Producers of the BBC series Africa have been forced to defend themselves against accusations of manipulating viewers with emotional scenes, including a mother leaving her dying calf.
The latest episode, presented by Sir David Attenborough, brought many viewers to tears when it was broadcast in the UK this week, the Telegraph newspaper reports.
In one of the scenes a mother elephant appeared to leave her herd to grieve over her dying calf in drought-stricken east Africa.
The same episode also showed a mother shoebill choosing to feed only her strongest chick, leaving the other to die of malnutrition.
Animal lovers took to Twitter to express their dismay over the emotive scenes.
"That poor baby elephant and the poor mother having to watch her baby die! #tears had to stop eating my dinner. BBC #Africa warn me next time," one viewer wrote.
"How heartbreaking watching the baby elephant calf die and the mother can only walk away. I'm in tears here," another viewer tweeted.
Producer James Honeyborne confirmed to BBC Radio 4's The World At One that the network had received complaints but said the series simply reflected the reality of what happened in nature.
"I don't think we do tell you what to feel, but we do lay open the broad pallet of what is happening in nature - and some of it is joyous and some of it is tough to watch," Mr Honeyborne said.
"We are obviously concerned that some viewers have been upset."
"As soon as you look at an animal not as a species but as an individual, you do get drawn in and your empathy for that individual character will increase."
Source: Telegraph
Author: Emily O'Keefe
