The Worm Hunters (2011)

The Worm Hunters is a 2011 New Zealand documentary directed by Adrian Skender that follows a team of earthworm scientists, including Canadian biologist John Aulakh, on a worldwide expedition to discover and classify the largest and most remarkable earthworm species, dubbed the "super worm." The 53-minute film documents their adventures in remote areas like the Australian outback, Romanian mountains, and Kenyan highlands, using tools such as GPS locators, spades, and extraction fluids to unearth giants up to 3 meters long and 400 grams in weight. It emphasizes earthworms' vital ecological roles in soil aeration, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity support, while addressing threats from habitat loss and invasives. Through fieldwork footage, lab examinations, and interviews, the production celebrates the researchers' passion and the often-overlooked importance of these "super worms" in sustaining global ecosystems.