I can't watch those nature shows on TV anymore.

[Ohiogal]

Has anyone watched any of those documentaries on BBC America lately with David Attenborough narrating? Called "Dynasties"?

We've watched several of them recently. The filmmaking is stunning, as is the scenery and the subject matter.

But I find myself getting way too upset over seeing lions attacking an impala, or, like last night, an ox fighting off about 6 lionesses as they hang onto it's back, claws embedded and teeth chomping away, blood dripping. Also last night a wolf chased a baby caribou. (the caribou got away, thankfully). But then the wolf went hungry.

The last show we watched was all about painted wolves, two packs competing with each other, and their hard life wandering, caring for their young, and trying to avoid being lion lunch. I get too emotionally involved with the wolves who seem to have such a hard life.

And don't get me started on the penguins!

I know that's the way nature is. I know it's all a balance. But I always feel sorry for the prey animals. Maybe I'm just getting too emotional in my old age.

Does anyone else feel this way?

[Phentex]

1. Yes. Sometimes I can fall asleep during them because of the quiet voices...

but I get too upset watching animals attack each other. I know it's the whole circle of life thing but I've gotten soft these days.

[Ohiogal]

4. And the animals who starve to death.

How can the filmmakers just film that and not give the poor creature something to eat?

I must be losing my mind .....

[NurseJackie]

7. Yep! I haven't seen the ending credits for ANY of the Planet Earth or Blue Planet series.

Zzzzzz!

[Phentex]

9. any golf tournament?

[NurseJackie]

12. I haven't tried that... but it sounds like a good idea!

(Except for the loud commercials.)



I suppose I could have my Alexa read me to sleep.

[Moostache]

2. Projectionism helps me...

Just picture the prey as a member of the extended Trump criminal organization...Like the Ox with the Lions hanging on it? Nothing more than Don Jr. with the lion's seeking revenge for the elephant tail-waving photos...

Or the wolves? Cabinet members and idiot sons vying for attention...terrible about Eric losing that show of dominance in the pack though...so very sad to see.

As for Penguins...there's always room for an Ice Princess in the brutally cold Antarctic night...

[Ohiogal]

27. Those pictures of Junior and the elephant tail

Just made me sick. Elephants are such noble creatures! What kind of cretin would kill one just for fun?

[Siwsan]

3. I watch 'SafariLive', on line, and see that activity happening in real time

Before the broadcast begins, they warn people that the day's sightings may include animal kills and carcasses. And, if during the drive, they feel a kill is imminent or they come across carnivores feeding, they warn people that if they are sensitive, they might want to make a cup of tea and take a break.

It doesn't really bother me to watch animals doing what they need to do to survive. And there are other amazing things to watch. One drive, we witnessed the live births of two Wildebeests and on another, we got the first sighting of a new, maybe 2 week old baby leopard. We've been following her exploits, ever since.

[Ohiogal]

5. I do love to see the new baby animals.

They are all cute .... even the ones that are less than cute as adults!

But of course, those are the ones that the bigger creatures prey upon.....

[hlthe2b]

6. Yeah.. the circle of life is hard to take when it plays out right before our eyes...

My last office was in the Colorado foothills and deer, elk, coyotes, and fox were constantly around--likewise, the turkey buzzards eating roadkill or the unlucky rabbit or squirrel. All this in full display from my window. Being soft-hearted, I had about a six month period where I fell in love with one of the young squirrels that literally became our little gymnast and clown every day outside the window. Sadly, one day I saw his limp body being carried off in the mouth of a little fox. It may be "natural", it may be "restoring balance", but to me, it was almost like losing a pet before my eyes.

Don't even talk to me about the day I saw a young elk with an obviously broken leg. I can only be grateful CO Dept of Wildlife came out after I'd left for the day. sigh...

[Ohiogal]

10. Oh, I couldn't stand that.

It's like you say .... if you have a pet, I think you tend to be soft hearted for animals.

It's not that I can't stand to see the blood and gore -- although it's not pretty -- I just feel too sorry for the victims.

[KT2000]

8. yes - gave up watching them

I know they are showing reality but it is too upsetting to watch.

[applegrove]

11. I was used to Walt Disney animal shows as a kid. I saw some animal

dvds in the 7 11. I thought I love wild animals. I bought it. Turns out it was an American series famous for the predators catching the prey. I quickly thought better of watching it once i figured it out. I thought all wild animals had fun all day long with a deep voiced narrator relating only happy human like stories following them around. Such is the world of a Walt Disney watching kid.

[Ohiogal]

16. Oh yeah I remember the Disney animal films.

Just like you described .... a folksy narrator relating happy human-type stories about the little furry creatures' daily trials and tribulations.

Perri the Squirrel .....

[Clash City Rocker]

34. People making a Disney "documentary" faked lemmings suicides to promote an urban legend

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/white-wilderness/

It was hard to take any of them seriously after I heard that.

[applegrove]

35. That is awful.

[procon]

13. Same with me, any form of violence

makes me physically ill. Not just the nature documentaries, but things like news coverage of lethal traffic accidents and murders, or those reality shows that film idiots trying stupid stunt that ends up nearly killing them for our viewing pleasure.

It's like the modernized version of the Roman circus, but I can't be a passive observer. Add to that macabre mix is knowing that people and animals are being injured and killed for someone else's financial gain.

