Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Educational docu tracks IVF efforts to save species.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Last Rhinos: A New Hope
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE LAST RHINOS: A NEW HOPE reveals that only two northern white rhinoceros are still surviving in the world, meaning the species is on the edge of extinction. In this film, narrated largely by National Geographic photographer Ami Vitale, a global crew of caretakers, conservationists, vets, doctors, and geneticists collaborate to attempt to inject a viable northern white rhino embryo into a surrogate and save the species.
Is It Any Good?
National Geographic's nature documentaries are fast becoming an essential tool for educating global audiences about our own impact on the natural world. In The Last Rhinos: A New Hope, we learn that factors like poaching and human-driven climate change have led to the loss of 73% of the world's wildlife in the last 50 years. Among the losses, the dire status of the northern white rhinos is attention-grabbing: just two females are left.
But, as the film makes clear, the hopefulness, hard work, and extreme dedication of the team of scientists striving to save the species from extinction is equally remarkable—even despite no successful pregnancies to date. One man reveals he's missing out on time with his dying wife to do this work; another says he's away from his daughters for months at a time. The latter ventures that he has two families: humans and animals. Were we all to feel that way, perhaps the animal kingdom would be in a better position.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how relatively quickly the near extinction of the rhino species has come about, as detailed in The Last Rhinos: A New Hope—from thousands a century ago to 15 in the 1980s to just two today. What factors have led to this, according to the film?
How do the scientists, photographers, and conservationists demonstrate teamwork and perseverance in maintaining hope and working diligently to help save the rhinos, even at great personal cost?
What other nature documentaries have you watched, and how does this one compare?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : August 24, 2025
- Directors : Katie Cleary , Taylor Rees , Emily Taguchi
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Director(s) , Japanese Movie Director(s)
- Studio : Disney+
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Activism ( Animal rights , Civic engagement , Climate change ) , Adventures , Animals ( Wild Animals ) , STEM ( Nature ) , Travel
- Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 44 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 5, 2025
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