Kirk Johnson—paleontologist, Sant Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History,
and onscreen narrator of “Walrus: Life on Thin Ice,” a documentary that airs Oct. 22 in the season premiere of the PBS series “Nature”—recalls a research opportunity as a grad student some 40 years ago, involving walruses. It was, he says in the film, “love at first sight.” It’s clear, as “Walrus: Life on Thin Ice” unspools, that Johnson remains smitten with these tusked mammals, an affection that viewers are likely to find contagious. While the doc functions as a love letter of sorts, it can be seen fundamentally as an exploration of the impact of climate change on walruses–particularly shrinking sea ice, given the way they rely on that ice for feeding, breeding and more. We discuss how, for many years, we’ve heard various concerns expressed about polar bears and diminishing ice, but I wonder to what extent he feels walruses’ similar plight may be flying under the radar. Johnson agrees with that assertion, while noting that polar bears and walruses are notably different creatures with differing abilities to adapt to diminishing ice. Indeed, when I later speak to the segments of the movie cumulatively addressing the global warming influence on the walruses’ existence suggest we’re heading for a dire scenario, he gently counters that assertion.
Weighing in, of course, from the perspective of a paleontologist—where the long view is often measured in millions of years—Johnson explains that there were a number of previous walrus species, including one that lived in warm water in San Diego. So, with a walrus having history living without ice, Johnson contends they conceivably could do it again—so would not characterize the animals’ future prospects as “dire.” We touched on some of the other elements of “Walrus: Life on Thin Ice”– which I consider a cinematic mosaic—including walruses’ prodigious clam consumption and impressive technique for doing so (no clam shells were broken in the making of this meal)…the rescue and rehabilitation of an orphaned pup, dubbed “Little Miss Walrus,”…we’re introduced to two wardens who spend the Spring and Summer on Round Island (the oldest wildlife sanctuary in Alaska), conducting a daily census of walrus arrivals and departures, and so on….(https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/season-44/) [Photos: PBS Nature]
ALSO: I spoke with Amy Crosby of St. Francis Society Animal Rescue, who described the rescue’s history, dating back to its founding in 1997, as well as its mission, citing some eye-popping yearly figures regarding number of cats St. Francis has fostered (1700) and feral cats the organization has Trap-Neutered-Returned (1500). Operating without a brick-and-mortar facility, Crosby explained how St. Francis maintains arrangements with an array of pet stores across the Tampa Bay Area, from which to offer their fostered cats for adoption. She notes St. Francis Society Animal Rescue is a strictly volunteer operation, and is currently served by 200 active volunteers. Crosby also outlines the key elements and details of “Life Amplified: PURRRFECT—A Night of Music, Laughter, and Pawsitive Vibes,”an event Life Amplified is producing Nov. 1 at The Studio at Carrollwood Cultural Center, with all proceeds going to St. Francis Society Animal Rescue. Attendees are invited to wear their finest cat-inspired or black-and-white attire. (https://lifeamplifiedshowcase.com/, https://www.stfrancisrescue.org/)
COMEDY CORNER: Joe Zimmerman’s “Birdwatching” (https://www.zimmermancomedy.com/)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: We didn’t play “Name That Animal Tune” today.
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