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Dr Daniel Hunter

@danielhunterfilm

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Wildlife cinematographer + conservation biologist 🐕
Specialising in long lens, drone + gimbal systems 🎥
@bbcearth @netflix @natgeotv @appletv 🌎

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‘Big Desert’ dingoes filmed for the first time.

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of filming in the Big Desert, located in northwest Victoria on the traditional lands of the Wotjobaluk people.

The dingoes in this region are extremely isolated and genetically distinct from other dingo ecotypes found across Australia. Surrounded by farmland on all sides, this population functions as an ‘island’ population, with no genetic exchange with dingo populations from the central desert or high country. This isolation means these dingoes are highly unique and vulnerable. These animals are at serious risk of extinction.

Historically these dingoes were indiscriminately culled by farmers, Parks Victoria, and other land managers due to their perceived threat to livestock. This is despite the fact that all dingoes, regardless of their location, play a vital role in Australia’s ecosystems. The science is clear, removal of dingoes leads to sustained ecological collapse.

Not long after this footage was captured this population of dingoes received legal protection. It is now illegal to harm or kill them. Hopefully this decision can be used as a case study going forward for dingo populations across the mainland.

A special thanks to Mel Browning of the Australian Dingo Foundation and Leesh Martion from Deakin University’s Big Desert Dingo Research for extending the invitation to be part of this project.

Shot on @reddigitalcinema Red Raptor and @canonanz CN20

#dingo by @danielhunterfilm

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2 years ago

Had the privilege of being one of the cinematographers on BBC’s - Dynasties meerkat episode in February 2020.

We spent some of the best weeks in the beautiful Makadikadi desert in Botswana chasing a meerkat family around in the heat and sand. Meerkats have absolutely incredible lives filled with unbelievable drama and if you don’t know much about them check out this program.

Had so much fun working on this and always pinch myself that I am lucky enough to work with friends new and old doing what I love in fascinating places.

Produced and directed by Emma Napper

Cinematography team: Mike Amos, John Brown, Tom Crowley, Ivo Nuremberg, Ed Saltau, Ewan Donnachie and moi.

Narrated by Sir David Attenborough

And if you get the chance to stay in @naturalselectiontravel Jacks Camp, do yourself a favour.

#meerkat by @danielhunterfilm

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2 years ago

Trying to capture the essence of filming the green sea turtle sequence for Planet Earth 3 🐢

Me, Ed and Brayden filmed this one remotely on the outer Great Barrier Reef on a gorgeous and tiny island called Raine Island. Despite the island being minuscule, each year it is home to the largest green sea turtle nesting event anywhere on earth! Such a wild experience being there while tens of thousands of these enormous mumma’s haul their huge bodies out of water and onto land to lay their eggs. It’s such a cool (and sometimes devastating) story and if you’re interested check it out on the Coasts episode of Planet Earth 3.

We spent a month on a tiny little boat making this sequence. It was one of the most physically brutal shoots because the air con on our boat didn’t work. When it was time to sleep we were roasting in the scorching heat - sleep was rare. Adds to fun memories of it all 🥱 🤪

We were fortunate enough to have Keron Murray from the Wuthati People on board and also Falen Passi from the Meriam People guiding, educating and assisting us wherever possible. These Indigenous people are so passionate about Raine Island and turtle conservation and they are so deeply connected to this place that one can’t help but be stirred in some way.

Producer: Nick Easton
Assistant Producer: Estelle Cheuk
Cinematographers: Edward Saltau, Brayden Maloney and Daniel Hunter.
Narrated by: David Attenborough by @danielhunterfilm

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2 years ago

SECURE YOUR TICKETS AT THE LINK IN OUR BIO 🐕

We are proud to introduce our panel member for the Melbourne screening of Moort: Calling Dingo Back to Country, followed by a special second screening of Landholders for Dingoes Film Wooleen: Utilising Dingoes as a Management Tool, Dr Daniel Hunter.

Daniel is a wildlife biologist with specialist expertise in dingo ecology. He completed his PhD at the University of New South Wales, where he spent four years researching the role of dingoes in Australian forest ecosystems, with fieldwork across the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and the mid-north coast of NSW. His research has been published in leading journals including Biological Conservation, Mammal Review and Wildlife Research.

Daniel is also a wildlife cinematographer whose work has featured in major international productions including the BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, Apple TV+’s Earth at Night in Colour, and Netflix’s Animal. His time filming dingoes in the wild has resulted in rare behavioural documentation, including the first recorded footage of dingoes hunting kangaroos.

Daniel’s work focuses on increasing public understanding of the ecological importance of dingoes and their role in Australia’s ecosystems. We are very excited to have him join the panel.

Event details:
Moort Calling Dingo Back to Country + Wooleen: Utilising Dingoes as a Management Tool
Double Short Film Screenings & Panel Discussion
6:30pm-8:00pm (doors open from 5pm, films begin at 6.30pm and doors close at 8.30pm)
| St. Kilda Town Hall, Naarm (Melbourne)

We hope to see you there! 🐕 by @danielhunterfilm

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2 months ago

Did you know that dingoes are being killed across New South Wales national parks?

