Herzog has brilliantly interceded for the welfare of man and bear by authoring this amazing movie. I am moved by Herzog's passion to ensure that Treadwell's life's work did not go unsung.
The depth of Timothy Treadwell's misunderstanding of bears is truly heart-wrenching. This was of particular interest to me because I grew up in Alaska during the 1950's. I also lived in Jackson Hole Wyoming later in life, so my contact with wildlife is more than the average person's. We lived in Anchorage while it was still wild and woolly. We still had a saloon and dirt roads. I learned how to walk and ice skate at the same time. As a child, I wore muck-lucks and fur parkas. The main kind of meat I ate for the first few years of my life was bear, moose and deer because everyone hunted for food. Huge green eyed moose sometimes came into our front yard and look into the living room window at night. My mother would be appropriately fearful of them and taught us the same. We learned at a young age to respect all Alaskan wildlife. Despite the dangers, seeing beautiful deer, magnificent moose and other wildlife did have a seductive way with us.
So I understand this man's love affair with the bears. Unfortunately, he went way beyond reason because he didn't consider himself a threatening presence to wild animals and he did not truly consider himself as a food source. He couldn't seem to buy into the fundamental cycle of life in the wild.
Through his tragedy and the hard work of Herzog, the world can now see both sides of the issue. All wildlife is cared for by nature. All that wildlife needs is to be left alone. This movie should be a wake up call to man. We are obligated to care for these creatures by leaving them alone and not encroaching on their territories. Timothy provided an interesting bridge between our world and theirs. He said several times that he would die for them. In a larger sense, he did, if only to portray on the screen how very important it is that wildlife must be respected in all ways.
The depth of Timothy Treadwell's misunderstanding of bears is truly heart-wrenching. This was of particular interest to me because I grew up in Alaska during the 1950's. I also lived in Jackson Hole Wyoming later in life, so my contact with wildlife is more than the average person's. We lived in Anchorage while it was still wild and woolly. We still had a saloon and dirt roads. I learned how to walk and ice skate at the same time. As a child, I wore muck-lucks and fur parkas. The main kind of meat I ate for the first few years of my life was bear, moose and deer because everyone hunted for food. Huge green eyed moose sometimes came into our front yard and look into the living room window at night. My mother would be appropriately fearful of them and taught us the same. We learned at a young age to respect all Alaskan wildlife. Despite the dangers, seeing beautiful deer, magnificent moose and other wildlife did have a seductive way with us.
So I understand this man's love affair with the bears. Unfortunately, he went way beyond reason because he didn't consider himself a threatening presence to wild animals and he did not truly consider himself as a food source. He couldn't seem to buy into the fundamental cycle of life in the wild.
Through his tragedy and the hard work of Herzog, the world can now see both sides of the issue. All wildlife is cared for by nature. All that wildlife needs is to be left alone. This movie should be a wake up call to man. We are obligated to care for these creatures by leaving them alone and not encroaching on their territories. Timothy provided an interesting bridge between our world and theirs. He said several times that he would die for them. In a larger sense, he did, if only to portray on the screen how very important it is that wildlife must be respected in all ways.