Pioneering small-ship expedition cruise company Heritage Expeditions is excited to announce its partnership with legendary wildlife television presenter, producer, author, zoologist and naturalist Nigel Marven on his new wildlife documentary, The Last Penguin.
Commissioned by leading online documentary streaming service MagellanTV, the 60-minute wildlife documentary will chart Marven’s journey from New Zealand down to Antarctica’s Ross Sea, via the Subantarctic Islands, in search of the emperor penguin on Heritage Expeditions ‘In the Wake of Scott & Shackleton’ voyage departing 7 January 2025.
Marven, whose indelible career in wildlife filmmaking spans more than 30 years, described the upcoming documentary as an “important passion project”.
“While The Last Penguin will culminate with the emperor penguin, wildlife and heroic history of the Ross Sea, it will also shine a spotlight on all the other rare, endangered and wonderful wildlife and otherworldly flora encountered along the way, highlighting their importance and the need for their ongoing conservation and protection,” he said.
The former Sir David Attenborough collaborator and National Geographic and Animal Planet regular said it was a privilege to share these rarely-visited, unique wildlife havens with Heritage Expeditions guests and his viewers.
“The Last Penguin will provide guests travelling with us a fascinating insight into how a wildlife documentary is made, and viewers with the opportunity to join us on the ultimate bucket list adventure as we explore the world’s last true wilderness,” he said.
“We’ll be sailing as far south as possible, crossing the Antarctic Circle and into ‘the heart of Antarctica’ and realm of 24-hour daylight where we’ll visit the world’s largest and oldest Adelie penguin colony; observe orca hunting along the Ross Ice Shelf, Weddell seals, chinstrap penguins and sea lions; step inside the historic huts of Scott, Shackleton and Borchgrevink and walk on the ice with emperor penguins,” said Marven.
Visiting the Subantarctic Islands on the way to, and from, Antarctica provided the unique opportunity to film additional rare penguin species as well as tap into a regal-themed penguin storyline combining royal, king and emperor penguins, he said.
“These wild and windswept islands are home to some incredible diversity including the endemic Snares crested penguin on the Snares Islands, royal penguin on Macquarie Island and eastern rockhopper penguin throughout these islands – the only places in the world you can see these species – along with yellow-eyed penguin on the Auckland Islands and the hundreds of thousands of king penguins which call Macquarie Island home.”
Marven, who is also joining Heritage Expeditions on its Birding Down Under, Galapagos of the Southern Ocean and Beyond Fiordland Subantarctic Island voyages will also have the opportunity to film and observe little, Fiordland crested, gentoo and the elusive erect crested penguin which is found only on New Zealand’s Bounty and Antipodes Subantarctic Islands.
“That’s 12 of the world’s 18 species of penguin – it’s little wonder these islands and region are filled with Nature Reserves and bestowed UNESCO World Heritage status,” he said.
“To visit this part of the world is a privilege and therefore important to travel with a company like Heritage Expeditions which, as the most experienced and longest operating expedition cruise company in the Southern Ocean, has been actively supporting and advocating for their conservation for more than 35 years,” he said.
The New Zealand family-owned and operated cruise company’s Commercial Director and Expedition Leader Aaron Russ said it was a pleasure to partner with the like-minded naturalist and adventurer and share the importance of this special part of the world with his viewers.
“Nigel is among a league of extraordinary wildlife filmmakers, and we look forward to sharing his contagious enthusiasm for the natural world and the importance of these wildlife havens with our guests and the greater viewing audience,” said Aaron.
“To explore and experience the Subantarctic Islands of Australia and New Zealand and sail into the heart of Antarctica with Nigel while he films The Last Penguin truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The Last Penguin will be hosted on MagellanTV, widely considered Netflix for documentaries, for ten years and pushed out through international partners. During this time, it is anticipated the documentary will educate millions of viewers on this very special part of the world.
IN THE WAKE OF SCOTT & SHACKLETON
28 DAYS | 7 Jan – 3 Feb 2025
Queenstown, return
Voyage into the heart of Antarctica, via the Subantarctic Islands, on an epic bucket list voyage steeped in history. Expeditions to Antarctica from New Zealand take guests further south into the frozen continent than any sea route. Join the onboard team of expert biologists, geologists, and historians on a true bucket list expedition. Zodiac cruise colossal ice shelves and icebergs, visit research stations, observe whales and seals, walk on the ice with emperor penguins and step inside the preserved historic huts of Shackleton and Scott.
Save 20%* on Heritage Suites (£38,570 per person including discount) & Save 15%* on Worsley Suites (£28,390 per person including discount) booked by 29 November 2024.
Prices quoted are based on two guests sharing a Suite, including all meals, house beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, all shore excursions and activities, one night hotel accommodation (incl. dinner/breakfast), pre- and post-cruise transfers, programme of lectures by noted specialists.
