RIDING THE TIGER A Reality Show
ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE
Pre Amble:
There is an
opportunity for 12 people over 18 years old to
participate in the reality show “Riding the Tiger”
The People:
The show is the brainchild of the
conservationist John Varty, who presently has in
South Africa a project to save the endangered tiger.
The Location:
The location is Tiger Canyons in the
province of the Free State in South Africa.
The Duration:
The show will run from August 30th
2010 until 19th September 2010. Successful
contestants arrive on Sunday 29th of August and
leave on Monday 20th September. Contestants must get
themselves to and from Tiger Canyons.
The Camp:
The camp is a tented camp where
contestants and camera crew are accommodated.
Conditions are basic and the food is simple and
healthy. Vegetarians are catered for. All
contestants are required to share accommodation.
The Contestants:
Twelve contestants
will be selected from all walks of life.
Consideration will be given to the following:
1) A history of
working with wild animals
2) A knowledge of
conservation
3) A sense of
adventure
4) An ability to
work in a team
5) Passion and
enthusiasm
6) An on camera
presence
7) Presenting,
acting, singing and creative ability
8) Photographic
and filming skills
How to apply:
Interested people
should send their curriculum vitae which states
their relevant experience in the abovementioned
categories. Name, age, occupation and contact email
address and telephone number should accompany your
application. A valid international drivers license
is essential. A portrait photo and photos of you
with animals, should accompany your application. On
receipt of a non-refundable deposit of $150 into the
bank account below, your application will be
processed.
Successful Applicants:
Twelve successful
applicants will be selected and on a deposit of
$15 000, will be admitted to the show. They will be
required to sign an indemnity and a release form to
use their images world wide
The Rules of the Show:
1) All contestants
will meet the judges early each day and be assigned
a task for the day
2) Contestants
will be divided into 3 teams of 4 people per team.
Teams will change with every new task.
3) Contestants
will depart for their tasks with a cameraman and
judge who records the success or failure of the
task.
4) During
immobilizing of tigers, contestants will be
accompanied by a professional vet. During any
dangerous activities, contestants will be
accompanied by a professional.
5) At the end of
the day all contestants meet with the judges who
give or deduct points for a task competed or not.
Each contestant awards their fellow contestants
points for the task. These are confidential.
6) At the end of 4
weeks, all points are allocated and the winner is
the person with the most points.
7) John Varty has
the right to dismiss any contestant if:
a. at any time if he feels they are endangering the lives of fellow
contestants, crew or tigers.
b. are bringing the ethics of the show into disrepute
c. cheating
d. not compatible with other contestants and crew
John Varty’s
decision shall be final
Judging:
Points will be
awarded for
1) Creative
thinking, the ability to think, plan and execute
2) Decisiveness
3) Safety
consciousness
4) Good
communication
5) Teamwork
6) Honesty
7) Passion
8) Enthusiasm
Typical Tasks:
1) Weigh the 2
biggest males at Tiger Canyons, Ron and Seatao,
compare the weight
2) Take blood
samples from Tigress Shadow and Seatao and have them
genetically mapped and tell the judges whether they
are related or not
3) Place
microchips in Shadow’s 3 cubs
4) Design a
calendar using fellow contestants and crew and
photograph Sunda, Zaria, Shine with contestant (good
nudes will score extra points)
5) Design a
computer database with the following:
Tiger name, parents, date of birth, date of death,
cubs produced, siblings, coat pattern, spot pattern,
general remarks
6) Photograph the
left and right side spot pattern of every tiger at
Tiger Canyons
7) Give 6 guests
an orientation talk underlining the following:
The policy of Tiger Canyons
The Land
The fence
The gene lines and family tree
The future
8) Film and
photograph Sunda, Shine and Zaria and the different
strategies they use as they learn to hunt. Compare
different strategies and illustrate using film and
photographs.
9) Design and cost
a hunting boma for Shine, Sunda and Zaria of approx
350Ha. Advise the mix of prey species to be
introduced, the numbers and the cost.
10) Order 50 blue
wildebeest, photograph and film the capture, get the
required permits and see that all animals are
healthy on arrival. Remove any tigers from the area
and supervise the release. Report any injured
animals.
11) Design a
petition to the Indian Government protesting their
dismal performance at conserving the tiger in India.
Get as many actors, entertainers, conservationists,
businessmen, politicians world wide to sign it and
see that it gets to the right people.
12) Pick your
favorite tiger and write a song, poem, essay which
is read and performed to the other contestants and
the judges at the end of the day
13) Design and
produce a musical show using all contestants and
crew with the theme “Riding the Tiger”
14) Design an
entertaining and informative slide show with
inspiring captions, on the difference between all
the big cats (tiger, lion, leopard, and cheetah)
15) Design a blog
for "Riding the Tiger". Each contestant will write a
paragraph a day.
16) Research the
dynamics in the genetics at Tiger Canyons, and make
recommendations for a wider genetic diversity.
17) Each
contestant must submit their best picture of the day
to the judges. The best picture will score points.
What to bring:
Bring cameras,
bush clothes, warm clothes, walking shoes,
binoculars, laptops, cell phones, musical
instruments.
Come with an open
mind, a low ego and a sense of adventure
Contestants must
get themselves to and from Tiger Canyons. Those
flying to Bloemfontein Airport, will be met and
transported to Tiger Canyons
General:
Unlike other
reality shows, no one leaves the show unless they
break the rules as stated. Rather it is an attempt
to see what a committed team of people, working
together in harmony, can achieve in a short space of
time.
Any money made by
"Riding the Tiger", will be ploughed back into tiger
conservation. Consider the money you pay as a
donation to tiger conservation.
The organizers are
not responsible for any divorces, romances, unwanted
pregnancies, social upheaval, suicides and
depression among crew and contestants. Everything
will be filmed.
The prize:
The prize if
$50 000 broken down as follows:
1) $25 000 in cash
2) The winner
becomes with John Varty the co-custodian of the
white tigress “Shine a Light”. They benefit from
any income earned by Shine during her lifetime. They
share joint responsibility for Shine’s wellbeing
during her lifetime.
ONE FOR ALL AND
ALL FOR ONE
Tread lightly on the Earth
JV
