David Attenborough And Nature Documentaries

Nature documentaries, for millions of people, are the major gateway to information about the planet earth and its diversity. They let people understand and connect with the unknown wonders of nature. Seeing wildlife and plant life up close through documentaries helps people understand the world they live in a little bit better.

Some of the best in this genre comes from BBC Natural History Unit. The credit for this goes to David Attenborough. He has worked with the BBC for over 25 years and is almost single-handedly responsible for producing several acclaimed series. His passion for the natural world has made him synonymous with nature documentaries.

Attenborough’s documentaries are landmark nature shows on every television globally. They are known for their remarkable footage and engaging narration by Attenborough himself. The subjects range from unknown creatures living in the depths of the ocean to the peaks of the highest mountains. Attenborough is driven by a commitment and zeal to protect the natural world and so his documentaries take people on wild adventures across the planet while delivering lessons on how to preserve biodiversity.

1. Zoo Quest (1954-63)

The most popular wildlife programme of its time, this series of multi-part nature documentaries launched Attenborough’s career. Attenborough, along with zoologists Jack Lester and Alfred Woods went to Sierra Leone to capture exotic wild animals and bring them back to Europe for exhibition in a zoo. Though the main focus was the hunt for the animal, other wildlife in surrounding areas and local customs are also discussed. Attenborough would introduce each programme from the studio and then narrate each film that was shot by his team. All episodes of Zoo Quest are available on BBC archives for those who want to witness these exotic expeditions!

2. Life on Earth (1979)

If there was ever an instant-success wildlife documentary, it was Life on Earth. Through 13 episodes, David Attenborough takes the viewer through the origins of our planet and all the species that exist today. Some parts of the film gained iconic status in the wildlife documentary space; especially the one where two gorillas crawled on top of Attenborough. The film positions itself as a mediator between humans and the natural world and imparts precious knowledge about the beings that co-habit this planet. If you want a crash course on the biology and history of planet earth, this is the docu-series to check out!

3. The Life of Birds (1998)

This docu-series follows an evolutionary path, from the “first bird” (150 million years ago) to the creatures we see around us today. The viewer is acquainted with the story of “feathers” and flight difficulties. The pains of finding food, and raising a family when you have wings for hands are also discussed in depth. Attenborough is successful in making the day-to-day survival of birds look fascinating. The viewer is made aware that though these creatures might be present at every corner we turn, there is so much to learn and uncover about them. Besides the birds that we see daily, the docu-series makes use of ultra-slow-motion filming to bring us stunning images of some of the rarest birds in the world.

4. Blue Planet (2001)

This series went beyond narration and presentation for David Attenborough. Blue Planet was special to him because he was proactively involved in the development of the script. This docu-series was a turning point in wildlife documentation as it was the first-ever comprehensive account of the earth’s biggest bodies- the oceans. This new territory explored new animal species and their behaviour. Creatures, both beautiful and scary, are captured using exceptional underwater equipment and the experience of watching them on your screen is almost surreal. Through this underwater odyssey, Attenborough takes you for a dive like you have never experienced before.

5. Planet Earth (2006)

Described by critics as the greatest wildlife documentary ever, Planet Earth allows its viewers to reconnect with their ailing planet. It gave its viewers a close-up of nature while being far away. This was made possible with the use of helicopters, long lenses, and other cutting-edge film technology. This close-up did not paint the usual flattering, “all is well” image of the earth. It smashes the viewer’s rose-tinted glasses and shows nature’s repulsiveness and death, and what beauty may lay within, galore. It also includes narratives about the wounds inflicted on the planet earth by global warming. One of the series’ many feats is that it comes at a vulnerable time for the planet and serves as an eye-opener.