Netflix debuted Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey on April 21, offering viewers a heartwarming alternative to the apocalyptic themes dominating streaming platforms.
Academy Award-winning director Pippa Ehrlich, known for her work on My Octopus Teacher, helms this nature documentary chronicling the rehabilitation of a baby pangolin rescued during a South African sting operation targeting animal traffickers.
The documentary follows the volunteer who makes it his mission to rehabilitate Kulu and prepare the endangered mammal for eventual release into the wild. Unlike traditional nature documentaries, the film divides its focus between the pangolin’s development and the volunteer’s personal journey.
“It’s hard not to be carried along by the increasing emotional pull of Kulu’s Journey,” writes The Hollywood Reporter in one of the documentary’s early reviews.
The New York Times describes the film as “so sweet and soothing you’ll be forced to admit that sometimes the universe gives you exactly what you need.”
The release comes as part of Netflix’s expanded documentary slate for 2025. The streaming giant announced eight documentary films and docuseries set to premiere this year, including the recently released Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer and the upcoming Titan, which examines the OceanGate submersible tragedy.
Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey is now streaming on Netflix.
