Private Project

Black Sheep Ivory

An intimate look at undercover operations with Malawi and Zambia's deputized Wildlife Crimes Investigations Unit. Rangers from Southern Africa's national parks extend the fight against poaching and illegal ivory trade to urban border environments.

What the team discovered is that Malawi's capital of Lilongwe is rapidly becoming the new hub for this activity.

Following this chain of wildlife crimes, an elephant is shot, a poacher is shot, ivory traders are arrested and acquitted, and a ranger with a troubled history wrestles over the mental strain of his Sisyphean work.

  • Joseph Haldeman
    Director
  • Joseph Haldeman
    Director of Photography
  • Collin Ketterer
    Editor
  • Justin DeShields
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 7 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 4, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Malawi, Zambia
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Joseph Haldeman

Joseph has been covering wildlife crimes and conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa since 2015. He is also part of an ongoing project documenting boxing in some of West Africa's toughest neighborhoods.

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Director Statement

"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing all your life." - Mickey Mantle.