Ocean Vet Burnie sets sights on TV series
Bermuda’s undersea wildlife could be featured on the Discovery Channel if “Ocean Vet” Neil Burnie gets his way.Back by popular demand, Dr Burnie will tonight show new footage for the ‘Ocean Vet Bermuda’ series, at a talk in the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.Asked if the marine documentary series had potential to reach the global Discovery audience, Dr Burnie was optimistic.“That’s where we’re aiming. In fact, we’re hoping to shoot the pilot episode very soon,” he said.“I’ll be presenting as Bermuda’s answer to David Attenborough and Steve Irwin. You need to have an enthusiasm toward wildlife.”Tonight’s talk will include never-before-aired footage of elephant seals in Mexico, shot with wildlife videographers including Discovery Channel and National Geographic photographer Andy Casagrande.Dr Burnie said the 12-part series was in the works with the UK company Gass Productions, which has put together a trailer under the working title ‘Bermuda: The Deep Blue’.“The reason I went to vet school was to work with animals. I also think the ability to educate, inform and make people excited and aware of how great our environment is here in Bermuda is something I want to take on personally.”Dr Burnie said the Island’s unique position in the Atlantic made Bermuda a promising location for nature programmes.“Guy Harvey, North America’s most famous wildlife artist, is just about to release to the general public his one-hour documentary ‘The Tiger Shark Express’,” he said.“This is the result of research going on with Tiger Shark tracking, much of which centres around Bermuda’s population of Tiger Sharks. We’re hoping there will be a premiere in Bermuda shortly.”Tiger Sharks will also feature in the ‘Ocean Vet’ series.“I think some people are wary of showing the Tiger Sharks, in case that scares people away from Bermuda, but people will be amazed by it,” Dr Burnie said.Dr Burnie’s lecture, starting at 7pm, will also showcase Bermuda’s marlin, Humpback whales and Lionfish invasion, as well as the wildlife of the Sargasso Sea.
US racer Chris Fertig could set out tomorrow in his attempt to break the Bermuda Challenge record of 17 hours to the Island by powerboat from New York.
A window of fair weather looked promising, Mr Fertig yesterday told The Royal Gazette.
But the way original record-setter Neil Burnie sees it, his 2002 time of 22 hours and 23 minutes never got broken.
“I wish Chris Fertig well in his bid to do it, but as far as I’m concerned, we still hold the record for outboard boats,” he said.
Dr Burnie insisted the original challenge was set for outboard engine craft less than 40 feet long.
“It was designed that way to promote the development of open ocean vessels for small boat users. Both the boats that beat my time have been run with diesels.”
The new record was claimed last year by Italy’s Fabio Buzzi in a purpose-built racing boat Dr Burnie likened to a Navy Seals boat.
Dr Burnie maintained the record still rests with his Renaissance Marine’s Prowler 306.
