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When Wildlife Filmmakers….Attack. 28 July, 2004 Recently the Discovery Channel aired its latest installment of Shark Week. Watched by an estimated 20 million viewers nationwide once again their depiction of sharks and facts were sadly lacking in detail beyond the scary shark image. More shockingly we now have seen the Discovery Channel devolve into nothing more than the purveyor of cheap shark stunts where the molestation of a proud undersea predator is par for the course and marine science a mere afterthought on a producers script. In this latest case, Great White sharks were gleefully manhandled and ridden by swaggering filmmakers at the latest Great White shark hotspot, Isla Guadalupe, Mexico. My company Absolute Adventures-Shark Diver (www.sharkdiver.com) runs two fulltime eco-tourism boats out to this unique and pristine site each season from Sept-Dec. Wherein we take divers to see these animals I would like to point out the differences between us and why we absolutely decry these filmaker’s tactics and ask for your help today. The film group in question was fined $21,000 two years ago for filming at a well protected shark site called Ano Nuevo, in California. In this Discovery Channel series called “Air Jaws Two, Even Higher”, Great White sharks were enticed to attack a Namibian Cape Fur Seal decoy towed at high speeds though as protected National Marine Sanctuary. It worked, and sharks attacked the decoys with abandon, flying completely into the air with the effort. The scientific facts about this Discovery shoot? Anon Nuevo is 5000 miles away any Namibian Cape Fur Seal breeding grounds. Not only was this decoy knowingly incorrect, the operators specialized research permits were abused and fines were eventually levied against the operators of the boat in a very fine display of investigation by the MBNMS enforcement division. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/innews/sharkfine2003.htm Undaunted, we discovered with some chagrin, these same filmmakers at our pristine Isla Guadalupe site filming again, this time without cages. Cage-less Great White shark filming may look exciting, but it puts both divers and the sharks at serious risk it also opens the doors to filmmakers wanting to “push the envelope”. In this case we were witness to divers riding the backs of Great White sharks for the pure sport, and the honor of being called a “Great White shark rider”. If we may put forth an analogy here. You may “say so what, they’re just Great White sharks”. Imagine if you will if a group of filmmakers ascended the cloud forests of Africa to film Lowland Mountain Gorillas, as many do each year. Now imagine your reaction of seeing one, two and three of these filmmakers “pushing the envelope” and attempting to ride on the backs of these magnificent animals for the cameras. Your immediate revulsion at this prospect is the same as ours. Guadalupe Great Whites are our passion we encounter them for 10 week periods each year. We have come to know individual animals by name, by scar patterns and yes, by behaviors. What makes us different is that we have a full time research program onboard with notables from the marine science community doing real and significant work. We also channel funds directly to this program. We practice “safe and sane” shark diving, from behind cages, with the sharks best interests in mind at all time. We never foster, nor to do do we extol the virtues of free diving with or riding the backs of Great Whites. Our goal is for close interaction with divers, marine science, research, and sharks. If our divers come away with a broader understanding about the biology and behaviors of sharks after an encounter from the cage we have won on many levels. So, what of the filmmakers? This year again another group is
coming down to our site, this time with a 14 foot mechanical Great
White shark submarine. Their admitted goal? To film a real Great
White shark attacking this fake decoy with a member of the extended
Cousteau Clan inside while the cameras record this travesty for
big sponsorship dollars. We call upon Discovery Channel, MSNBC, National Geographic Television, Spike TV, MTV and others to stop buying programming from filmmakers who treat wildlife like a free wildlife cash machine. The public also has a choice and we call upon them to choose wisely, and speak up when you see a nature program that is obviously is pushing the limits. Do not be fooled into disclaimers saying “these are professionals”, molestation and disregard for wildlife is just that, regardless of who’s behind it. Your help in the form of one email to Dr. Felipe Galvan of CONAP in Mexico will also lead to the eventual permitting and protection of the Isla Guadalupe Great White site. Right now no protections are in place so filmmakers may do as they see fit. This has to stop, unfortunately without any sort of rules or protection for Great White sharks in Mexican waters, “pushing the limit” will know no bounds. It starts with a seemingly innocent “ride on the wild side” where it ends unfortunately is in the hands of the money guys at Discovery Channel and others. Your voice in this issue is greatly appreciated; please send
one email today titled
Patric Douglas CEO
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