Animals in Therapy: New comedy videos that include Stranger Things and Sex Education stars launched in bid to save world's most endangered animals

Life isn’t easy when you’re critically endangered – just ask Steve the kākāpō, who is one of fewer than 250 of his species left in the world.

But despite the seriousness of his predicament, the big green flightless parrot hasn’t lost his sense of humour.

Instead of sitting about waiting to go the way of the dodo, he is taking to the global stage as part of a campaign to help save his own kind and a host of other creatures facing imminent extinction by making people laugh and take notice. And he has roped in human celebrities to lend a hand.

Steve is just one of the stars of Animals in Therapy, an award-winning series of comical video sketches and songs, which have been created to raise awareness of some of the less well-known species on the brink of disappearance.

In the second season, which launches this week, he and his pals, including otters, turtles and pangolins, will appear alongside big names from popular shows such as Stranger Things, The Last of Us, White Lotus and Sex Education, discussing topics ranging from love and happiness to pain.

It is hoped the videos, which will be broadcast on multiple media platforms, will reach millions of people across the globe and encourage them to connect with nature.

The campaign is the brainchild of On the Edge, a UK-based non-profit media and conservation organisation that aims to inspire new audiences by creating original content in modern formats such as shareable video clips, games and long-form film.

Beth Blood, founder and chief executive of On the Edge, said: “In our modern times, people often see themselves as separate from nature, that humans are not a species within the animal kingdom. Season two of Animals in Therapy is inspired by the fact that we all have feelings.

Steve the kākāpō, who featured in the first series of Animals in Therapy, is back by popular demand to launch season two in a sketch with popular actor, comedian and fellow New Zealander Rhys Darby, where the pair discuss dating tips for his species. Picture: Passion Planet/On the Edge

“We might interpret them in different ways or express our emotions through different methods, but animals are experiencing thoughts and feelings, desires and instincts, just like us. The popular culture formats of celeb interviews, catchy pop songs and comedy enable us to bring new audiences into our conversation.”

The inaugural season of Animals in Therapy racked up more than 4.2 million views and received widespread acclaim. But Ms Blood says the latest season, which features the likes of Australian actor Murray Bartlett, the UK’s Patricia Allison, New Zealand comic and actor Rhys Darby, Irish-Canadian Amybeth McNulty and the US’s Jaz Sinclair, could reach new highs.

“It’s very similar to season one, but bigger and better and speaks to all creatures having feelings,” Ms Blood said. “The second season has more music, more celebrities and some recurring characters from season one.

“It’s a laugh-out-loud comedy with an important message.”

Beth Blood is founder and chief executive of On the Edge, a UK-based non-profit media and conservation organisation which works to highlight loss of wildlife and inspire new audiences using accessible formats such as shareable video clips, games and long-form film

She hopes the campaign will “inspire and engage” more people than ever before. “We want more people to be exposed to the natural world and animals they may never have heard of, in a fun way, in the hope that this will make them care more for them,” she said.

“We want people to think nature is cool and exciting and we want to address pressing issues such as the exotic animal trade, overfishing and biodiversity loss in a way that emotionally connects with audiences.

“People fell in love with some of the characters from series one, especially Steve the kākāpō, who is returning to launch series two for us.”