Monday 26 November 2018

Dynasties

I thought I was fed up with animal programmes.  I have watched them until I felt saturated with them.   But it (Sunday night, 8-pm BBC1) has been fascinating, mainly I think because it concentrated on the lives of one particular animal.   First the Chimpanzee, then the Penguin and this week the Lion.

The last two programmes - penguins and lions- have attracted controversy in that in both programmes the team doing the filming (a long job during which the team get close to the animals concerned both in distance and in feelings) have assisted the animals in their survival.   In the case of the penguins, a group of parents and babies had managed to get themselves trapped down a ravine and it was impossible for them to get out.   One by one they were dying, especially the young who were very vulnerable.   The members of the team were visibly moved and ended up digging a ramp for them to escape, which they did.

In the case of the lions,  the Pride was much diminished and in danger of completely dying out.
People in the Masai Mara were grazing their cattle in the area and the lions were hell bent on an easy catch.   But the Masai had put down poisoned meat which the cubs ate.    This time the film crew called in the vets to treat the cubs.

Were they wrong to do this?  It is certainly open to question.   But to see these tough men, often filming in awful conditions, in tears over the fate of their 'stars ' was actually quite moving.   I really don't know which side I come down on.   What is your opinion?

 

22 comments:

Derek Faulkner said...

I rarely watch films about wildlife outside of this country but from what I have seen in the newspapers about those incidents there is no way that I wouldn't of got involved with helping them. I could not do nothing.

Carol said...

In the case of the lions, humans had intervened to cause damage. I think it appropriate that humans intervened to mitigate the damage. The penguins, however, appear to have gotten into their fix by themselves. In that case, it might have been more "natural" to let nature have its way. That's logic. Emotionally, I'd probably have been right there digging the ramp.

jinxxxygirl said...

Its hard to say what side i'm on as i can 'see' both sides.. But i know if i was in that situation.. theres no way i could stand by and let them die if there was anything i could do about it.. The penguins ... thats more of an easy answer.. Ofcourse i would help them.. the lions.. that ones more difficult.. Maybe they could arrange to have the lions moved to a sanctuary or something.. Hugs! deb

Gwil W said...

Most people will help animals in distress. Whales stranded on beaches is a prime example. Once in India there was a tiger had already killed several villagers, about 5 or 6 I think it was. The villagers lived in ramshackle huts and were fearful at night and naturally they approached some RAF servicemen in the area and pleaded for somebody to deal with it. My father and two others went up there at night into the hills and one night the tiger came into the village. So they killed it. So the answer is not easy. It is sometimes yes and sometimes no. Depends on the situation.

justjill said...

Very difficult. But I think anyone seeing animals suffer would step in. And I would be glad they had.

Terra said...

I would intervene, especially in the case of the lion cubs poisoned by people.

Heather said...

I don't think I could just stand by and let any creature die. I would want to do everything in my power to help it survive.

Joanne Noragon said...

I know nothing of the circumstances of the filming, but did read about the escape ramp. I can offer no opinion on any of it, but do have an opinion on the penguins, nevertheless. If it was as simple as making a ramp, make the damn ramp.

Bonnie said...

I could not watch them die if I could prevent it. You ask were they wrong to do what they did, and I say are we wrong to invade their territory as we do all over the world?

wherethejourneytakesme said...

I would have to help - I can't stand by and watch suffering. When my daughter worked on the Turtle Conservation projects in Greece for a few years she came up against this as the people leading the camps had differing views. One year she was able to help a turtle dig its nest to lay eggs. The turtle only had one flipper and so my daughter knelt behind her and became her other flipper helping to dig the nest. Maybe she was wrong but it was a delight to see the off spring making for the sea afterwards - but again helping the little newly born turtles get to the sea is frowned on by some conservationists.
We intervene to help to prevent the species dying out - maybe this is wrong - who knows.

angryparsnip said...

It is like me and the Mountain Lions, Wildcat, Javelinas and Desert Tortoise.
They were here first and are being killed and driven out of their land. We have young a**holes who shoot the Javelinas and them drag them through the streets.
The Illegals and drug runners are destroying the land that the Desert Tortoise live in by their trails and guns. They have also started fires to elude just what we need.
Then there is climate change. The Sierra Club and even Green Peace will not help us because of the ultra liberal California mindset.

So I would have helped the Penguins and the Cubs. The villagers are taking the Lions land. Then there was the case of the stupid villagers setting Fire to a Mum and Baby elephant to keep them away. How could they do that. I would have turned the fire on them.Barbaric Savages ! The more I know of" people" the less I like them

sorry now I am so upset over this.

Bea said...

If the penguins were being attacked by a predator, for example, then obviously one should not interfere. -keep filming. Creating a tool by which the penguins could save themselves doesn't seem to be disrupting 'food chain' activities, so I don't see it as harmful intervention.

Librarian said...

I am with Carol, word for word.

thelma said...

I would of course save the animals, and then I would also see to the needs of the villagers. Both hypothetical of course, and yes I can understand the film crew wanting to save these creatures, we all would.

Rachel Phillips said...

Like Derek I don't watch wildlife programmes of animals outside the UK but in what you describe it would be difficult not to have intervened.

Jill said...

My head says if peril is natural to let it play out and if man made to help. But my heart says to help if you are aware of another living being that needs it regardless of why they need the help.

Carol Caldwell said...

I think it takes a hard heart to stand back and watch a creature in trouble and not want to help. I think that as animals are culled at times, helping other animals, helps balance this out plus we do so much damage to their habitats. I would have no hesitation in helping these animals. I don't believe it would upset the balance of nature to do this on occasions.

Anonymous said...

Man must use his noggin to help save the animals, since we are the reason for their extinction. Donna@gather

The Weaver of Grass said...

Lovely - you all agree with me. I am so glad!!

Sackerson said...

I've never agreed with the ethos that says wildlife film-makers shouldn't intervene to help animals. They'd intervene to help humans, I hope, and humans are just another species of animal. The idea of us lording it over the animal kingdom is well past its sell-by date.

Beverley said...

I side with the animals, they need all the help they can get. Best Wishes to you Weave. x

Jenny Woolf said...

So many creatures are now endangered, it is appalling to look at the detail and learn how many So I am all for rescuing them.