Wilderness with Simon Reeve: in search of the tenkile tree kangaroo in Papua New Guinea

The second series of the BBC Two programme opened with an episode filmed deep in the rainforest of northern Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea Fixer advised the production and provided the fixer on the ground.

On Sunday 20 September 2026, BBC Two launched the second series of Wilderness with Simon Reeve with an episode filmed in Papua New Guinea. Produced by The Garden, the four-part series takes the presenter to some of the wildest places left on Earth: Papua New Guinea, Mexico’s Sea of Cortez, Canada’s Yukon and Mongolia.

The story: one of the rarest animals on the planet

The episode follows Simon Reeve into the montane rainforest in search of the tenkile, a critically endangered tree kangaroo found only in the Torricelli Mountains of northern Papua New Guinea. The crew arrived as the tenkile population was recovering — a rare chance to film an animal almost no television team has captured before.

Simon Reeve described it as a physically demanding shoot: steep, muddy trails, constant rain and long days on foot. That is exactly the kind of terrain where preparation on the ground makes the difference.

Our part in the production

The crew filmed for 15 days in the region of Maprik, west of Wewak. We worked with the production during preparation and brought in an experienced French fixer from our network to run the shoot on the ground.

• Advice on the region, access and realistic scheduling during preparation
• A trusted fixer from our network, on location for the whole shoot
• Guidance on logistics, community relations and safety in remote rainforest

Filming in remote rainforest: what it takes

Wildlife shoots in Papua New Guinea’s mountains depend on three things: time, people and weather. Animals like the tenkile live in areas reached only on foot, so the crew relies on porters and on the goodwill of the clans who own the forest. Rain can stop a day’s filming at any moment, and every battery must be charged by generator. Planning realistic schedules — and building trust with the community before the cameras arrive — is what turns a difficult shoot into a successful one.

Watch the episode

Wilderness with Simon Reeve, episode 1: Papua New Guinea, is available on BBC iPlayer (UK).