Elk in Paradise tells the story of migratory elk in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the ranchers they depend on.

The ancient pathways of elk are the lynchpin of the GYE and their habitat spans both public and private lands. The rancher, ecologist, and hunter agree that the private working lands of the GYE provide essential habitat for the migratory species we love.

But from forage loss to the threat of brucellosis, providing this habitat brings costs to the rancher. Increasing population density and development also represent serious threats for the elk, ranchers, and broader ecosystem.

To conserve big game migrations it must make economic sense for the landowners that provide much of the habitat. By incorporating market mechanisms and entrepreneurship to align incentives to conserve habitat, we can make wildlife an economic asset, or at least less of a burden, instead of a liability.

This film explores how we can bring together different stakeholders in a new era of cooperation to conserve these critical migratory pathways.