Wild Cargo

Wild Cargo is a 1934 jungle adventure documentary starring Frank Buck. Buck depicts the ingenious methods by which he traps wild birds, mammals and reptiles. Many scenes were photographed on the vast Malayan estates of Buck's friend, Sultan Ibrahim of Johor, who appears in person in the film.[1]

Among the scenes in the film are:

Cameraman Leroy G. Phelps was nearly crippled by an infection he acquired after scratching himself on a poisonous renghus plant. Buck and Phelps were almost trampled by a herd of stampeding water buffalo; they were spared only when the animals changed direction at the last moment.[2]

According to The New York Times, "Although it may seem as though several incidents in the screen work were prearranged, they are nevertheless quite thrilling."[3]

The film earned RKO a profit of $100,000.[4] The film was a box office disappointment for RKO.[5]