[Ohiogal]

14. Me, too. If that makes me a "bleeding heart liberal"

Then that's a badge I'm proud to wear!

[IcyPeas]

15. I can't watch them either.

I know this happens in nature. I get it. But I don't want to see it.

[Ohiogal]

24. But the rest of the show is really interesting and informative.

That's my dilemma!

[ailsagirl]

17. I absolutely agree

I know animals have to eat, but that doesn't mean I want to watch a lion rip apart a gazelle.

I haven't watched those types of programs for many years-- I'm definitely with you!!

[Ohiogal]

21. The problem is,

at least with the "Dynasty" shows .... the rest of the show is really fascinating.

[MiniMe]

18. HD doesn't help either

It makes it way too graphic

[Ohiogal]

23. Oh, I know.

HD on a 50-inch screen .....

[Polly Hennessey]

19. Can't handle them.

I know the reality, however, reality is not always something I want to watch.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

20. It really is hard to watch.

I hate to see lions chewing up some unfortunate wildebeest; but on the other hand I don't want the lions to starve.

[Ohiogal]

22. Not only lions ....

On last night's program they showed a poor little baby iguana being chased by literally dozens of snakes! I had no idea snakes could move so fast, jump over piles of rocks, etc. Then the iguana got ambushed by another pack of snakes and he was a gone-er. I felt so badly for him.

[JuJuYoshida]

25. I'm exactly the opposite

I mean, a lion's gotta eat.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

40. Everybody eats somebody sometime, as the song goes.

[C_U_L8R]

26. Did you see the snakes and the iguanas??

OMG. Nightmare material.

[Ilsa]

28. No snakes, demons, zombies, or Roger Stone before bedtime.

Really, after watching Get Me Roger Stone, I had a nightmare. Pure evil, that one. Rosemary's baby is less frightening.

[C_U_L8R]

29. See the snakes

You’ll never sleep again.

[Ohiogal]

30. YES! I mentioned it above.

Absolutely horrifying!!!!

[Bluepinky]

31. I'm with you on this. As an animal lover, I hate to see any animal in pain.

And since you have a heart, and I have one to give, I gave you another!

[Ohiogal]

32. I am humbled and so appreciative!

Thank you!

[Bluepinky]

33. Any time!

[handmade34]

36. try these...

courtesy of Sierraclub.org especially for Valentine's Day

[a kennedy]

37. I've quit watching them as well......I absolutely love nature UNTIL IT HAS TO EAT!!!!!

I befriended a squirrel at work, he would come by my office and I started leaving peanuts for him. We got to a point where he would take them from my hand......loved him. Then one day right after I had given him a peanut, a hawk swooped down and picked up my furry friend and dragged him away. I started screaming and crying, all my fellow co-workers came running and I said he’s gone Frankie, I named him Frankie, they all said how sorry they were, but that’s nature........and ever since then i turn the channel when whatever i’m watching is going to eat. I’m still sick over that.

[Ohiogal]

43. I know just how you feel

I am so sorry you had to experience that, how absolutely dreadful!

[Ferrets are Cool]

38. You are not the only one Ohiogal.

As much as I love animals, I cannot watch for the same reasons you give. ❤️❤️

[Ohiogal]

44. Getting too softhearted, I guess.

[Ferrets are Cool]

45. I will take that over the alternative.

[liberalmuse]

39. Absolutely. I can't either.

I tried watching the first episode, but as soon as an animal was about to be attacked, I had to turn it off. I know it's the natural order of things and all, but I can't watch an animal being ripped apart by another animal, even if this is a highly acclaimed series.

I could barely get through "Swiss Family Robinson" the other night. I loved that movie as a kid, but was upset at how the animals were treated, especially knowing they didn't have animal welfare practices at the time the film was made.

[Ohiogal]

46. Oh yeah

The way they treated the horses and mules in some old westerns ....



I can’t stand to see it, either.

[PufPuf23]

41. I like the various nature programs but turn the channel when there is animal violence.

Just today watched part of a BBC program Planet Earth of various forests and there was the clip on Mandarin ducks in the eastern European hardwood forests. Baby ducks were hatched in a tree hollow then jumped from the hollow to the forest floor where they followed the momma duck to water, the narrator saying how it was a most vulnerable time for the baby ducks. I braced my self for some disaster when that was said but the baby ducks all made water.

But I do agree, don't like to watch the animal violence. Just the other day there was another nature program on Africa and a group of lion chased, jumped on, and I would surmise brought down and ate an elephant but I had switched the channel by then.

[samnsara]

42. yes...my elderly mother always complained that dad would watch those shows all the time.....

..volume up full blast.

[TuxedoKat]

47. Totally

I know animals have to eat but it upsets me. I can’t watch Naked and Afraid or Survivor either where they have to catch and kill their own food.

[Fla Dem]

48. I can't watch them either. I know nature can be brutal as well as beautiful, but I cannot

watch an animal be killed anymore than I can watch a human be killed. Just not my thing.

[TeapotInATempest]

49. Me either.

Many years ago, I was watching one in which a mother cheetah (I think it was a cheetah) was literally starving and she had one last chance before getting too weak to make a kill so that she and her baby could stay alive. She starting stalking a baby antelope and I had to change the channel. I mean, how are you supposed to decide which baby you want to survive?

But I'm a vegetarian, so clearly I'm not cut out for "nature red in tooth and claw", I guess.