I have already mentioned how Bear Grylls has been criticised for killing bats in China, see my blog of 2015. And I wrote about this on my Caves of Malaysia website.
The Discovery programme was called Bear Grylls, Born Survivor. It was first shown in 2010. In the USA it was called Man vs Wild.
I didn't see the programme then. But I did see it in 2016. Series 4, Ep 9 on Discovery Channel. The episode featured Bear Grylls "sharing invaluable survival strategies" when he was in a southern China jungle after a typhoon. From TV guide UK : "Adventurer Bear Grylls visits a region devastated by a typhoon and has to tackle swollen rivers, climb large waterfalls and use an ancient tribal technique to catch bats for food".
He reaches a cave and says that China has the largest number of unexplored caves in the world. And that American fighters used caves for shelters.
To go into the cave, he makes a torch by splitting bamboo, packs it with dry leaves, ties it together with vine and lights. The bats inside mean food. He comments on the smell of ammonia and says the spores from the bat guano are dangerous as they carry histoplasmosis. He uses light and smoke from his torch to spook the bats. He says bats have been around for 50 million years and use echo location.
He goes out of the cave in order to work out how to catch the bats. He makes a trap / net from branches and vines [it looks like a large lacrosse stick]. We then see him wildly waving the trap around in the entrance and a message at the bottom of the screen says something to the effect that killing bats is illegal in the UK and some countries. He continues to wave the trap around and catches a bat and holds it up to show the camera. Then suddenly the scene changes to him sliding into a river.
Later on he catches a large frog, he holds it up, then the next shot we see him eating a leg of the skinned frog, raw.
That evening he makes a raised hammock and makes a fire to cook his bats. He also sets a rat trap using bat guts as bait. We see him skewer 2 bats onto a stick and roast them. He says bats carry rabies so must be well cooked. We see him eating one, he doesn't like the taste but they are warming. In the morning he finds a large rat in a trap and cooks that.
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Bear Grylls was apparently sacked by Discovery over a contract dispute according to this report in March 2012. It obviously wasn't a permanent thing as he has been seen on Discovery since then.
Showing posts with label Bear Grylls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bear Grylls. Show all posts
November 7, 2016
June 3, 2016
Bear Grylls Mission Survive programme axed
Although this is not cave related, I am posting it as Bear Grylls has been mentioned in my blog.
In May 2016 it was announced that ITV has cancelled Bear Grylls TV show, Mission Survive, after two series. See The Guardian report, 31 May. The reasons are due to a fall in ratings.
As far as I know, none of the episodes were filmed in caves.
Bear Grylls has received many negative comments from international cavers in the past due to his reckless / dangerous attitudes to caving - see labels on the column to the right.
In May 2016 it was announced that ITV has cancelled Bear Grylls TV show, Mission Survive, after two series. See The Guardian report, 31 May. The reasons are due to a fall in ratings.
As far as I know, none of the episodes were filmed in caves.
Bear Grylls has received many negative comments from international cavers in the past due to his reckless / dangerous attitudes to caving - see labels on the column to the right.
September 29, 2015
Bear Grylls in negative news again
In recent years the emphasis of many TV documentaries seems to be on presenters tackling dangerous animals or performing dangerous stunts, especially in caves. Bear Grylls is one such presenter.
A few years ago he was criticised for killing bats in China.
More recently there have been programmes in which he goes into caves, jumps into rivers etc, and never wears a helmet, has inadequate lighting and doesn't seem to take any safety precautions. Again I have posted this on my cave website.
The latest upset was after a programme was aired on British TV of him caving in Yorkshire. In "Britain's biggest adventures", [ITV , Part 2, 2015, shown Sept 2015. Nutopia and BTV] after abseiling at Malham Cove without a helmet, he goes into Long Churn Cave. We see him going through a section of cave alone, with a single torchlight and no helmet. Then he meets up with an experienced caver. As the cave begins to flood they have to go out.
It seems to be that Bear Grylls often does reckless things, presumably for the TV audience.
A few days after "Britain's biggest adventures" aired, the Yorkshire based Cave Rescue Organisation made a complaint about the programme. This was detailed on Grough, I will copy some of the article here -
Cave rescue team complains over 'horrifying' Bear Grylls TV programme
Bob Smith, Editor
Monday 28 September 2015
A rescue team has posted an official complaint to television bosses over scenes in a recent programme featuring a renowned adventurer.
The Clapham-based Cave Rescue Organisation said last week’s episode of ITV’s Britain’s Biggest Adventures with Bear Grylls showed a total disregard for safety in the outdoors.
The rescue team’s chair Heather Eastwood has written to the channel expressing horror at some of the activities the star of the programme undertook.
