HONOLULU, Nov. 28 (UPI)–Hawaiian wildlife officials and film agencies say hunting activities on the television reality show “American Jungle” are inaccurate and may be illegal.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said it had launched an investigation into whether the show, which airs on The History Channel, had violated conservation regulations during filming.
“The show’s content does not in any way portray the views or actions of the Big Island hunters or residents,” said Willie-Joe Camara, District 1 commissioner of the Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Committee.
Officials said the show depicts “clans” fighting over trails to territorial hunting grounds in which state lands that have restricted access are included. While filming occurred on private lands, the statement said, maps shown on the show clearly outline areas under DLNR control.
The show is also historically inaccurate and culturally insensitive, state officials said.
The first episode shows cows being hunted with spears and dogs. There is no historical evidence native Hawaiians hunted pigs in the forest, much less cattle, officials said.
Cattle are not listed as game animals in Hawaii and are illegal to hunt without a special feral cattle permit.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie said the show depicted local hunters as “primitives” and had “no connection to actual hunters in Hawaii.”He promised to “vigorously purse” any state laws or regulations broken in production of the series.
Reality TV shows are “difficult to control,” said Donne Dawson, manager of the Hawaii Film Office. “But they are exactly why we have a well-established film permitting process in place.”
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