The Hindu Business Line : Wild on the set

For wildlife enthusiasts, a channel like Animal Planet has done a great deal in adding to their knowledge, even though it often brings sad news on the ever-increasing list of endangered species.

A still from Planet's Funniest Animals on Animal Planet.

This channel stars crocodiles in leading roles. Sometimes the protagonist is a snake or a blue whale or a tiger in Ranthambore National Park, New Delhi. But lions, cheetahs, orang-utans, hippos, rhinos, zebras and giraffes also share the limelight.

Animal Planet, which made its entry into India some four years ago, has not exactly set the rating charts on fire but it has definitely built up its share of dedicated viewers. Says Vikram Viswanath, a wildlife enthusiast, "I watch some of the shows on Animal Planet. I like the Jeff Corwin show or the one done by Steve Irwin on the Australia Zoo. Most of the shows anchored by Sir David Attenborough are quite amazing." He is one of the many loyal viewers of this channel. His primary interest in wildlife commences with books and extends to the channels, including Discovery and National Geographic.

Broadly, the genre of programming on these channels is similar, yet there is a distinct difference in programming that comes on National Geographic and Animal Planet, though many viewers would prefer Discovery for its broader range.

There is never a dull moment with Animal Planet, says a stock market enthusiast. What makes the channel interesting is the fact that the programming is quite attention-grabbing, yet informative and the background score makes it viewer-friendly.

Some of the most popular shows on the channel are Jeff Corwin Experience, Croc Files hosted by Steve Irwin, Mark O'Shea's shows and the Planet's Funniest Animals. Sir David Attenborough's programmes have their own following because of the earlier series of his programmes on Doordarshan.

Though Steve Irwin's Australian accent makes it difficult for the viewer to follow what he says, the programme is quite gripping and the viewer is instantly hooked the minute Irwin appears on the screen. "Crocodiles are the most powerful animals on the face of the earth," Irwin says, as he and his 10 other colleagues at the Australian Zoo try to control a `modern-day dinosaur'.

With pet adoption becoming increasingly popular in urban India, the popularity for Animal Planet's pet shows is rising. Battersea Dogs' Home is about dog adoption, a concept that is a long-way off in catching on in a country like India where even adopting children is yet to pick up. Yet, the show evokes a lot of interest in this dog lover who is also a `mother' of a one-year-old dog. "It is not just a show about an institution; it is about care and sensitivity in the entire dog adoption process. A lot of effort goes into finding the right people for each of the dogs at Battersea. But the fact that there is this system in another country is satisfying," she says. Her other favourite on the channel is Planet's Funniest Animals.

Some of the veterinary programmes including Animal Doctor and Animal Hospital are quite endearing. The programme Cats Gone Wild brings home the fact that tigers are vanishing from the wild and ending up in captivity. Here filmmaker John Varty and zoologist David Salmoni share a plan to take two siblings — Bengal tigers from Cincinnati Zoo, Ron and Julie — and teach them how to fend for themselves.

While viewers feel that they have been able to learn a great deal from channels like Animal Planet, wildlife enthusiasts are of the view that the channel has indeed helped create consciousness about wildlife and its significance in maintaining the world's ecological balance. Though, at a different level, it is still disturbing to know that many species of animals are increasingly heading toward the endangered list.

Response can be sent to life@thehindu.co.in

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