Acting Like Another Animal on the Savanna
January 17, 2008
Dr. Brady Barr -
Ever wonder what it would be like to be stuck in a cramped box, all alone, in total darkness, scared by strange unknown sounds, and surrounded by some of the world’s most dangerous animals? It sounds like most peoples nightmares, but for me it was an incredible experience and part of a National Geographic Channel expedition. Project Hippo, Close Encounter, had me inside an incredibly life like hippo decoy with the objective of crawling close enough to get a sweat sample from their big sweaty bodies. That’s right hippo sweat sample!!
Hippo sweat is a hot topic in the scientific world, because scientists recently discovered that hippo sweat is a natural sun block as well as an antiseptic. Chemists and pharmaceutical companies are keen to unlock the secrets of this strange compound so that they might utilize it for human applications. The only problem…getting close enough to a hippo to acquire a sample. Hippos may look like big chubby, happy creatures, but do not be fooled. They are the second largest land animal on the planet, tipping the scales at over 3 tons, huge mouths armed with razor sharp tusks, and an extreme attitude. More people are killed by hippos in Africa than any other animal, so getting close enough to swap the sweat from their bodies was a serious undertaking, thus the hippo suit was born.
 |
| Dr. Brady Barr inside the protective barrier of the Hippo decoy. |
A National Geographic Channel team of experts, including biologists, behavioral scientists, engineers, wildlife experts, and modelers, all joined forces to produce an incredibly life-like hippo decoy. A decoy that I would crawl inside and approach wild hippos in the country of Zambia, trying to get close enough t get that elusive sweat sample. It seemed like I spent more time inside that hippo suit than I did outside while in Zambia. At times I would spend over six hours at a time in costume, definitely not a picnic. It was stifling hot inside. I had very limited vision, so I was never really sure what was going on around me. I had to be very quiet and tried to remain calm while inside the hippo decoy, not always easy when surrounded by dangerous animals. I have had close encounters with elephants, hyena, lions, crocodiles, and of course hippos.
Much of my work took place at night in total darkness, which only heightened my stress level. My experiences inside the hippo decoy were incredibly rewarding as a scientist, yet at times also extremely scary. It was exhilarating to be a part of nature, literally another animal on the savanna, observing natural behavior in these magnificent creatures. It is almost impossible for me to convey in words what it felt like to hear the high screamed yelps late at night of hyenas around me moving in for the kill, (I was to be the kill), to feel the ground beneath my feet literally tremble as an angry elephant ran towards me, or experience the sights and sounds of an agitated 3 ton hippo as it lumbered ever closer to me.
There are lots of scientists out there that study these animals, yet very few that actually get to experience what it feels like to be a “part” of nature, a element in the grand ecosystem in which they study. I did and am truly thankful, and have greasy old hippo sweat to thank for all of it!
Dangerous Encounters: Undercover Hippo premieres Sunday, January 20 at 9p et/pt
Comments (15)
I like Brady Barr and all his adventures and antics. Haunt of the Hippo with the fake hippo lacks total imagination, however, since Jacques Cousteau and his crew aboard Calypso did exactly that to get close to and film the hippos during the Nile expedition in the early 70s. As a matter of fact, the hippo molds of the two programs look identical. Did Brady find the old Cousteau mock-up and reuse it? It seems wrong and a step down in programming especially for Nat Geo to copy and not give full credit to such a pioneer.
Posted by fcnomad | January 18, 2008 4:53 PM
Hey Brady!
Just so you know, your old pal, Xandy, from IU has been cheering you on since she came across you on NGC in 2004!
....and there seems to be a renewed interest in warthog painting lately..:)
Let me know if you're ever in Sedona,
Xandy
Posted by Xandy | January 19, 2008 1:33 PM
Watched the show - thanks for wasting my time, Brady - next time why not finish an experiment? This was clearly for cheap thrills, I used to like Brady Barr do (note - I am refusing to call him a Dr.)
Posted by Sandy | January 21, 2008 1:13 PM
National Geographic should be embarrassed and ashamed. What was once a universally respected organization has sunken to pedelling trash tv.
Mr.[sic] Barr gets his Hippo costume stuck in the mud and an armed guide must come to his rescue... Tell me, if that nearby hippo had charged, would the guard (or any of the other bystanders) fired on the hippo? For what? Bite force?!.. Puhleese. Ridiculous that you put the animal you're purporting to study at risk for the antics of an egotistical television personality.
