The Natural History Film Unit (NHFU), based in Botswana, relied on the AERIGON UAV to capture aerial images of predators and prey for BBC Natural World's The Return of the Giant Killers - Africa's Lion Kings. The result is ground-breaking 4K footage of lions as they track their buffalo prey in the wild and an incredible audience experience of nature. By providing the industry's first professional airborne camera platform, AERIGON allows the filmmakers to capture overhead angles and perspectives with precision, efficiently and with minimal environmental impact.
The AERIGON is unique in that it's the most stable system out there, said Brad Bestelink, Director and Producer at NHFU. We chose it because it was the first to reliably fly a 4K camera, which is our main acquisition format.
The NHFU used RED Dragon cameras on the project and AERIGON is the only serially manufactured UAV built for full-sized cinema cameras and lenses. With a total payload capacity of 35 lbs. AERIGON can carry over 20 lbs. of camera equipment, along with its gimbal. The AERIGON gimbal offers advanced stabilization for cameras and professional zoom lenses and complete FIZ (Focus, Iris, Zoom) controls.
Other drones look like Meccano sets with their wires hanging out and parts attached with tape, said Bestelink. Each of the AERIGON's parts is a finished unit, meaning there's less wear and tear on the system.
Reliability and efficiency are crucial for Bestelink, especially for shooting in a natural environment where the crew needs to be ready at any moment to respond and move with the animals. The lions aren't waiting for us to assemble our equipment before they attack, Bestelink explained. The action happens only once and there's no time to sit and fiddle. The AERIGON works for us because it's plug and play.
With AERIGON, Bestelink and his crew could move through the bush with the individual AERIGON gimbal and helicopter components already assembled. This allowed the team to get their cameras into the air and ready to shoot in short order.
Seeing Animals in their Natural Environment
Along with the BBC, the NHFU also produces shows for National Geographic Wild and Animal Planet USA, as well as other clients and projects, such as the recent Taylor Swift music video, Wildest Dreams. The company prides itself on filming only wild animals in their natural habitat. By shooting in 4K, 5K, and even 6K, the team is able to capture behaviour that has never been filmed before, including high-speed footage of large predators at 2K and 225 fps.
We tell raw, real stories, Bestelink said. It's a refreshing look at the natural world. We find that audiences prefer honesty to feel-good fantasies of wildlife. And, interestingly, when people see nature the way it really is, they end up caring more about animals.
AERIGON has quickly become an indispensable tool for this type of observation-based storytelling with distinct advantages over other aircraft such as helicopters. AERIGON is much less obtrusive so that animal behavior can be captured without distractions or total disruptions such as downdraft. AERIGON is able to fly where helicopters cannot, is faster to deploy, requires fewer personnel, and is much more economical to operate.
We use the AERIGON to film where animals are interacting, Bestelink said. I don't like to use aerials for the sake of aerials. They have to serve a purpose and function in the telling of a story. Most of the time, our aerials are matched and complement what we're shooting simultaneously from ground positions providing a richer audience experience and a much better understanding of animal behavior.
In one stand-out sequence, the team caught the moment where a new leader of the pride is established during a confrontation with a herd of buffalo as a young female lion takes the place of her mother. Only from the air can we see the full menace of what she is facing: it is not just a line of buffalo, but a massive herd of thousands. Likewise, while the audience can grasp that the Savute Marsh is difficult for the lions to cross, the true measure of the journey can only be seen from the air.
When asked whether he finds his work dangerous, Bestelink laughs. Not really. I grew up in the bush. I find it much more frightening walking down a dark city street. Things happen out there that are natural. There's no blame, no remorse, it's survival. It's a much more honest existence, in a way, and I think we lose touch with that, living in society and in cities.
Return of Africa's Giant Killers was released on Aug. 19 for BBC. It will be distributed in the U.S. on America Animal Planet in early 2016.
About Intuitive Aerial AB (publ)
Intuitive Aerial is an international manufacturer of professional remote camera systems for high-end cinema and broadcast applications. The company makes the AERIGON, the industry's first remote piloted aerial camera platform (UAV) for professional cinema, broadcast and commercials productions. The AERIGON has been trusted to fly cameras on feature films such as Into the Woods and Avengers: Age of Ultron and on broadcasts such as BBC's nature doc series One Planet. It also manufactures the NEWTON, a stabilized remote camera head for broadcast applications. Both remote camera systems are controlled by the Intuitive Aerial DOMINION controller. Further, the company provides certification assistance and flight training for its customers worldwide.
###
Most recent headlines
09/11/2025
Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...
15/10/2025
Across the world, early-career reporters are interrogating systems that shape daily life, from mortuaries and classrooms to the corridors of legal education and...
15/10/2025
St. Louis Blues Pay Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne in New Pregame Open VideoThe NHL franchise worked with production firms 2WEI and 4th Floor CreativeBy Mark J Burns,...
15/10/2025
Cobalt Digital, G3DVu, Proxima Vision, and Telos Alliance Renew Premier Sponsors...
15/10/2025
By Paige Bethmann
Before my grandmother passed away in 2019, I went to visit her in the hospital where she'd been for a few weeks. When I arrived, the nurs...
15/10/2025
Two years ago, Spotify set out to grow the entire publishing industry by making ...
15/10/2025
People turn to DJ for a listening experience that feels personal, dynamic, and j...
15/10/2025
Las personas recurren a DJ para vivir una experiencia de escucha personal, din m...
15/10/2025
Rock legend Bruce Springsteen and luminary actor Jeremy Allen White came togethe...
15/10/2025
At Spotify, we're all about supporting rising talent and helping them connec...
15/10/2025
New SBS Documentary Series THE CANCER KILLERS Premieres 4 November on SBS & SBS ...
