research ethics

I watched PBS tonight for the first time in ages. Emperors of the Ice is a fascinating show about emperor penguins. But . . . when the penguins are dying, can't you help them? I mean, I understand that you want to study the penguins in their environment and all, and that you don't want to contaminate the research--but honestly, part of the argument of the show is that the penguins are suffering from human folly. Doesn't it make sense that human kindness can ameliorate our folly? Pick up the damn baby penguin that's frozen to the ice before the skuas get it, and when the penguins are trapped in an ice gully, build a damn bridge.