Animal Empire: David Attenborough's Latest Show Examines Animal Parents' Selfless Acts in the Wild
In a captivating new series, Sir David Attenborough's latest offering on BBC One, titled "Parenthood," premieres at 19:20 BST on Sunday, August 3, on both BBC One and iPlayer. This six-continent journey, filmed over three years, showcases a variety of animal family dynamics that are as diverse as they are awe-inspiring.
The series, directed by Jeff Wilson, delves into the extraordinary lengths parents across various species go to ensure their offspring's survival. From the African social spiders in Namibia, where mothers undergo matriphagy (consumption by offspring) to support their young, to the boxer crabs that use sea anemones as shields to protect their young from predators, each episode is a testament to the power of parental commitment.
One standout sequence, according to Wilson, is the spiderlings consuming their mother. He describes it as "the perfect natural history sequence." The African social spider, an outstanding figure in the series, illustrates the life signs and devoted care of the parents, with the mother feeding her 50 offspring with a milk made from dissolved body parts.
The series also features a poignant score by British composer Tom Howe and a theme song performed by Sam Ryder. Wilson conveys a sense of awe and responsibility in parenting through the scenes with spiderlings, which are incredibly small, about the size of a grain of sugar.
Orangutans are another species highlighted in the series, with mothers dedicating up to a decade to teaching their young essential survival skills. Even the most familiar animals, such as elephants, are showcased in a new light, with mothers navigating treacherous environments with their calves during environmental extremes.
Capturing such moments in a non-intrusive fashion for the series involves close collaboration among scientists and cinematographers. Sir David Attenborough, at 99 years of age, continues to enchant viewers with his storytelling, all captured in only two takes during recording.
Wilson humorously juxtaposes the extreme examples from nature with the realities of human parenting, humorously stating that forgetting a snack could result in being "eaten by your child." The series serves as a reminder of the incredible sacrifices parents make, whether they are human or animal, in the name of love and survival. Tune in to BBC One on August 3 to witness this remarkable journey.
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