Ms Eastwood said: “As chair of the local rescue team both myself and many of my fellow team members were horrified to see Bear Grylls show a total disregard for safety in the outdoors especially in relation to water and caving.
“Bear Grylls is Chief Scout and is an inspirational figure to many young people but both ITV and Bear Grylls himself have shown a total lack of responsibility by portraying some of the activities in the light that you choose to do.”
The programme, second in a series being currently screened, was set in the Yorkshire Dales and showed Bear Grylls abseiling down the 80m crag of Malham Cove, to meet climber Steve McClure half way up.
But the two activities that concerned the CRO are when the adventurer tosses his rucksack into the water at Stainforth Force before performing a backflip into the water, and heading into the Long Churn cave system near Selside without basic equipment.
Before stepping into the cave system with no helmet or protective suit and with just a handtorch, Grylls says: “Water levels are rising. This adventure was about to put all our lives in danger.” The commentary said it had been raining non-stop for 24 hours.
The television star, his underground guide Phil Murphy and the film crew are seen to make a rushed exit from the cave. Bear Grylls says: “We’re in genuine danger of being swept away so, for safety, we have to switch the cameras off.
“All of us make it out just in time.”
The Cave Rescue Organisation chair said in her letter: “Climbing up waterfalls shows not only a total disregard for the environment but failed to mention the dangers of water in general let alone how that danger increases in waterfalls.
“For those of us who know the area in question we are well aware of the power and dangers of the water shown even in dry conditions and have had the misfortune of being involved in difficult rescues in those areas.
“As for your portrayal of caving and cave exploration I am struggling to express my horror.
See link above for full article.
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Similar articles also appeared in The Guardian 1 Oct, and Mirror Online 1 Oct .
A few years ago he was criticised for killing bats in China.
More recently there have been programmes in which he goes into caves, jumps into rivers etc, and never wears a helmet, has inadequate lighting and doesn't seem to take any safety precautions. Again I have posted this on my cave website.
The latest upset was after a programme was aired on British TV of him caving in Yorkshire. In "Britain's biggest adventures", [ITV , Part 2, 2015, shown Sept 2015. Nutopia and BTV] after abseiling at Malham Cove without a helmet, he goes into Long Churn Cave. We see him going through a section of cave alone, with a single torchlight and no helmet. Then he meets up with an experienced caver. As the cave begins to flood they have to go out.
It seems to be that Bear Grylls often does reckless things, presumably for the TV audience.
A few days after "Britain's biggest adventures" aired, the Yorkshire based Cave Rescue Organisation made a complaint about the programme. This was detailed on Grough, I will copy some of the article here -
Cave rescue team complains over 'horrifying' Bear Grylls TV programme
Bob Smith, Editor
Monday 28 September 2015
A rescue team has posted an official complaint to television bosses over scenes in a recent programme featuring a renowned adventurer.
The Clapham-based Cave Rescue Organisation said last week’s episode of ITV’s Britain’s Biggest Adventures with Bear Grylls showed a total disregard for safety in the outdoors.
The rescue team’s chair Heather Eastwood has written to the channel expressing horror at some of the activities the star of the programme undertook.
Ms Eastwood said: “As chair of the local rescue team both myself and many of my fellow team members were horrified to see Bear Grylls show a total disregard for safety in the outdoors especially in relation to water and caving.
“Bear Grylls is Chief Scout and is an inspirational figure to many young people but both ITV and Bear Grylls himself have shown a total lack of responsibility by portraying some of the activities in the light that you choose to do.”
The programme, second in a series being currently screened, was set in the Yorkshire Dales and showed Bear Grylls abseiling down the 80m crag of Malham Cove, to meet climber Steve McClure half way up.
But the two activities that concerned the CRO are when the adventurer tosses his rucksack into the water at Stainforth Force before performing a backflip into the water, and heading into the Long Churn cave system near Selside without basic equipment.
Before stepping into the cave system with no helmet or protective suit and with just a handtorch, Grylls says: “Water levels are rising. This adventure was about to put all our lives in danger.” The commentary said it had been raining non-stop for 24 hours.
The television star, his underground guide Phil Murphy and the film crew are seen to make a rushed exit from the cave. Bear Grylls says: “We’re in genuine danger of being swept away so, for safety, we have to switch the cameras off.
“All of us make it out just in time.”
The Cave Rescue Organisation chair said in her letter: “Climbing up waterfalls shows not only a total disregard for the environment but failed to mention the dangers of water in general let alone how that danger increases in waterfalls.
“For those of us who know the area in question we are well aware of the power and dangers of the water shown even in dry conditions and have had the misfortune of being involved in difficult rescues in those areas.
