THis is not the first time that Bear Grylls has been the subject of such things (biting in half live snakes for example!). However, below is a post from Bat Conseration international that many of you may want to address. IT is time for these shows to demonstrate environmental responsibility and cease their sensationalism posed as education. Discovery and other likewise mannered "educational" television is damaging its credibility day by day, but the recent episode outlined below is the epitome of ignorance.
Malcolm ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Bat Conservation International <[email protected]> Date: Thu, May 27, 2010 at 1:16 PM Subject: CALL TO ACTION - Discovery Channel teaches viewers how to kill bats. To: "malcolm.mccallum.tamut" <[email protected]> <https://www.batcon.org/> A recent episode of Discovery Channel's Man vs. Wild featured Bear Grylls gleefully killing bats with a homemade club. The clip, which shows Grylls throwing a flame in a cave to "smoke out" the bats, swatting them to the ground and then stomping on them, has aired internationally and been posted on YouTube, allowing for continued access. Though we understand the show is about survival, we feel that this clip perpetuates negative attitudes toward bats and could generate senseless copycat activity and/or the type of vandalism that is driving many bat species to the brink of extinction. Only four months ago, a Kentucky man was sentenced to eight months in jail after pleading guilty to beating to death 105 endangered Indiana bats. Please express your disappointment at this anti-conservation message by filling out the feedback <http://extweb.discovery.com/viewerrelations> form on Discovery Communications website. Let the Discovery executives know: - This episode undermines decades of bat conservation efforts - Bats are an important part of a healthy ecosystem. They eat agricultural pests, disperse seeds to replenish the rainforest and pollinate a variety of plants. Many bats are endangered and the loss of a single species can have ramifications throughout the ecosystem. - Viewers should be informed that killing bats-or even disturbing them-may be illegal depending on the species and country. - We would like Discovery Channel to ensure this edition of Born Survivor and related footage is not aired again and that this footage<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guSY9bTdwI4>is removed from Youtube, the Discovery Channel website and all other communications - We hope Discovery Channel uses all its nature programming to forward conservation efforts. Best regards, Nina Fascione Executive Director Bat Conservation International P.S. Help spread the word. Forward this to a friend. If you do not wish to receive emails from BCI click here<[email protected]?subject=please+remove+me+from+your+mailing+list> -- Malcolm L. McCallum Managing Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. -- Malcolm L. McCallum Managing Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
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