A guilt-stricken man stumbles into a Forest Department outpost, confessing to the murder… of elephants. His admission sets off a gripping crime story, uncovering the devastating effects of illegal poaching activities and the elaborate web of cover-ups by the very people tasked to protect wildlife. Under constant threat, a scattered group of officers, NGO workers, and volunteers chase leads and untangle threads in their search for justice. Facing down corruption and organized crime, they take on the biggest ivory poachers in the history of India, dedicated to dismantling an iniquitous conspiracy that at times seems as impenetrable as the forest around it. 

Once again finding inspiration in real events, Indo-Canadian director Richie Mehta (Delhi Crime, 2019 Sundance Film Festival) transposes the familiar beats of procedural investigative storytelling to the jungles of Kerala. Recognizable motivations like greed and redemption are elevated by Poacher’s authenticity and specificity of setting. In a dense tale of complicity and compassion, Mehta deftly showcases the complexities of the human role in the animal kingdom.

Presented here are the first three episodes of this powerful limited series.

Audience Advisory: This film contains strobe effects and may potentially trigger seizures. Viewer discretion is advised.