These are public conservation spaces that are suppose to be set aside for biodiversity conservation. Instead, dingoes are targeted widely with 1080 poison baiting and are even trapped and shot, with cascading ecological consequences.

This is despite dingoes immense cultural and ecological significance. It’s time they were protected & landholder interests be safeguarded utilising non-lethal measures.

This is a snippet of @danielhunterfilm from our collaborative campaign with @dingoculture & Humane World for Animals. by @danielhunterfilm

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3 months ago

Did you know that dingoes are being targeted with killing programs across New South Wales national parks? Vast conservation areas are blanketed with 1080 poison baits specifically targeting dingoes.

Ecosystem Biologist and Dingo expert Dr. Daniel Hunter says this is despite the vital ecological role dingoes play as Australia’s largest land predator. Dingoes’ presence helps regulate large herbivore populations, reducing grazing pressure on native vegetation, while also suppressing—and in some circumstances eliminating— introduced species such as foxes, cats, goats, and pigs.

For Ngarigo Cultural Custodian Aunty Gail Neuss, the killing of dingoes on Country represents a deep cultural pain. Like many Cultural Custodians across New South Wales, dingoes are a culturally significant species to her and her family.

Defend the Wild, @dingoculture and Humane World for Animals Australia are working together to secure lasting protections for dingoes in New South Wales’ national parks. And we have already made great strides to get there.

The New South Wales Parliament has launched an inquiry into the management of dingoes in national parks and this is a critical moment in history to take action to protect dingoes.

We have developed guides to help you make a submission to protect dingoes. You can find them at the link in our bio.

Together, we can ensure protections for dingoes. Join us by adding your voice, today.

Shot by @danielhunterfilm and Ben Cunningham
Edit, sound design, colour grade and animation by @emvines
Shoot assistance with thanks to Melissa Anderson
Directed by Alix Livingstone, Renae Charalambous & Sonya Grant by @danielhunterfilm

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3 months ago

Moort. In the shared language of the Wadandi, Pibulmun, Merningar, Barduk, Goreng, Menang and Wudjari peoples of south-west Australia, it means family.

That’s what Dingo is to these people. A living part of Country.

I was behind the camera on this one. This was one of those jobs that reminds you why you picked up a camera in the first place. Some stories just need to be told.

Find screenings at @defendthewild — link in their bio.
@defendthewild @dingoculture @esperance_tjaltjraak @nowanupboodja @undalup_association by @danielhunterfilm

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4 months ago

Creating the colour variants

Field Editions
Alpine Dingo

Alpine dingoes come in an incredible variety of colours, most of which I had never seen before starting this project.

One of the goals of this artwork is to bring awareness and appreciation to their beauty and diversity.

Follow the link in bio to purchase.
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@danielhunterfilm
@field.editions
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#scientificillustration #naturalhistoryillustration #dingo #koziosconationalpark #wildlifeartist by @danielhunterfilm

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5 months ago

I’ve spent years filming and studying dingoes in the Australian Alps, trying to better understand how they move through and shape these systems.

Most of what they do goes unseen.

The first Field Edition draws from the years spent researching and filming these beautiful animals.

Dingoes play a key ecological role, influencing prey populations, controlling introduced mesopredators and the broader structure of ecosystems.

Edition of 150.

Beautifully hand drawn by Australian natural history artist Lillian Webb @lillian_webb_2
 Printed on museum-grade paper at @houndandbonestudio

10% of proceeds support conservation through @bushheritageaus

Now available via link in bio :) by @danielhunterfilm

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6 months ago

Field Editions comes out of time in the field.

Long periods of waiting, watching, and filming. Trying to understand what’s actually going on.

These works are a way of holding onto those moments.

Each edition is a limited-run print, developed from those observations in collaboration with an artist.

Built slowly, over months, between fieldwork and studio. by @danielhunterfilm

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7 months ago

I’ve spent years filming dingoes, studying their natural history and trying to understand how their behaviour influences the landscapes they shape.

Most of what they do goes unseen. This is a moment in time made visible.

Field Editions, Release I, coming soon.

@bushheritageaus @lillian_webb_2 by @danielhunterfilm

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7 months ago

At the start of this year I was lucky enough to spend a couple of weeks in the gorgeous southwest of Western Australia filming this short documentary.

The film is called ‘Moort’ which is a word that means both dingo and family and it highlights the deep importance of dingoes to First Nations people here. Dingoes are heavily persecuted in this part of the country, and in many areas they’re now locally extinct. This is unacceptable. This film shows how removing dingoes has cascading negative effects that go far beyond the ecology of the bush, reaching into culture, identity, and the human psyche.

It was a special trip, being able to spend so much time on Country with Elders and their families. The stories, the access, and seeing first-hand what connection to Country really means was a real privilege.

Moort was produced by @defendthewild and @dingoculture and partnered with @esperance_tjaltjraak @girringunaboriginalcorp @minyumai_ipa and @drguilf

Looks like it’ll be premiering in Western Oz soon check out @defendthewild for more info. Thank you @defendthewild and @dingoculture for asking me to film this one!

#dingo by @danielhunterfilm

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a year ago