Please ask yourselves some honest, deep questions about what you are doing in the name of "science." Feels more like Fox Tv.
That was the first and last time I will watch Mr. Barr and I'm certainly going to be less inclined to watch other NGS offerings as well... a shameful state for NGS, an institution for which, as a child and well into my adult-life, I had great respect.
Posted by Jeff | January 21, 2008 9:26 PM
Very Disappointed! i had my grandkids all primed to see some great shots of hippos (as shown in the promo)and all we saw was Brady inside the hippo mock up (over and over again). what a letdown! you guys really struck out with this one. a total waste of time. you set my grandkids fascination and appreciation of wild animals way back. thank goodness we live close to th zoo and my daughter takes the kids often.
Posted by barbara eberhardt | January 22, 2008 11:33 PM
Wow, you put yourself out there and everyone's a critic!
There seems to be a lot of pent up anger out there, and, I may be going out on a limb here, but I really don't think it's actually caused by Brady Barr or his adventures.
So you all, who write vehement emails to this blog - tell us all What Do You Contribute?
Posted by Xandy | January 24, 2008 12:26 PM
I agree with my friend Xandy there is alot of pent up anger out there, and it most likely has nothing to do with Dr. Barr. I wonder how many people out there would actually have the balls to do the Hippo experiment. I love your passion Dr. Barr. It must feel absolutely exhilirating to be a leading edge creator. I find your work inspiring!!
Posted by Laura | January 24, 2008 4:29 PM
My friend AS, is looking to purchase a hippo suit. Where can we order one This is extremely important.
Posted by Irene Hughes | January 27, 2008 2:54 PM
Unfortunately, I just watched the hippo episode with Brady Barr. It's the first time I've ever seen this guy, but what an overly-theatrical idiot.
He puts himself in danger and then risks the lives of park rangers to rescue him when his ridiculous experiment doesn't work. All in the name of taking a sweat sample from the hippo? Why not take a sample from a zoo hippo?
Posted by Tim | January 27, 2008 3:07 PM
I too would like to purchase a hippo suit. I think this would be great for Halloween! Any suggestions?
Posted by Johanna | January 27, 2008 3:38 PM
To Tim,
Um, if you had actually watched the program, you would have known that zoo hippo sweat would not be the same, as those hippos are not exposed to the same environment. Stupidhead!
Posted by Laura | January 27, 2008 3:41 PM
Whoa, Xandy. Sounds like you and Brady have more going on than science. Perhaps your personal feelings are getting in the way of your judgement? Wake up and get out of the hippo suit, sweetheart!
Posted by Irene | January 27, 2008 3:50 PM
To Laura,
Um, common sense says that hippos will sweat anywhere. A 100 degree day in an American zoo is the same temperature as a 100 degree day in Africa. If that park ranger had been mauled to death, I wonder if he would have died happy knowing that his death at least contributed to humans possibly developing better sunscreen?
Posted by Tim | January 27, 2008 11:52 PM
I will give anyone their due who places themselves in any type of danger to study and better understand the wild animals we share space with. However, I've watched a few shows with Brady Barr and I find him to be overdramatic, staged, uninformative, and shrill. Everything is just high chaos to him; the word that comes to mind when we watch him is "antics". He seems to put himself in ridiculous positions for no real scientific or educational reason that I can see. And everything he does is drama; I watched him with the Kamodo dragons the other night and while the park ranger was calm, observant, and serious, Brady was constantly running around, breathing heavy and throwing himself into positions where he was constantly crying out "I need help!". Please; try out for a Shakespearean troupe if it's high drama you are going for Brady. I watch to learn something, not to watch this overweight priss get himself into situations that make him scream. Although I have to say, my husband couldn't stop laughing the time he got bitten by the snake underwater in the cave. He basically backs this giant snake into a corner, yelling to everyone and rushing forward and then screams like a girl when he gets bitten. Unreal.
Posted by Lisa | January 28, 2008 8:56 AM
to Irene
I have to laugh over this blog drama! Brady and I went to college together, yes, but I support ANYONE out there who's actually HAVING an experience, not just watching one on TV, squealing like a girl or not.
And please, IRENE HUGHES, if you do indeed manage to aquire a hippo suit, PLEASE post photos of you in it somewhere~!
Posted by Xandy | January 28, 2008 3:56 PM