I'm not sure that 48 minutes really qualifies as a feature, but Apple TV had this documentary in their Feature Films section so, dutiful to the last, I watched it. I don't particularly enjoy animal documentaries (which is a problem seeing Apples output has so many) but the particular theme of this one made it much more interesting.
As the lockdown response to Covid 19 begins in March of 2020, the reduction of traffic, trade, manufacturing and vacations has a positive effect on many aspects of the animal kingdom. Turtles and penguins, who usually find their beach nesting activities interrupted by humans are able to rear in greater number than they have in years. Whales and Cheetah's are able to hunt over further distances, safe in the knowledge that, for once, they will be able to hear if their offspring is in trouble. Is there more that humans should be doing, to live in greater harmony with animals?
In some ways, my overall feeling about the documentary is that it's depressing. Depressing because I'm sure that we won't learn anything. We could let the turtles have that beach entirely during breeding season, but we won't because the next beach is an inconvenient 5 minutes' walk away. We could let that cheetah call its cubs and watch a family survive from a respectful distance, but we won't because we might miss the best shot filming something we're never going to look at again.
Naturally though, it's beautiful to look at and the pandemic was a unique opportunity to get shots of these animals in the habitats that we've taken from them. A jaguar patrolling around a luxury resort or deer roaming a usually busy road. David Attenborough is the undisputed king of nature commentary and he's on his usual form here.
It'd be nice, or perhaps informative, to revisit these scenes again in a few months and see what, if any, improvements were maintained, but I fear I already know the answer.
As the lockdown response to Covid 19 begins in March of 2020, the reduction of traffic, trade, manufacturing and vacations has a positive effect on many aspects of the animal kingdom. Turtles and penguins, who usually find their beach nesting activities interrupted by humans are able to rear in greater number than they have in years. Whales and Cheetah's are able to hunt over further distances, safe in the knowledge that, for once, they will be able to hear if their offspring is in trouble. Is there more that humans should be doing, to live in greater harmony with animals?
In some ways, my overall feeling about the documentary is that it's depressing. Depressing because I'm sure that we won't learn anything. We could let the turtles have that beach entirely during breeding season, but we won't because the next beach is an inconvenient 5 minutes' walk away. We could let that cheetah call its cubs and watch a family survive from a respectful distance, but we won't because we might miss the best shot filming something we're never going to look at again.
Naturally though, it's beautiful to look at and the pandemic was a unique opportunity to get shots of these animals in the habitats that we've taken from them. A jaguar patrolling around a luxury resort or deer roaming a usually busy road. David Attenborough is the undisputed king of nature commentary and he's on his usual form here.
It'd be nice, or perhaps informative, to revisit these scenes again in a few months and see what, if any, improvements were maintained, but I fear I already know the answer.