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Ancient hunting methods tracked in new National Geographic series
Man Hunt, NHNZ’s latest production for National Geographic Channels International, reveals ancient hunting strategies still used today by some of the world’s remotest tribes.
This four-part series (AKA Hunters of the Lost World) premières on the channel’s international territories throughout August.
Former zoo-keeper Hayden Turner learns the tricks of the trade of hunting for food with isolated tribes around the globe, including the Baka from Cameroon who use their voices and poisonous darts as weapons; the Namal people of Vanuatu; the Malaysian Jahai tribe who use blow-pipes to hunt; and the Saan in the Kalahari desert, renowned for their “running” hunt.
As Westerners are increasingly urbanised and disconnected from the real-life origins of our food, Man Hunt transports the viewer to places where people have never experienced food wrapped in plastic and reveals the incredible skill and knowledge required to hunt in the wild, without modern weaponry or technology, let alone shoes.
Executive Producer John Hyde says the series is timely, given the Western slow food movement and greater emphasis on where our food comes from.
“We in the Western world have been progressively disconnected from food origins, but maybe the tide is turning. Only last month, high profile Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg decided that the only meat he would eat is from animals he’s killed himself. Man Hunt goes to the origins of hunting, and teaches us a thing or two about the hardship surrounding the reality of food,” says John.
As a diehard conservationist, Hayden was confronted with the true reality of people living off their resources.
“This was a real challenge for me, not only philosophically but also physically. I had to learn quickly, but this is the reality of where food comes from. There are only a few places in the world where man still hunts traditionally and sustainably.
Using strategies developed over thousands of years, these hunters don’t wield guns or bullets but handmade weapons. Their skills are exceptional: not only the precision of their hunting techniques and their respect for the animals they’re about to kill for food, but also their incredible knowledge of the animal’s behaviour, and that’s what I want to learn from them most,” says Hayden.
The production of Man Hunt was also a challenge, with the team tested by the many dangers these tribesman face daily, including the sheer physical trial of Hayden and a film crew having to keep up with the hunters, sometimes for ten hours a day.
“It was a very tough shoot. One night the cameraman and I were in the tent when it was dragged by a wild Malaysian elephant investigating what we were, and we sat through an earthquake that was 8+ on the Richter scale in Vanuatu.”
Man Hunt Episodes titles:
Sharp Teeth Nomads. The Baka live in the impenetrable jungles of Cameroon. A forest tribe, all under five feet tall, their bravery is legendary. Using their voice as a weapon, poisonous darts and incredible courage, they hunt their quarry.
Deathblow. Surrounded by danger, deep in Malaysian rain forest, live the Jahai tribe, the world’s first blow-pipe hunters.
Kalahari Killers. The Kalahari Desert in Namibia is home to the Saan people. Surviving in this harsh and desolate world, their tracking skills are unsurpassed.
Kill to Survive. Hayden Turner heads to Vanuatu’s Tanna Island to learn about the Namal people’s hunting strategies.
Read more about these programs and watch Man Hunt video trailers in our catalogue...
