The lonely seal pup is surrounded by a pod of hungry orcas. The hunters circle their prey and the seal's big eyes turn to the camera. Nature documentaries often feature scenes where animals' lives are in danger and filmmakers almost never intervene. "Film crews have to capture events as they unfold, whatever their feelings," says Sir David Attenborough. However, in 2018, a television crew filming the nature documentary Dynasties saved penguins and their chicks from a fierce storm. The birds were trapped in a icy ravine and the crew dug some steps so they could climb out. Their action divided opinions on whether it's right for filmmakers to help endangered animals.
If the question is "should documentary makers ever try to help?", the answer is yes, says Will Lawson, director of Dynasties. "There's no rule book," he told The Times. "You can only respond to the facts that are right there in front of you." Sometimes nature is needlessly cruel; no other animal would benefit from the penguins' deaths, and no human would be harmed in the process.
Doug Allan, a well-respected cameraman, believes that leaving nature to take its course is the most important principle. However, in the case of the penguins and their babies, the crew didn't touch or "spook the penguins", they just improved their chances of getting themselves to safety. Allan told The Guardian that doing this was, "entirely justifiable".
Bu hikaye The Week Junior Science+Nature UK dergisinin Issue 62 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Week Junior Science+Nature UK dergisinin Issue 62 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Camera Obscura
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MANCHESTER SCIENCE FESTIVAL
From 18-27 October, shoppers at the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester, England, will face a giant spider.
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Multiple concerts travelling around the world have a big impact on the environment.
Are ghosts real?
Plenty of people believe in ghosts, but it's hard to find proof.
SMASH STEREOTYPES
In an extract from his prize-winning book, scientist and writer Adam Rutherford shows you how to use the power of science to fight racism. This chapter, titled Myth-Busting, is all about sport.
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Hamza Yassin
Go behind the camera with a wildlife filmmaker.
WILDLIFE WATCH
Ben Hoare goes on a safari from his sofa to discover how nature documentaries are made.
Big bum breakthrough
A team of researchers who found out that mammals can breathe through their bottoms have won a prize at the lg Nobel awards.
A jaw-dropping undersea snap
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