Nat Geo must take the ‘con’ out of conservation.
By Richard Brock
22 September 2013

The Wildlife Oscar for a Disservice to it’s Subjects (WODS) goes to National Geographic.

As I have continued to protest, as National Geographic have continued to brutalise their subjects, and to degrade themselves from a respected international organisation to one that is now recognised as sensational, exploitative and downright misleading.

Future generations who are unfortunate and misled enough to see Nat Geo productions can only be badly affected in their attitude to the natural world. That is the National Geographic Disservice, from a country, the U.S., in which violence and aggression is endemic – as recent shootings show.

Their latest emotive, humanised word is “sinful” (26/9/13), 7 Deadly Sins. Examining sinful species of the animal kingdom, plus Dead or Alive – Gator Attack, followed by World’s Deadliest: Animal Rampage, "The World’s most dangerous creatures”. The film-makers (Nat Geo) are those. Not a crocodile or a shark. How will future generations care for these beleaguered creatures when their reputations are continuously damaged or destroyed by the famous National Geographic – a so-called conservation organisation that is doing so much more harm then good?

It’s time, Nat Geo, to take the con out of conservation.

From World’s Deadliest: 7 Deadly Sins: Meet the most wrathful, prideful, gluttonous, lustful, greedy, slothful and envious members of the animal kingdom. Gluttonous ornate horned frogs will eat anything in their path - even their own kind -- before ultimately choking to death. And hell hath no fury like a wrathful hippo whose territory has just been encroached. These docile-looking animals turn into powerful jaws of death if disturbed - they can even snap a crocodile in half in one bite.

From World’s Deadliest: Animal Rampage: Whether it's the frozen fields of Alaska, or the warm waters of Australia, shocking incidents of animals attacking and killing humans, take place all over the world. Usually, the animals aren't looking for a fight ? they're simply in the wrong place, at the wrong time, frequently lashing out in an attempt to protect themselves or their offspring. From Asian Leopards severely mauling people in India, to a 2,000 lb. African Cape buffalo that decides to hunt its human hunter, beasts wreak havoc on tourists and townies trying to share their same turf ? planet Earth.

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Update from Richard Brock
19 October 2013

… Continuing my campaign about the brutalizing and degradation of predators by television (WFN October 2013) I now, sadly, add National Geographic’s pathetic offering at 7pm on the Nat Geo Wild Channel on 8/10/13: 20 Animals That Will Kill You, followed by the desperate Wilds 7 Deadly Sins at 8pm, “Examining sinful species of the animal kingdom”. Two stupid shows at peak time, probably with a large young audience.

In a recent Radio Times about the new series Deadly Pole to Pole, the crass “deadly” word is overworked again in a two-page feature about Steve Backshall on children’s BBC at 5.40pm… MY DEADLIEST ENCOUNTERS with… “Deadly animals are dangerous to each other but not us”… as a subtitle. Then follows a polar bear “hunting me”, a shark “grabbed hold of my whole hand”, and bullet ants… “trial by agony… pain”. If those experiences are animals being only dangerous to each other, surely the great hero Steve Backshall needs to think again about his use of the wretched word “Deadly” on which he has built his dubious reputation. The subtitle of the feature claims one thing and then goes on graphically to illustrate exactly the opposite. Surely those images and Backshall’s macho quotes do a lot more harm than good, especially with younger viewers who will probably grow up with a fear of the various innocent species that Backshall decided to select as the “Deadly 60” in the past. He may have a lot to answer for.

Also see: OVERKILL? Wildlife on TV by Richard Brock May 2013 + update