Wildlife Collection connects Texas teachers with the short film series, making education on sustainability more accessible to classrooms and showing children everything their state’s beautiful outdoors has to offer.
