Me, Tarzan? You better believe it

As I sat down to watch “Secret Amazon: Into the Wild,” I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of admiration for Lucy Shepherd, the fearless explorer and the show’s lead. Her journey into the uncharted Amazon rainforest, leading a team of indigenous Amerindian men, is nothing short of inspiring.

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Growing up, I yearned to embody the fearless hero, braving the elements, taking daring leaps, and embarking on thrilling escapades. Yet, in every movie I watched, from Disney’s enchanting Aladdin to the captivating Tarzan, it was always the boy who came to the rescue. The damsel-in-distress stereotype held no allure for me, so I gravitated towards embodying the male role during playtime – we could all be Tarzan, gracefully traversing tree trunks and swinging from the willow trees’ vines. Interestingly, as an adult woman, I find myself using this skill set in real jungles – albeit, I must admit, a sturdier vine is now needed!

In my debut TV series, “Secret Amazon: Into the Wild“, I guided four indigenous Amerindian friends through 50 grueling days as we ventured deep into the unexplored regions of the Amazon rainforest. Encountering perils at every step, we faced off against colossal, venomous bushmaster snakes reaching 12 feet in length and the stealthy threat of black caimans.

In addition to viewing various wildlife, this series also highlights an uncommon sight in modern television jungles – female explorers. Despite women achieving remarkable feats, they are often overshadowed by their male counterparts on screen. While Disney films have embraced powerful female characters, it’s puzzling that the world of TV exploration hasn’t kept pace with the times yet.

It’s a shame, but perhaps not that surprising that even today, I experience a level of judgement for being a woman. I’m now 32 and have been leading expeditions for well over a decade, was made a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society aged 23 and became the youngest member of the Scientific Exploration Society Council. Yet some still cast doubt on my expeditions or question the authenticity of my leadership. Hopefully, my documentary speaks for itself.

The stereotype of explorers often portrays them as large, muscular men. However, this is far from the truth. Just like women, one doesn’t need to fit a certain mold to be an explorer. I enjoy indulging in comforts and feminine things just as much as anyone else! Despite the harsh conditions of extreme humidity, long days spent wading, climbing, and crawling through dense forests and swamps, we carried only essential items on our backs – a bow and arrow in one hand, a machete in the other. Makeup isn’t something I worry about packing, but tweezers, useful for removing ticks, also serve as handy eyebrow grooming tools.

On a routine basis, I lead journeys to the Arctic, and I’ve found that traits that women often possess more of, such as empathy, self-reliance, resilience, teamwork, humility, and a strong drive to accomplish tasks, are particularly valuable in harsh environments like the Arctic.

In this heart-pounding adventure, you’ll witness me shedding tears when my closest companion, Vivian Smith – my good luck charm and indispensable team member – gets injured. A seemingly harmless bamboo splinter pierces his arm, striking a nerve and causing paralysis. Despite my desperate attempts to remove it, I fail, leaving him unable to carry on, putting our expedition in grave danger. However, revealing one’s vulnerabilities can be a source of strength. Holding back emotions might seem prudent, but in the jungle, keeping feelings bottled up could lead to disastrous outcomes.

Explorers have an image of being big muscly men. Of course that’s nonsense.

Raised as an only child in the county of Suffolk, I honed a rich creativity, spinning yarns in my mind or with toy figurines. Influenced by Bear Grylls, Steve Backshall, and Bruce Parry, they ignited my curiosity about the world’s wonders, a fascination that persists to this day. As time passed, I took up a camcorder, capturing the stories I wrote. Since then, I haven’t hesitated – self-producing this Amazon expedition. Yet, I ponder whether, without that vivid imagination, I could have slipped into those adventurous hiking boots worn by men?

Seeing female adventurers and explorers on screen is powerful, not just because it might inspire a new generation. Being an explorer sounds ridiculous without context, I understand that, and it is an extreme way of life and not for everyone. But it’s a demonstration of a different way of being, one that is open to more curiosity and wonder. Watching all walks of life in the treacherous jungle, spending weeks without sunlight, fighting off trench foot and eating piranhas, will, I hope, inspire viewers to do whatever they want, particularly if it’s against the grain. It takes guts to follow your heart.

2024-10-01 19:37

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