Tom Hardy to Host U.K. TV Doc on Wildlife Poaching in Africa

LONDON – Tom Hardy will present a documentary series on wholesale wildlife poaching in Africa for U.K. commercial broadcasting network ITV.

Hardy is front and center for the documentary, which currently has the working title Poaching Wars With Tom Hardy, and will present the two 60-minute episodes. The project was reportedly Hardy’s own idea. 

VIDEO: Joaquin Phoenix Simulates Drowning in PETA Vegan Ad

The show is a co-production between Burning Bright Productions and Hardy’s production banner, Hardy, Son and Baker. The Dark Knight Rises star is also taking an executive producer role.

Poaching Wars With Tom Hardy is commissioned by ITV’s factual team. 

According to ITV, after Hardy became aware of the damage being inflicted in Africa by the poaching industry, he made a personal commitment to travel to South Africa, Botswana and Tanzania and uncover why poaching has reached crisis levels across Africa. Cameroon, Chad, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are seeing large-scale elephant slaughter.

On his trek across the continent, Hardy meets those affected and involved on all sides of the illegal industry, including the farmers who have lost livestock to poachers and key figures from organizations fighting back on the ground and in government.

STORY: Leonardo DiCaprio Calls on Thailand to Outlaw Sale of Ivory 

“The story of the impact of wildlife poaching in Africa is one that is important to tell, now more than ever,” said ITV controller of factual Jo Clinton-Davis. “ Tom Hardy’s palpable concern and commitment to shedding light on what is happening and what the answers might be allow him to bring this reality home in a way that we believe will resonate powerfully with our audience.”

Dean Baker, executive producer of the film for Hardy, Son and Baker, added: “Tom’s goal is to bring the senseless slaughter of endangered wildlife in Africa to the attention of the masses. This documentary is the first step of that process.”

Poaching Wars With Tom Hardy is executive produced by Hardy, Baker and Clive Tulloh. The film is produced and directed by Ewen Thompson.