Gordon Buchanan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gordon Buchanan
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Buchanan in March 2023.
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Gordon John Buchanan
10 April 1972 Dumbarton, Scotland
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| Years active | 1989–present |
| Spouse(s) | Wendy Buchanan |
| Children | 2 |
Gordon John Buchanan (born April 10, 1972) is a Scottish wildlife cameraman, filmmaker, and presenter. He is well-known for his nature documentaries. Some of his popular shows include Tribes, Predators & Me, The Bear Family & Me, and The Polar Bear Family & Me. He helps people learn about animals and their habitats.
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Gordon Buchanan's Early Life
Gordon Buchanan was born in Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. He grew up on the Isle of Mull. As a child, he loved watching nature shows. He was a big fan of David Attenborough's TV programmes. He also enjoyed a nature show called Survival. These shows inspired his future career.
Gordon Buchanan's Career
Gordon Buchanan has had a long career filming wildlife. He has shot documentaries in many parts of the world. These places include Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Africa.
Starting His Filming Journey
Gordon's career began when he was working in a restaurant. A cameraman named Nick Gordon invited him to be his assistant. This first project was in Sierra Leone. Gordon was there for almost a year. However, they had to stop filming because of civil unrest. He left school to join Nick Gordon on this trip. He then continued to work with him in Venezuela and Brazil.
Filming Big Cats and Eagles
Gordon started working on his own in 1995. He became known for his films about big cats. He worked on the show Big Cat Diary. He also returned to his home on the Isle of Mull. There, he filmed white tailed eagles. This film was part of the Natural World series. It was called "Eagle Island" and received good reviews. He also filmed "Leopards of Yala" for Natural World.
Wildlife in the UK and Beyond
Gordon has filmed foxes in Glasgow, where he lives. He filmed them for the shows Springwatch and Autumnwatch. His footage of grey seal pups was a highlight. He returned for Springwatch 2008. He filmed people with amazing wildlife stories. In Autumnwatch 2008, he filmed grey seal pups again. This time, he was at the Farne Islands.
In early 2009, Gordon worked with the BBC on Lost Land of the Volcano. He filmed in Papua New Guinea for a month. He also filmed Lost Land of the Tiger and Lost Land of the Jaguar. These shows followed a similar adventure format.
Documentaries with Animals
In December 2010, The Bear Family and Me aired. This documentary showed a year Gordon spent with black bears. He filmed them in Minnesota, USA. In January 2013, he presented The Polar Bear Family & Me. This show followed a polar bear and her cubs. It covered their lives through spring, summer, and autumn.
In December 2014, The Snow Wolf Family & Me was broadcast. Gordon visited Ellesmere Island in Canada. He followed a wolf pack as they raised their cubs. This was followed by Super Cute Animals in February 2015.
In 2015, he presented Leopard in the City. This film was about "urban leopards" in Mumbai, India. These leopards mostly hunt stray dogs. He also filmed Gorilla Family & Me for the BBC.
In 2016, he appeared in Elephant Family and Me. He visited Africa to understand elephants better. He also narrated Life in the Snow. Then, he worked with polar bears again. This was for Life in Polar Bear Town. It looked at how polar bears interact with people.
From 2016 to 2017, he filmed two series of Tribes, Predators and Me. He spent time with people who live near dangerous animals. These included hyenas and crocodiles. He continued with The Reindeer Family and Me. This show followed a reindeer herd on their migration. He also filmed Into the Wild, a six-part series. In it, he took famous people to UK nature spots.
In 2018, Gordon presented Animals with Cameras. He used new camera techniques to show animal lives. After this, he filmed Grizzly Bear Cubs and Me. He helped young bears get ready to return to the wild.
In 2019, Gordon continued presenting nature shows. He traveled around the equator for Equator from the Air. He also filmed Snow Cats and Me. In this show, he helped rehabilitate Lynx. In 2020, he returned to Springwatch as a guest presenter. He filmed live from Scotland. He ended the year with The Cheetah Family and Me.
In 2021, a second series of Animals with Cameras was announced. In November 2021, it was confirmed that Gordon would tour the UK. This tour, "30 Years in the Wild," happened in February 2022. In April 2022, Our Changing Planet premiered on the BBC. Gordon presented it with other well-known presenters.
Conservation Work
In 2013, Gordon became a patron of Trees for Life. This charity works to restore the Caledonian Forest in Scotland. He became an ambassador for the Scottish Wildlife Trust in 2014.
Awards and Recognition
In June 2013, Gordon received an honorary doctorate. This was from the University of Stirling. He also won the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland award that same year. This showed his skill as a cameraman and filmmaker.
Gordon Buchanan was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This honor was given in the 2020 New Year Honours. It was for his work in conservation and wildlife filmmaking.
Gordon Buchanan's Personal Life
Gordon often talks about missing his family when he is filming. His wife, Wendy, and their two children, Lola and Harris, visited him during The Bear Family & Me. He also enjoys whisky.
Documentaries by Gordon Buchanan
- Wild Scotland (2002)
- Expedition Borneo (2006)
- Amba the Russian Tiger (2008)
- Lost Land of the Jaguar (2008)
- Lost Land of the Volcano (2009)
- Snow Watch (2010)
- Lost Land of the Tiger (2011)
- The Bear Family & Me (2011)
- Maneater Manhunt (2012)
- Land of the Lost Wolves (2012)
- The Polar Bear Family & Me (2013)
- Snow Wolf Family & Me (2014)
- Gorilla Family & Me (2015)
- Leopard in the City (2015)
- Elephant Family & Me (2016)
- Into the Wild (2016)
- Life in the Snow (2016)
- Life in Polar Bear Town (2016)
- Tribes, Predators & Me (2016–2017)
- The Reindeer Family & Me (2017)
- Animals with Cameras (Series 1) (2018)
- Grizzly Bear Cubs and Me (2018)
- Equator from the Air (2019)
- Snow Cats and Me (2019)
- The Cheetah Family and Me (2020)
- Animals with Cameras (Series 2) (2021)
- Our Wild Adventures (2021)
- Our Changing Planet (2022)
- Snow Dogs: Into The Wild (2022)
- Big Cats 24/7 (2024)
- My Epic Camel Adventure with Gordon Buchanan (2024)
