Plot summary: An effective documentary based on footage from Timothy Treadwell, who filmed his experiences with Alaska's grizzly bears. He thought that he was protecting them by living up close with them every summer in the wilds. They thought he was lunch.
Science review: Treadwell's eventual death was the result, at least in part, of two common scientific errors. The first: anthropomorphism. Treadwell named the bears he lived amongst, and imbued them with personalities and the kind of innocent, glossy-eyed goodwill that you'd expect in a Disney cartoon. They returned the favour by eating him and his girlfriend because, well, they're bears.
Treadwell also made the mistake of focusing on the fate of individual bears rather than working on the wellbeing of the species. Although grizzlies have been displaced from their former range in the 'lower 48', according to Larry Van Daele, a biologist with Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Kodiak, the grizzly population in Alaska is healthy and robust. The state even issues a certain number of hunting permits for the bears each year. Treadwell was 'protecting' a group of animals that were, as a species, doing fine.
Award: Best cautionary tale for backpacking animal-lovers.
Image: © Revolver Entertainment |
