Fabulous Animals: Myths and Legends

Taking a look at the local myths and folklore surrounding various animals seen in their natural habitats, Fabulous Animals: Myths and Legends is comprised of three volumes, each featuring a pair of 25 minute programs. Vol. 3 opens with "Man of the Forest: The Orangutan," examining the ape whose habitat once included most of Asia but is now reduced to Sumatra and Borneo. Viewers will see fascinating footage showing the orangutans living in family units and otherwise displaying behavior similar to that of humans, and follow the reintroduction efforts by Professor Birute Gaidikas, whose Camp Leak is a state sponsored rescue refuge for the orangutans. In addition, a re-enacted legend traces the origin of the orangutan as a young man whose grandmother tried to save him by giving him a coat of red hair and sending him into the forest. In the companion program, "Sacred Bird of Maya: The Quetzal," viewers get a close-up look at this long tailed colorful bird sacred to the Maya in its native jungles of Guatemala, as well as see dramatizations of the local mythology regarding the role the bird played in the history of the Maya and Guatemala. While the content is consistently interesting, it's the photography that really steals the show here. The other two volumes feature programs on the Giant Octopus, the Komodo Dragon, the Bison and the Sea Cow. Recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (L. Stevens)