Heinz Sielmann
Encyclopedia
Heinz Sielmann was a world renowned wildlife photographer, zoologist and documentary filmmaker.
His first film, in 1938, was a silent movie on birdlife in East Prussia
and the Klaipėda Region
. Further work was interrupted by the war. He was initially stationed in occupied Poznán
(then "Posen"), as an instructor at a radio-communications training unit of the Luftwaffe
. It was there that he met Joseph Beuys
who was his trainee, and they both attended lectures in Biology and Zoology at the University of Posen, at that time a Germanized University. Later, he was stationed in Crete
where he was able to work cinematographically. After the war he began widely recognized work for the Educational Film Institute of the States of Germany
. His feature film about woodpecker
s, "Carpenters of the forest" (Zimmerleute des Waldes, 1954; UK-title: Woodpecker) was a huge success in the United Kingdom
when broadcast by the BBC
at the behest of David Attenborough
. It earned Sielmann the nickname "Mr. Woodpecker".
His work includes award-winning movies like Lords of the Forest (better known in the USA under its title Masters of the Congo Jungle (1959), the English version narrated by Orson Welles
, Galapagos - Dream Island in the Pacific (1962), Vanishing Wilderness, and The Mystery of Animal Behavior.
All these movies became worldwide successes. During the collaboration on some National Geographic wildlife documentaries in the late 1960s he met Walon Green
with whom he worked as additional photographer on the Academy Award-winning documentary The Hellstrom Chronicle
about insects in 1971. Sielmann was also cinematographer on the American wildlife documentary, Birds do it..., Bees do it... in 1974.
In 1994 he has established the Heinz Sielmann-Stiftung, which has successfully reintroduced beavers and otters in Germany. Another goal of this foundation is to make children aware of nature conservation.
His series Expeditionen ins Tierreich (Expeditions into the Animal Kingdom) broadcast on national German Television from 1965 to 1991, made him a household name.
Sielmann died in his sleep, aged 89, surrounded by his family in Munich and was buried in the German town of Duderstadt. He is survived by his wife, Inge.
His first film, in 1938, was a silent movie on birdlife in East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
and the Klaipėda Region
Klaipėda Region
The Klaipėda Region or Memel Territory was defined by the Treaty of Versailles in 1920 when it was put under the administration of the Council of Ambassadors...
. Further work was interrupted by the war. He was initially stationed in occupied Poznán
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
(then "Posen"), as an instructor at a radio-communications training unit of the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
. It was there that he met Joseph Beuys
Joseph Beuys
Joseph Beuys was a German performance artist, sculptor, installation artist, graphic artist, art theorist and pedagogue of art.His extensive work is grounded in concepts of humanism, social philosophy and anthroposophy; it culminates in his "extended definition of art" and the idea of social...
who was his trainee, and they both attended lectures in Biology and Zoology at the University of Posen, at that time a Germanized University. Later, he was stationed in Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
where he was able to work cinematographically. After the war he began widely recognized work for the Educational Film Institute of the States of Germany
States of Germany
Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
. His feature film about woodpecker
Woodpecker
Woodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They are one subfamily in the family Picidae, which also includes the piculets and wrynecks. They are found worldwide and include about 180 species....
s, "Carpenters of the forest" (Zimmerleute des Waldes, 1954; UK-title: Woodpecker) was a huge success in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
when broadcast by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
at the behest of David Attenborough
David Attenborough
Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...
. It earned Sielmann the nickname "Mr. Woodpecker".
His work includes award-winning movies like Lords of the Forest (better known in the USA under its title Masters of the Congo Jungle (1959), the English version narrated by Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
, Galapagos - Dream Island in the Pacific (1962), Vanishing Wilderness, and The Mystery of Animal Behavior.
All these movies became worldwide successes. During the collaboration on some National Geographic wildlife documentaries in the late 1960s he met Walon Green
Walon Green
Walon Green is an American documentary film director and screenwriter for both TV and films. He is currently the showrunner/executive producer for the USA Network television series, Law & Order: Criminal Intent.-Career:...
with whom he worked as additional photographer on the Academy Award-winning documentary The Hellstrom Chronicle
The Hellstrom Chronicle
The Hellstrom Chronicle is an American film released in 1971 which combines elements of documentary and science fiction to present a gripping depiction of the Darwinian struggle for survival between humans and insects. It was conceived and produced by David L...
about insects in 1971. Sielmann was also cinematographer on the American wildlife documentary, Birds do it..., Bees do it... in 1974.
In 1994 he has established the Heinz Sielmann-Stiftung, which has successfully reintroduced beavers and otters in Germany. Another goal of this foundation is to make children aware of nature conservation.
His series Expeditionen ins Tierreich (Expeditions into the Animal Kingdom) broadcast on national German Television from 1965 to 1991, made him a household name.
Sielmann died in his sleep, aged 89, surrounded by his family in Munich and was buried in the German town of Duderstadt. He is survived by his wife, Inge.