Killing the Shepherd (2021)
★★★ — Killing the Shepherd (2021)
Killing the Shepherd is a low-budget documentary (shot for around $250,000) from American director TA Opre, whose prior work with Firesteel Films similarly explored conservation and indigenous community issues in remote locations. Co-produced with Baked Studios, the film was shot on location in rural Zambia, following a woman chief and her community as they attempt to reclaim control of land that the government had officially declared depleted of wildlife. It arrives in the early 2020s, a period of intensifying global debate around trophy hunting bans and their unintended consequences, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where several countries had already reversed or reconsidered such policies. The 73-minute runtime places it firmly in the modest, self-distributed corner of documentary filmmaking.
A-Z World Movie Tour Zambia Killing the Shepherd (2021), is a quietly compelling Zambian documentary that flips the script on the usual narrative around hunting, conservation, and community survival. At its heart is a provocative idea: when legal, regulated trophy hunting was banned in Zambia, it didn’t stop the killing, it just removed the resources and incentives to protect wildlife. Without funding from safari operators, anti-poaching efforts collapsed, and poachers moved in unchecked. More animals died, and local communities lost both income and influence over their land. The film follows a remarkable shift: a local female chief, recognising the crisis, invites a safari operator back, not for profit, but as a form of conservation partnership. Hunters return, yes, but so do armed scouts, jobs, and a renewed sense of stewardship. The “shepherd” of the title isn’t a literal herder, but a metaphor for those who manage and protect the land, whether through tradition, economics, or necessity. It’s an uncomfortable truth for many Western environmentalists, and the film doesn’t shy away from the moral complexity. It’s not pro-hunting propaganda; it’s a grounded look at what happens when well-intentioned bans ignore on-the-ground realities. The cinematography is strong, the voices of local Zambians are centred (which is rare and welcome), and the pacing keeps you engaged even when the subject matter is heavy. That said, it sometimes feels like it could go deeper—more data, more time with the rangers, less reliance on Western narrators. And while the argument is powerful, it occasionally simplifies a very complex issue. 3 stars—thought-provoking, important, and refreshingly honest about the messy realities of conservation. Not perfect, but necessary viewing for anyone who cares about Africa’s wildlife and its people.
Rating: ★★★ | Year: 2021 | Watched: 2025-09-18
Where to watch (UK)
Stream: Amazon Prime Video · Curiosity Stream · CuriosityStream Amazon Channel · CuriosityStream Apple TV Channel
Rent: Apple TV Store · Amazon Video
Buy: Apple TV Store · Amazon Video
Physical: Amazon UK
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