User Reviews

I've read the negative reviews and comments about Forrest Galante jumping on others research and claiming credit, not following up on his so-called discoveries, and "discovering" animals that have never even proven to be real. However I do find some value in the fact that this does call on people to realize conservation efforts that are going on in animals that are disappearing and maybe it will call on others to become more involved. I think it's sad that others hard work and dedication to their lifelong efforts are being hijacked and I've read recently where credit was finally given to the people who truly discovered the tortoise that Forrest Galante took credit for. Still no peer review articles have ever been written by him nor has he followed up on any of these so-called discoveries and when question about them has said that he's turned them over to other teams and hasn't heard any news.

I find him to be passionate about wildlife but arrogant and hard to like. Recently his shows have included his wife. She is said to be a biologist also. One would think that the addition of finding a mate in your chosen field and something you're passionate about would translate onto the show but instead he comes across as almost narcissistic in his exchanges with her. Very condescending in ways and dismissive. Now after saying all of that I come to what really made me leave a review, he is including his young almost 2-year-old son in the show. Now this man has been in so many dangerous situations including a hippo turning his boat over and barely escaping, an elephant ready to charge at him, and just recently on this new show running right up into a huge black bear who was within 15 ft of them and very interested in him and his cameraman. So of course given all these things that have happened to him one would think let's add a toddler to the mix (yes sarcastic). And that's exactly what they did! I get this man was raised very differently in Africa I believe. I understand that due to the political climate and things going on that he had to leave his home in the middle of the night with his parents fleeing for their lives. So his childhood was probably pretty different than most people who are watching. However it was beyond concerning to see Forest, his wife, and son in a tiny boat in what he described as oceanic conditions with cold weather, rain and wind just blowing this boat all over the water. There he is trying to maneuver the boat and his wife is holding the child as close to her as she can all while saying this was making them nauseous and all I can think of was that poor child. So he announces to the following boat of production crew that he is looking for a cove of something to go to and tells his wife to grab the rope knowing she's trying to hold onto the child in these ROUGH conditions. Almost as an afterthought, he says don't fall in and hold onto Rhodes 😳(the child's name). Even though there was another boat with crew following them it still didn't change the danger that he had put his family in, especially a year and a half old little boy.

I get that people are different all over the world but this was just over the top and I can't believe that the TV show and Network would insure them taking such risk with a young baby. I'm truly not trying to be some over the top person like one of the above reviewers claiming the animals are being abused by picking up fox pups by their neck to give them vaccinations and health checks but that scene of that poor child in a tin can of a boat not meant for those conditions at all and just recalling how he, his wife, and cameraman had just stumbled up on a HUGE bull bear within 15 ft of them and I just cannot see putting a baby at risk like that. Not worth it! I'm sure a nanny could be found to travel with and I do love introducing his child to nature at a young age but not like this.

I do want to give him some credit, although he stumbled into the solution by luck, in regards to the Ozark Howler. The near extinction of red wolves is something that saddens me deeply. To find proof that some are still out there making their selves known in such a way was great to see. But the moonshiner Sutt stole that show! 😁💙😁