Hi,
I can see both POV on this one.
Bear has survived through some awful situations whilst in the military and climbing everest. He does demonstrate some survival techniques and the use of animals I find... a bit uneccesary.
I guess we have all eaten a battery chicken in our time, and Ray Mears has used the same tricks in his shows.
The underlying point of these programmes is survival! Whether its set up or not, would you turn down a life saving drink or meal on the grounds it might hurt the creature? Tele is the only median that can experts can show us this.
Personally, once on the Isle of Whight, I had to survive on cheap beer and potted shrimp and I still have nightmares.
David