'Kaharian ng Kangaroo,' dokumentaryo ni Howie Severino ngayong Sabado sa I-Witness

I-WITNESS

DECEMBER 17, 2016 

KAHARIAN NG KANGAROO

(Kingdom of Kangaroos)

Kangaroos are emblems of Australia. Yet all over the continent, their carcasses can be found on roads after collisions with cars. They are also killed in great numbers by hunters, the meat ending up on barbecue grills. Many Australians consider kangaroos pests that eat and destroy cash crops.

Howie Severino and his adolescent son Alon, now old enough to apprentice as a documentary assistant, journey to the Australian outback to see kangaroos in the wild.

Deep in the bush of the Northern Territory, they meet Nina Keener, one of the national symbol's greatest champions, a slight, passionate woman with the gifts of a kangaroo whisperer.

She receives orphaned baby kangaroos and cares for them in her sanctuary until they can be released into the wild.

Every day, she calls kangaroos from the wild to feed them by the hundreds to help them survive the dry season.

Keener calls her sanctuary Nina's Ark, an oasis where living things are nurtured rather than killed, where creatures are given a chance to live in peace where enemies roam the bush.

It's a parable for Christmas during a troubled time, with a lesson about the value of life told through the images and fates of one of the world's most charming and fascinating creatures.

KAHARIAN NG KANGAROO

Nagsisilbing tatak ng Australia ang mga kangaroo. Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat ng mararangal na simbolismo, tinatrato sila ng iba bilang peste, pinapaslang, at minsan iniiwan lang sa lansangan.  Maging ang kanilang laman, ginagawang ulam.  Itinuturing sila bilang peste dahil kinakain ng mga kangaroo ang mga pananim, at madalas din silang nagiging “road kill” at aberya sa mga motorista.

Kasama ni Howie Severino ang kaniyang anak na si Alon, na magsisilbing apprentice sa paggawa ng dokumentaryong ito.  Maglalakbay sila patungo sa Australian outback para makita ang mga kangaroo.

Sa pusod ng Northern Territory, makikilala nila si Nina Keener, patron ng mga naulilang kangaroo at taga-ligtas ng pambansang simbolo ng Australia.  Sa tagal na niyang nakikisalamuha sa mga kangaroo, tila isa na siyang “kangaroo whisperer.”

Araw-araw, daan-daang mga kangaroo ang tinatawag niya para pakainin at makaligtas sa tagtuyot.

Nina's Ark ang tawag sa kaniyang kanlungan, kung saan iba’t ibang klase ng hayop ang kaniyang inaalagaan.  Dito, ang mga kangaroo at iba pang kilalang hayop ng Australia, nabibigyan ng pagkakataon na mabuhay ng tahimik at ligtas.

Tila isa siyang natataong paalala ngayong pasko, na bigyang halaga ang buhay maging ng isa sa pinaka-namumukod tanging hayop sa mundo.