Werner Herzog tracks extinct elephants in Angola documentary

German filmmaker Werner Herzog has directed a documentary titled "Ghost Elephants," following American adventurer Steve Boyes on a meticulous and obsessive search for extinct pachyderms in Angola. The film captures Boyes' relentless pursuit of evidence of the region's vanished elephant populations, blending adventure with ecological reflection. Herzog, known for his distinctive narrative style, brings his signature focus on human obsession and the sublime to this project. The documentary is set in Angola, a country still marked by decades of civil war, where the elephant population was decimated. Boyes, an explorer and conservationist, leads expeditions into remote areas to document the aftermath of the elephants' disappearance and the ecological void left behind. The film is produced by Herzog's production company and is expected to premiere at international film festivals in 2026. The project continues Herzog's long-standing interest in extreme environments and human endurance, as seen in works like "Grizzly Man" and "Fitzcarraldo."