'One of the saddest stories I’ve ever covered': Steve Pennells' top two of 2016
Steve Pennells has broadcast stories from all corners of the globe over the past twelve months and so when we asked him to choose his favourite, it took him a while to figure out just which story would top all others. In the end, he couldn’t choose, so we let him pick two.
“Asking me to pick my favourite story for the year is pretty tough. So I’m going to cheat and pick two”, he said.
“They are linked though, so I think I get through on a technicality.”
Steve has covered many stories whilst reporting at Sunday Night and counts himself lucky to be part of the team.
“We get the chance to produce stories in some of the most remote parts of the world, meet extraordinary people and can sometimes shine a light in some of the darkest places”, he said.
“Some stories that stick with you either because of what you’ve seen, where you have been or who you have been privileged to meet.
“In East Africa earlier this year, I got all three.”
Steve’s top two stories from this year are saving the Northern White Rhino, and a terribly emotional story about people with albinism being murdered because of a belief that their body parts will bring success.
“In Kenya, we looked at the demise of the Northern White Rhino, an animal that is now all but extinct”, he recalled.
“Only three survive - two females and one male - but they are unable to reproduce.
“Once they’re gone, that’s it.”
Steve recalled the moment he met Sudan.
"He's a lumbering old beast with skin like weathered rock”, he said.
“He’s arthritic and blind in one eye. He can’t reproduce. A lonely, gentle giant who is all that’s left on an animal poached and hunted into extinction.”
Sudan is protected 24/7 by armed guards.
Steve said: “It’s a sad existence for a once magnificent animal, but there is hope.”
In San Diego, Steve and the crew recalled witnessing “Jurassic Park stuff”.
The team received an important insight into the remarkable work aimed at resurrecting the Northern White Rhino, even after the last three remaining ones have died.
Steve's second top story of the year was filmed in Tanzania. It was the story of the murder and maiming of people with albinism because of a belief that their body parts will bring fortune and success.
Steve described this deeply shocking story as “one of the saddest stories I’ve ever covered”.
“Amid the brutality and the grief, a group of remarkable people are fighting for change”, he said.
Steve recalled meeting Josephat Torner who risks his life to speak out against the murders.
“He’s a brave, gentle, funny guy who has formed an extraordinary friendship with Harry Freeland, an English documentary filmmaker who put his life on hold to form a charity, Standing Voice, to help people with albinism”, he said.
“And over in Long Island, New York, we met another remarkable woman who was helping the victims of the attacks to lead more normal lives through the use of artificial limbs.
“There are some people you meet in life who make you incredibly humbled. These were three of them, he said.
Click here for more information on the last rhinos story.
Click here for more information on the albinism story.
What's YOUR favourite Sunday Night story of the past 12 months? Go to our Facebook page and tell us!
