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Movies & TV

20th Nov 2018

David Attenborough’s crew has discussed intervening in his recent documentary, saving a number of penguins lives

Rudi Kinsella

David Attenborough

David Attenborough’s crew intervened in the most recent episode of Dynasties, which aired on Sunday night.

Dynasties, which followed a colony of penguins braving the freezing cold conditions, aired on BBC One on Sunday night and it got quite a response from loads of viewers who tuned in.

In particular, there was a lot of love for the fact that Attenborough’s crew intervened to save the lives of a group of penguins.

The BBC crew intervened when it seemed certain that a group of penguins would die as a result of a “freak act of nature”.

A group of penguins had become stuck in an ice gully following a storm, and were unable to get out.

They have since defended their actions, maintaining that it was the right thing to do.

Series executive producer Mike Gunton discussed the subject on BBC Radio 5 Live, saying:

“It’s such an unusual circumstance to do this.”

“There are lots of situations where you couldn’t, and shouldn’t and wouldn’t – but I think in this situation there were so many factors.”

He also said that they normally have a rule which stops them from interfering, but that this was a freak incident:

“We have a rule that interfering is a very dangerous thing to do. But these penguins were going to die through a freak act of nature if nothing happened.

“How would this conversation be going if you said you saw them there and did nothing? I think you have to do it.”

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