New Zealand broadcaster scolds dolphins for ‘raw’ mating scene | New Zealand

New Zealand’s media watchdog has reprimanded public broadcaster TVNZ for not giving a documentary that “dramatized” a dolphin mating scene a high rating.

The nature series “Our Big Blue Backyard” has angered one viewer and successfully filed a complaint with the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA). In the scene in question, a female dolphin is targeted by a pod of male dolphins mating.

“She’s trapped on the surface, and the males take turns. Once they’ve all mated with her, they leave her alone,” says the narrator, along with underwater footage of the encounter and dramatic music. .

The BSA said the footage included “a male dolphin huddled around a female with her genitals visible, and at some point the male apparently entered the female…the dolphin’s vocalizations could be heard.” said.

Viewer Chris Radford complained to BSA that TVNZ should not have aired the 7:30 p.m.

“The act may have been natural, but it was still a form of sexual violence inflicted on a female dolphin,” he claimed in the filing. “The poor creature was trying to escape from a male dolphin.

“It is clear that the situation warrants further counseling of the infant regarding the observed behavior.”

TVNZ argued that it was factual, educational, not unfairly dramatized and should not be equated with human sexual violence.

“Such assessments reflect judgments based on human sensibilities and, as noted above, we do not consider them an appropriate framework for understanding animal behavior,” their response said. .

The BSA ruled in Radford’s favor, finding that the show should have been given a PG rating to encourage parental guidance.

“Authorities said the scene featured adult themes and graphic footage, was dramatized in a way that was alarming or distressing to children watching, and required adult supervision. As such, the scene exceeded viewer expectations for the show’s “G” rating. and guidance,” the judgment read.

Citing research into children’s viewing habits, the BSA identified “animal harm and torture as one of the most common types of content that children find offensive.”