At the end of 2005, beginning of 2006 we prepared an unusual reality show on Czech Radio. We called it Odhaleni "The Revealed" and created it as a reaction to the boom container type reality shows like Big Brother or VyVoleni (The Chosen). There were also "competitors" locked up in a "villa" n our "somewhat different reality show". However, it concerned a family of western lowland gorillas in the Prague Zoo.
Richard, Shinda, Kijiva, Moja and later on Kamba as well were monitored by several cameras non-stop. Apart from live internet transmission and other internet releases and broadcast transmission, a television cut was prepared daily of the happenings in the "villa" and public voting was conducted, based on which the reality show winner was later announced (the winner won 12 melons).
However, the goal of the project was far from just being about taking a peek inside using a popular television format. The main intent was to confront the behaviour of gorillas with the behaviour of human beings. Another goal was to bring relevant information on apes and to contribute to their protection. We also managed to unexpectedly gain highly valuable material for scientific research.
In the Czech Republic, The Revealed stirred huge interest among the media and public. Incidentally it was this very interest that became the main cause of why we continued to pursue this project even after the "somewhat different reality show" finished. The cameras that are installed in the gorilla pavilion have long since been operated by volunteers via the internet...
The gorillas from Prague Zoo have become celebrities, which crowds flock to see. The project The Revealed has received a number of awards, e.g. the 2DVD of the very same name was awarded the "Wild Oscar" as the prestigious Wildscreen in Bristol.
In addition to the aforementioned DVD, a continuation of it was also made, plus a book was published on the project, and even a book of gorilla fairy tales and rhymes. The logo The Revealed even found itself on under garments. The proceeds from these activities are intended to support the protection of western lowland gorillas living in the wild. We financially supported the rescue station in Cameroon's Limbe. We distributed the gorilla fairy tale book successfully in Cameroon's schools at the end of 2008 and more.
In 2009, we will focus more dramatically on protecting western lowland gorillas living in the wild within the scope of the project The Revealed. We have become the partner of The Year of the Gorilla, launched by UNEP and WAZA, and we have established cooperation with Richard Leakey and wildlifedirect.org.
Even now we are not abandoning the gorilla family in the Prague Zoo and live internet transmission will continue. The main feature of the project will be to provide information on gorillas in Africa, on the environment they live in, on the conservation of African nature and all other related facts. At present we are continuing with collecting resources on our collection account and we are planning other educational activities primarily aimed at African children in the near future.
Fundamental team of the project The Revealed:
Author and Project leader: Miroslav Bobek
Radio broadcasting and Coordinator of African activities: Jana
Jirátová
Camera Operator:Khalil Baalbaki
Marketing and PR: Petra
Hanzelková
Production: Klára Janečková, Kristýna Richterová
Technical provision:
Jiří Malina, Martin
Prokeš
Dramaturgy and Screenplay: Radomír Šofr
Montage and Director: Petr
Slavík
Graphics: Marek Václavík
Web editor:
Zuzana Šmejkalová
Expert adviser:
Marina Vančatová
Controller: Pavel Svoboda
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