15/10/2025
SBS celebrates the Festivals of Lights with bold, illuminating stories across th...
15/10/2025
One of humanity's most profound questions continues: Is there any place in our galaxy suitable for life beyond Earth? NASA intends to find out, with the hel...
15/10/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
15/10/2025
Scality, a global leader in cyber-resilient storage software for the AI era, today announced the advancement of its comprehensive AI ecosystem certification pro...
15/10/2025
The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) today unveiled key highlights of the 2026 HPA Tech Retreat, scheduled for Feb. 15 19 at the Westin Rancho Mirage Go...
15/10/2025
At NAB Show New York 2025 (Stand 244), Interra Systems will showcase the future of media QC, monitoring, and captioning, highlighting its award-winning, AI- and...
15/10/2025
Grass Valley today announced that RMC BFM, part of the CMA-CGM Group and France's third-largest private media group, has chosen Grass Valley's productio...
15/10/2025
Appear, the global leader in live production technology, will demonstrate how its powerful hardware and software innovations are shaping the future of hybrid, s...
15/10/2025
Rakim to Join Berklee's Hip-Hop Hall of Fame at Signature Series Concert The rap icon becomes the latest inductee, following luminaries such as Roxanne Sh...
15/10/2025
Berklee Brings Live Music to the Head of the Charles Student artists will perform on multiple riverfront stages during the 60th anniversary of the world's...
15/10/2025
CobbTV, the government access television channel for Cobb County, Ga. recently acquired an automated playout system from Pebble, a global provider of automation...
15/10/2025
OSLO, Norway Appear, the global leader in live production technology, will demonstrate how its powerful hardware and software innovations are shaping the future...
15/10/2025
NEW YORK The NBA is making major changes to the NBA App and NBA TV as it takes control of them from TNT Sports, which has long managed the league's digital ...
15/10/2025
SAN MATEO, Calif. In what promises to be a major expansion of interactive features and personalized content on the DirecTV platform, the operator and Glance hav...
15/10/2025
SAN JOSE, Calif. Roku has launched changes to its user interface (UI) that the streaming platform says will better showcase original programming on the platform...
15/10/2025
LOS ANGELES Software-defined data storage and data services provider OpenDrives has elevated Alex Dunfey to chief technology officer, responsible for driving th...
15/10/2025
Abu Dhabi, UAE October 15, 2025: Space42 (ADX: SPACE42), the UAE-based AI-powe...
15/10/2025
Sheldon Nichols and Will Trickett to find and prepare more classic cars for budget conscious would-be owners from Wiser Films
UKTV have recommissioned the clas...
15/10/2025
Wednesday 15 October 2025
Nick Cave
JPEG (275 KB)
Explore the creative univer...
15/10/2025
Wednesday 15 October 2025
From breaking up with your partner to quitting your job - new polling shows some messages are just too scary to send
Over a fifth (...
15/10/2025
Rohde & Schwarz unveils compact MXO 3 oscilloscopes with 4 and 8 channels: Advan...
15/10/2025
Back to All News
Revenge Series The Resurrected' Captivates Audiences Across Asia
Entertainment
15 October 2025
GlobalTaiwan
Link copied to clipboard
...
15/10/2025
Back to All News
Bringing the Best in VFX and Virtual Production Together as Eyeline
Jeffrey Shapiro
CEO, Eyeline
Business
15 October 2025
GlobalCanadaInd...
15/10/2025
Deployed by Astound Business Solutions, Harmonic's Primary Distribution Solution Ensures Outstanding Video Quality and Seamless Ad Insertion at the Edge
SA...
15/10/2025
Collaboration extends a trusted relationship as RMC BFM invests in scalable, fut...
15/10/2025
Series coming in 2026 stars Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Justine Mitchell and Jason O'Mara released today
RT today released first look images of new comedy-drama ...
14/10/2025
SVG Europe Summit 2025: All Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAYNetworking event that preceded IBC2025 shone a light on elite live sports innovation acro...
14/10/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Author Rich Podolsky on Writing Madden & Summerall: How They Revo...
14/10/2025
SVG All-Stars: Michael Reiners, Coordinating Producer, FloRacingThe Illinois State grad steers a vast schedule of motorsports events at tracks across the countr...
14/10/2025
Content protection: Getting the right management for your DRM By Neal Romanek
Friday, October 10, 2025 - 10:11
Print This Story
Eluvio power the EPCR'...
14/10/2025
As League Takes Over Ops, NBA TV and NBA App Add 60 Games, Weekday Studio Show, ...
14/10/2025
Time and effort: World's largest student-led broadcast prepares to go On Air...
14/10/2025
(L-R) Guest, Kimberly Robinson Jones, Geeta Gandbhir, Pamela Dias, and Takema Ro...
14/10/2025
Lossless ist jetzt mit Spotify Premium verf gbar.
Verlustfreies Audio war eine...
14/10/2025
La qualit Lossless est disponible sur Spotify Premium.
Le format sans perte de...
14/10/2025
For the seventh edition of Spotify and FC Barcelona's artist jersey series, ...
14/10/2025
Spotify is committed to bringing the best listening experience to all our users, and that includes parents and families. That's why we're expanding mana...
14/10/2025
Since its debut, the Spotify Original podcast Caso 63 has been more than just a story; it's been a cultural sensation. The science fiction thriller captivat...
The Natural History Film Unit (NHFU), based in Botswana, relied on the AERIGON UAV to capture aerial images of predators and prey for BBC Natural World's The Return of the Giant Killers - Africa's Lion Kings. The result is ground-breaking 4K footage of lions as they track their buffalo prey in the wild and an incredible audience experience of nature. By providing the industry's first professional airborne camera platform, AERIGON allows the filmmakers to capture overhead angles and perspectives with precision, efficiently and with minimal environmental impact.
