New Zealand broadcaster reprimanded for 'cruel' dolphin mating scene

The dolphin mating scene in the nature series has been accused of traumatizing children. Credit: AP/Sarasota Dolphin Research Program

New Zealand Media Watchdog has reprimanded one of the country's leading television networks for showing footage of a «violent» mating of male dolphins with a lone female.

Nature series Our Big Blue Backyard which aired on New Zealand's state broadcaster TVNZ1, was accused of injuring children and prompted complaints to the Broadcast Standards Authority (BSA).

The scene in question showed a female dolphin trying to escape from a group of males who had caught her trapped on the surface. water near the islands of the Three Kings of Manawataui before mating with her.

“She is trapped on the surface, and the males take turns. Once they all mate with her, they leave her alone,” the narrator said as underwater wrestling footage and dramatic music played. attack.»

«View of sexual assault»

Viewer Chris Radford complained to the BSA about footage that aired at 7:30 p.m. on TVNZ 1 earlier this year, claiming it should have been rated PG or contained a warning to parents so they can decide whether to let their kids watch it.

«While this behavior may have been natural, it was still a form of sexual abuse against the female dolphin,» Mr Radford said in a statement. «The poor creature was trying to escape from male dolphins.

«Clearly this is a situation where young children will need further counseling regarding observed behavior.»

The BSA agreed that the episode in question was misclassified as having an overall G rating when he should have been one of the PG, parent guide.

The footage of the animals was noted to include «male dolphins swarming around the female with visible genitalia.»

«At some point, the male apparently entered the female…accompanied by the dolphins' cries,» the report said. Watchdog said.

«Normal Dolphin Mating Behavior»

BSA added that its study found animal harm or torture to be one of the most common types of content children find traumatic.

TVNZ said they would not uphold the complaint, arguing that viewers could expect unpleasant scenes given that it was the show's third episode.

«This assessment reflects a judgment based on human feelings, which, as stated above, we don't think it's a good basis for understanding animal behavior,” they said in their response.

TVNZ added that the incident “simply demonstrates normal dolphin mating behavior in the wild” and is significant. to the long-term survival of the Manawataui dolphins, which is very important.