After delving into the secrets of giants under the sea, James Cameron and National Geographic now explores the giants above ground in Secrets of the Elephants. Natalie Portman narrates the intricate social behavior of four elephant families from around the world, as each family adapts to their specific environments, as well as living beside, and sometimes, together with, the human world. Of course, the show offers picturesque views and fun facts about these gentle giants, but it recalls the same sociological approach that defined Secrets of the Whales as they treat the elephants’ behaviors as its own human-like culture.

After the success of Secrets of the Whales, it’s great to see National Geographic look into another species in Secrets of the Elephants. As expected, the nature documentary is stunningly shot, giving these gentle giants an almost ethereal aura. However, like Secrets of the Whales, the mini-series is less focused on individual, specific behaviors that set elephants apart, but rather, on the long-lasting, human-like familial communities these elephants naturally form. The events are real life and factual, but the series treats each family not as mindless animals but as intelligent creatures in their own right, and it’s an awe-inspiring approach that gives respect to the largest land animal in the world.