“As for your portrayal of caving and cave exploration I am struggling to express my horror.
See link above for full article.
---
Similar articles also appeared in The Guardian 1 Oct, and Mirror Online 1 Oct .
June 22, 2015
Bear Grylls - Breaking Point episode 5
On my earlier blog I wrote about Episode 1, where Bear Grylls took 2 participants into a river cave in Mexico.
Episode 5 - Claustrophobia.
Bear Grylls meets two men who spend their lives avoiding confined spaces – and takes them deep into the most frightening caves he can find. Mark almost died when he was buried alive by sand as a teenager. Meanwhile, Mike was accidentally imprisoned in a fairground ride dangling almost 20 metres off the ground. He now fears being trapped so much that he can’t even hug his wife.
Bear has a plan to help them face, and hopefully overcome, their worst fears. He’s heading out to one of the First World War’s most treacherous front lines, where the landscape is still punctured with trenches, caves and tunnels. But Bear will need to win Mike and Mark’s trust as he takes them deep underground.
You can see some videos on Discovery Breaking Point.
Inside Tunnel -
Bear brings Mike and Mark to a pitch black tunnel deep underground. They must navigate their way through the dark and overcome their fear of enclosed spaces.
At least Mike and Mark are wearing helmets, but not Bear.
There are 2 more videos with cave related scenes -
Claustrophobia Intro -
Mike and Mark both suffer from claustrophobia - the fear of enclosed spaces. Bear brings them to Northern Italy, filled with caves and man made trenches to put the fear to the test.
Cave Passage -
Mike and Mark must get to reach their camp site for the night. First they must pass through an extremely tight passage that would be a challenge for anyone with claustrophobia.
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Episode 5 - Claustrophobia.
Bear Grylls meets two men who spend their lives avoiding confined spaces – and takes them deep into the most frightening caves he can find. Mark almost died when he was buried alive by sand as a teenager. Meanwhile, Mike was accidentally imprisoned in a fairground ride dangling almost 20 metres off the ground. He now fears being trapped so much that he can’t even hug his wife.
Bear has a plan to help them face, and hopefully overcome, their worst fears. He’s heading out to one of the First World War’s most treacherous front lines, where the landscape is still punctured with trenches, caves and tunnels. But Bear will need to win Mike and Mark’s trust as he takes them deep underground.
You can see some videos on Discovery Breaking Point.
Inside Tunnel -
Bear brings Mike and Mark to a pitch black tunnel deep underground. They must navigate their way through the dark and overcome their fear of enclosed spaces.
At least Mike and Mark are wearing helmets, but not Bear.
There are 2 more videos with cave related scenes -
Claustrophobia Intro -
Mike and Mark both suffer from claustrophobia - the fear of enclosed spaces. Bear brings them to Northern Italy, filled with caves and man made trenches to put the fear to the test.
Cave Passage -
Mike and Mark must get to reach their camp site for the night. First they must pass through an extremely tight passage that would be a challenge for anyone with claustrophobia.
-
May 29, 2015
Bear Grylls: Breaking Point
Bear Grylls: Breaking Point
Episode 1 - Water
Discovery Channel
New Yorker Ray and Ugur from Holland are both terrified of water after suffering major trauma in their lives. Bear takes them to face their fears on a journey through fast-flowing jungle waterways in Southern Mexico.
Ray, 60, lost his son, Marc, in a tragic accident in a swimming pool. It had been Marc’s dream to join the Navy Seals, but he drowned aged just 17, leaving Ray haunted by images of his son dying underwater.
Ugur, 37, was in Thailand when the Asian tsunami hit – and he’s avoided water ever since.
Can Bear take these two proud men and force them to overcome their fears by taking on some of the world’s deepest canyons and highest waterfalls? It’s going to be an emotional journey.
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On part of the journey, Bear Grylls took them into a river cave. Bear tells us about the fast moving water and that it's a 2km long underground river. The 3 of them go into the cave just using a head torch, no helmets. Bear tells them one rule - never let go of the rope. He gets in the water saying he doesn't know how keep it is. He swims for 30m saying the river goes a long way. Ray has to follow using the rope, then Ugur. Next Ugur is given a test, to swim the length of the 30m rope alone without a light (or helmet). Bear is holding the end of the rope.
I wonder what cavers think about this 'lack' of safety, no helmets etc. There are bats in the cave. I wonder if any thought was given to histoplasmosis, as this disease is prevalent in some Mexico caves. See more on histoplasmosis.
Bear Grylls has been criticised in the news in the past when he supposedly killed bats
See video on DailyMotion Bear Grylls' Breaking Point S01E01
[shown on Malaysian TV 26 May 2015]
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