Raccoon RabiesA Documentary Series

Documentary Series idea for Animal planet Canada

By Kimberly Robb and Zaheen Hussain

Introduction• Raccoon Rabies- Discovered in the 1950’s• A strain that affects several small and medium

mammals• MNR kills infected animal, as well as every

other animal in a 15 km radius• Since 2006, 9700 raccoons, minks, skunks ,

foxes and other small animals have been killed.

The Documentary Idea• The documentary aims to serve a two-fold

purpose-

a) To show the audience the role the above mentioned small mammals play in Canada’s delicate ecosystem.

• b) To bring to the audience’s attention the insignificant threat raccoon rabies poses to humans and the brutal methods used to combat it.

Target Audience• The target audience would be the

citizens of Canada, with a special emphasis on the residents of Ontario.

• The aim is to spread the message across a wide (or several) demographic(s) rather than concentrate on any single one.

• Why should the audience care?

Humanitarian Reasons• 9000 Raccoons and other mammals

killed in 3 years.• Majority were rabies free• Orphaned babies are left to die by

the MNR• http://helpbabywildlife.ca/videos/bab

y_raccoon_resting.html• http://helpbabywildlife.ca/videos/bab

y_skunks.html• http://helpbabywildlife.ca/videos/bab

y_minks.html

Ecological Reasons• They are highly valued as

‘furbearers’ (Carry pollen on their fur, thereby helping plants reproduce.) and are hence vital to Canada’s ecology.

• The creatures scavenge as well as prey on pests such as mice, rats and insects.

Monetary Reasons.• Lots of taxpayers money is spent on this very

expensive method• Raccoon rabies has been responsible for only one

human death in the 50 years since the disease was discovered.

• Despite this, Ontario stands alone in North America for using the most-expensive approach to raccoon rabies control.

Broadcaster• Animal Planet Canada is

a Canadian English language specialty channel.

• Started November 2000.• Programming related to animals and

animal conservation

Airing Schedule

• This show will be four 1hour episodes over the span of a month.

• That is one episode per week. • The first show will air on October 4th

which is World Animal Welfare Day, and October 1st- 7th is World Wildlife Week.

•  Will conclude on October 25th.

Schedule

• December to February is Pre-production

• Finalize and hire crew• Finalize funds• Investigate story further• Take care of legal issues• Story board• Music

• February to April- Interviews• Interview MNR• Film Baby Raccoon Rosie story• Interview PETA • Interview other animal right

organisations

• May to July- filming (45 days of filming, 15 days buffer)

• Film MNR’s depopulation programme (if possible)

• Animals• Peta, Zoo, etc

• August to September- Post-Production

• Editing• Marketing• Promotion

Budget• Hotel• General Liability• Editing Equipment• Publicity Expenses • Parking• Videotape/ negative • Medicare• Closed captioning• Camera• Camping gear etc

Funding • World Wildlife Foundation• PETA• Grants: National Endowment for the arts,

Science Foundation• Foundation Centre • Companies• Zoo• Other animal rights organizations• Private donors