This episode follows the series format - and indeed the format of various different BBC programmes preceded by the word "Wild" - in showing us both pristine nature and the interactions ongoing with local people. This is an attractive, realistic and sensible way of doing things, though does - one would think - work best where treated with full honesty. This we do not get here as the lady who (theoretically) risks her life by catching highly-venomous sea snakes at night is one moment seen in the cave with snakes in her bag and the next moment with coiled cooked snakes ready to make into soup which we then see consumed with gusto. To dodge showing us the killing and preparation of the snake for the table is dishonest, and suggests only "fair-weather" adherence to the mantra of reasonable/desirable human-nature interactions.
Seaweed farming seemed more neutral in its impact.
In general, the episode is intriguing, and all the more so as it is not merely about animals, but also about nature in the sense of the weather, currents, vulcanism, reef-building and so on - an essential and desirable ecologically-based way of looking at things, if one that was long absent from what we used to call "nature programmes".
A further sign of how far we have come (conceivably even too far?) is that one or two animals (black kite, distant sea eagle) are even shown without being named, and indeed without comment of any kind.
Needless to say, the islands forming the southernmost parts of Japan are special, fascinating and beautiful, whether inhabited or not. Nevertheless, most will probably find the association between sika deer and macaques (in pristine nature) the most pleasing phenomenon of all, not over-explained and presented, but perhaps all the more interesting for that.
Seaweed farming seemed more neutral in its impact.
In general, the episode is intriguing, and all the more so as it is not merely about animals, but also about nature in the sense of the weather, currents, vulcanism, reef-building and so on - an essential and desirable ecologically-based way of looking at things, if one that was long absent from what we used to call "nature programmes".
A further sign of how far we have come (conceivably even too far?) is that one or two animals (black kite, distant sea eagle) are even shown without being named, and indeed without comment of any kind.
Needless to say, the islands forming the southernmost parts of Japan are special, fascinating and beautiful, whether inhabited or not. Nevertheless, most will probably find the association between sika deer and macaques (in pristine nature) the most pleasing phenomenon of all, not over-explained and presented, but perhaps all the more interesting for that.
