The northern white rhino stands on the brink of extinction, with only two surviving females. Decades of poaching have left the species desperate for intervention. Mumbai-based director Mayurica Biswas has captured this struggle in her four-part docu-series, The Resurrection Quest. The series, produced by Storyteller Films for Singapore’s CNA, has won the Gold Dolphin at the 16th Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards in the Science, Technology and Innovation category.
Science at the edge
The docu-series follows pioneering efforts in de-extinction. From rhino IVF in Kenya to woolly mammoth DNA recovery in Siberia, camel cloning in Dubai, and pet cloning labs in China. With footage from eight countries, it explores how scientists are experimenting with cloning, gene-editing and assisted reproduction to save endangered species and even resurrect the lost.
More than science
Biswas‘s film captures the emotional stakes, including a biologist consumed by the dream of reviving an extinct pigeon, a father-son duo racing against melting permafrost, and a vet haunted by the loss of a pet.
Moreover, The Resurrection Quest questions the ethics of such interventions. Is de-extinction innovation, necessity, or hubris? “The series doesn’t offer easy answers,” Biswas notes. “It holds space for uncertainty, contradiction, and awe, reflecting a world where we can edit genes but fail to protect ecosystems.”
Alongside Biswas, the Indian crew included creative director Radhika Chandrashekhar, series editor Tushar Ghogale and cinematographer Kartik Thapliyal.
A global conversation
With its reach across Asia, Africa, Europe and the US, the series places Indian filmmaking at the centre of the world’s most pressing debate: whether humans should intervene to rescue species or let nature take its course.
The four-episode docu-series is available to watch on YouTube for free. If you want to explore the fascinating journey of science, survival, and ethical dilemmas, click here to watch The Resurrection Quest and dive into a world where innovation meets conservation.
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