I haven't seen a kill in the wild. I'm not sure I would want to, but maybe it would be a life altering experience. When it comes to nature, I am big softcock.

Back to the tarantula topic... I think we can all agree that people like us are in the minority. Is that minority big enough to warrant a series dealing almost exclusively about spiders? How do the herp shows pull it off? Would it not just be the same recipe?

People are always looking for new ideas. As mentioned above, the Big 5 has been done. Over and over again. You can watch 10 different shows in a single day all about the same thing. Something new has to come along at some point.

Sorry to say but the big 5 was so yesterday, that industry is for the old and weak who cannot go for a lekker dive with a whale shark, touching a huge wild animal that has no intention to cause any harm to you or itself. No fences is a bonus, warm water is too

Im not saying the Big 5 is dead, it does have its place, but imo.. and im sure many others, there are way better things you could do in South Africa with your money!

just my 2c

Like cage diving with great whites. One of the best experiences of my life!

Agreed but there will probably always be a Market for the Big Five, just not from me. I've seen all of them in the wild and even Touched a real life Elepant. Apart from the Elephant I was pretty much unfazed they didn't do anything for me and well, that's my choice wether I like them or not. I wouldn't mind doing Shark Diving as I have always had a love for Sea Life and Shark Diving sounds fun.

Now does anyone know what the Big Five is of the insect world? Remember doing a project on it at school but can't quite remember what they were?

Concering the blood and gore, it's nature and theres nothing we can do about it. I've seen the things bear Grylls eats and it doesn't faze me anymore. I have a strong stomach when it comes to gore. Unfortunalty in recent years if you want to watch any decent documentaries you have to go to National Geographic. Animals Planet has become too lame, to British (Not an insult but it focuses mainly on British shows) and focuses to much on their SPCA shows and Pet shows. Weren't they better than this

I think maybe some of you are misunderstanding me. I understand that nature is cruel, and I get the whole circle of life thing. To expect anything less, would be bordering on idiotic. My rant is that it seems to be the sole focus of many wildlife shows. Is it really necessary? I love watching an interesting wildlife documentary, and I love being in the bush. That doesn't mean I want a 24 x 7 highlight reel of pain and misery.

Reynolds wrote: Sorry to say but the big 5 was so yesterday, that industry is for the old and weak who cannot go for a lekker dive with a whale shark, touching a huge wild animal that has no intention to cause any harm to you or itself. No fences is a bonus, warm water is too

Im not saying the Big 5 is dead, it does have its place, but imo.. and im sure many others, there are way better things you could do in South Africa with your money!

just my 2c

Meteor wrote: The rest of us wanna see any animal in great detail but ja we have seen enought of the big 5.

Are you saying that as a South African who can go to Kruger every weekend if he wants, or as an American who comes here once in his life?
Surely the shows that are shown here are not made for South Africans? There must be many more Americans and Europeans that watch National Geographic than South Africans?

Shane Visser wrote: I think maybe some of you are misunderstanding me. I understand that nature is cruel, and I get the whole circle of life thing. To expect anything less, would be bordering on idiotic. My rant is that it seems to be the sole focus of many wildlife shows. Is it really necessary? I love watching an interesting wildlife documentary, and I love being in the bush. That doesn't mean I want a 24 x 7 highlight reel of pain and misery.

I guess that is what people want to see. The same concept as what you said earlier: "Fear sells, and alot of people are terrified of big hairy spiders. That angle could be used to sell it...".
If you saw shows that portrayed spiders as big scary dangerous spiders, you would probably be just as angry?