My Best Friend’s an Animal: Sustainable production in a global wildlife series

Posted on: September 25th, 2025

From Costa Rica to Scotland, stories of care and conservation show what it takes to protect the wild.

My Best Friend’s an Animal is more than a wildlife documentary; it is a celebration of unexpected friendships and a call to protect the wild spaces that make them possible. At its heart is a deep commitment to sustainability, conservation, and ecological awareness. 

The series follows extraordinary, heart-warming relationships between humans and wild animals, usually sparked by injury, abandonment, or environmental threat. But this isn’t about taming wild animals for human enjoyment. The wellbeing of the animal, the health of the habitat, and the balance of the wider ecosystem always come first. The beautiful friendships that emerge are a rare and lucky byproduct. 

This respect for nature is reflected in our focus on the “three R’s”: rescue, rehabilitation, and release. The goal is never to capture and keep, but to save and set free. As featured conservationist Joshua Neille puts it, the end game is to “get the animal, keep it close to you, make it enjoy its time, and then slowly wean that personal connection off.” These fleeting connections are powerful, but they are never meant to last forever. 

Of course, not every rescue ends in release. Some animals can’t return to the wild and will need lifelong care. In these cases, bonds grow deeper, as ‘friendship’ quickly becomes ‘family’. As licensed rehabilitator Tracy Young has experienced first hand, some animals never “wild up”; it is then up to the people who care for them to step into a unique kind of motherhood.   

In many cases, those who provide lifelong care also use their platforms to raise awareness and inspire action. Neille, for example, alongside his daughter Ashlee, share their sanctuary for vulnerable animals with a global audience of over two million Instagram followers. Through heartfelt storytelling, daily updates, and transparent insights into rescue and rehabilitation, they educate and empower viewers around the world. By documenting their work, My Best Friend’s an Animal shows how social media can serve as a powerful tool for advocacy, helping to build a worldwide community united by compassion and conservation. 

While some advocates use their platforms to engage millions, others practice a quieter form of connection – one grounded in observation and respect for natural boundaries. Not all friendships in this series involve physical closeness or dependency. Some of our most moving stories come from those who observe animals from a distance. In fact, wildlife enthusiast Sara Wennerquist refrains from naming the animals she studies in order to preserve their wildness. She recognises that “you can never have that friendship [with them] as you have with a dog”. Instead , she rejoices simply in being able to watch them, even for a few minutes. 

My Best Friend’s an Animal also underscores the critical need to protect natural habitats. Animals cannot survive, let alone thrive, without safe, stable environments. From the lush rainforests of Costa Rica to the ancient woodlands of Scotland, our stories highlight the work of people like Donald Valera Soto, who dedicate their lives to preserving biodiversity and endangered ecosystems. 

Ultimately, this series is about more than just animal rescue; it is about nature restoration. It is a reminder that love, trust, and connection can cross boundaries, and that protecting those connections starts with protecting the wild.  

Written by Daisy Summerfield

See More From My Best Friend’s an Animal

My Best Friend’s an Animal Series 1

My Best Friend’s an Animal Series 2 – coming soon…