TV Reviews : ‘Keepers’: Affecting and Thoughtful

As mankind extends its dominion over the Earth, the animal kingdom pays a terrible price: Many species are now extinct or nearly so, many are brutally hunted for their tusks or horns, others see their territory shrinking daily. With enemies like these, they really need some friends.

Of course, they have them. Always have. Some special ones are profiled in a new “National Geographic” special, “Keepers of the Wild,” an affecting and thoughtful look at some deeply committed people. It airs tonight at 7 on KVCR-TV Channel 24 and at 8 p.m. on KCET-TV Channel 28 and KPBS-TV Channel 15.

Sue Barnard, for example, is a reptile keeper at Zoo Atlanta. But her real passion is--get this--bats. Especially young bats. Young and injured bats. Barnard has brought them into her home to care for them and has organized a group of “Bat Moms” who respond to calls from people who find injured or homeless bats.

“Keepers of the Wild,” produced by Allison Argo and narrated by actress Glenn Close, looks at the close, trusting relationships between the keepers and their animals. Among the keepers are Jack Castor, who has been caring for lions and tigers at the San Francisco Zoo for 39 years; Sharon Veitz, who watches long, long hours awaiting the birth of a 300-pound killer whale at Sea World, and Tony Garel, who operates a zoo in Belize on a shoestring.

And then there is Andy Lodge, who moved to Kenya when he saw firsthand the plight of rhinoceroses who were being slaughtered for their horns. Lodge now works at a refuge where rhinos are protected by electrified fences and armed guards.