By Minh-Xuan A. Truong, Bernadette F. van Heel, and Riyan J.G. van den Born

Artwork by Sacha Berna

Read the full paper here

Spending time in nature benefits our mental health and encourages us to care more about the environment. However, as more people live in urban areas and lead indoor, screen-based lifestyles, direct experiences with nature are becoming increasingly rare. Could watching nature on a screen still help us feel connected to it?

We studied Den Stora Älgvandringen (The Great Moose Migration), a unique Swedish television programme that live-streams wild moose as they slowly migrate across rivers in northern Sweden. This “slow TV” broadcast includes no music, no narration, and no dramatic editing — just the quiet sounds of nature and occasional appearances by wildlife. It runs 24/7 for three weeks every spring and attracts hundreds of thousands of viewers.

Through an online survey of over 2,000 people, we explored how watching this programme influences people’s experiences of nature. We found that viewers reported feeling calm, restored, and emotionally connected to the natural world. Many said the show reminded them of personal memories, such as time spent outdoors with family or childhood experiences in nature. Others appreciated the peaceful atmosphere, the real-time encounters with wildlife, and the opportunity to connect with others in the live chat.

We also found that people who watched the programme regularly tended to feel more connected to nature overall. These viewers often held strong environmental values and saw humans as part of — rather than separate from — the natural world. While television cannot replace real-life nature experiences, The Great Moose Migration offers something special: a chance to slow down, appreciate wildlife on its own terms, and feel part of a larger natural rhythm. For those who have limited access to the outdoors — whether due to age, health, geography or time — it may offer a meaningful alternative.

Our study shows that media, when thoughtfully designed, can support emotional and ecological connections. In a fast-paced world, slowing down to watch moose cross a river might be more powerful than it first appears.