Er, Marlin.

As part of its case, ”Cruel Camera” showed scenes from that much-beloved series ”Wild Kingdom.” It was broadcast regularly on NBC from 1968 through ’71, and then went into syndication, although new episodes were produced through 1978. How did ”Wild Kingdom” rescue a bear, apparently stranded in a swamp? Someone pushed the bear overboard and scared him half to death first. How do you get an alligator to attack a water moccasin? Tie a string to the water moccasin’s tail; throw him out and reel him in. Wait long enough, and the alligator will attack the water moccasin out of sheer boredom or exasperation.

Oh, man, I did not need to know this. But now that I do, I’m not keeping it to myself.

Via Bug Girl, who asks

Is this just a cost of doing business? Or is it that we prefer our nature television like we prefer our porn?

Everything is pretty, the narrative is simple, and there are lots of money shots. It’s close up, sped up, and set to music. There is always a climax to the story.

And they’re faking it.