Telling the Potter from the Pot

[steepholm]

I turned on Attenborough's Africa just as they started a section on a Kalahari giraffe. Enter a gnarly veteran of the desert, who's finding it harder to reach the high-up leaves on which he feeds these days, even with the aid of a 50cm tongue. He still gets by, though - and look, he appears to have found a mate!

"Time for the younger rival to make an appearance," I murmured to Jessie. (Jessie ignores the TV most of the time, but she'll sit on my lap for wildlife programmes and watch intently.)

Sure enough, the next shot showed a young male giraffe shimmering towards us through the heat. A mighty battle for mating rights ensued.

How did I know that he would be making an imminent appearance? That's what Jessie would have asked if she'd been able - but what should I have replied? Is it that this is simply what nature is like - a struggle to spread one's genes about? Or is it that BBC wildlife documentaries have a limited set of storylines, and recycle them over and over again? What is certain is that I've seen the selfsame scenario played out a hundred times, by everything from bull seals to iguanadons. Someone's imagination seems a bit limited, but is it God's or David Attenborough's?

Is there, in fact, a difference?

Comments

[cmcmck]

That said, it was stunning photography!

[steepholm]

Absolutely!

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

I think Jessie's thoughts may well have been, 'I could totally eat BOTH of them.'

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

She is always one pounce away from a wildebeest supper.

[sovay]

Sure enough, the next shot showed a young male giraffe shimmering towards us through the heat. A mighty battle for mating rights ensued.

I just want to register approval of this pair of sentences.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[karinmollberg.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reminding me, that I do need to buy that T-shirt "Vive l´Evolution" with Darwin wearing a Che hat for my however regrettable male companion. He desperately needs it.