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21st November 2018
03:02pm GMT
The crew on David Attenborough’s latest documentary series Dynasties has defended their “unprecedented” decision to intervene and save the lives of several penguins during filming.
A group of the penguins had fallen and become trapped in a ravine when the crew stepped in and dug a shallow ramp so that they could save themselves.
Series producer Mike Gunton said he had spoken to Attenborough who agreed it was the right thing to do.
In an unprecedented move, the crew decided to act. They dug a shallow ramp in the hope that at least some of the penguins would use it to save themselves ????#Dynasties pic.twitter.com/yRuoEGPDCk
— BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) November 18, 2018
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, he explained, "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 added, "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."
Veteran wildlife cameraman Doug Allan also told The Guardian he would have done the exact same thing.
He said, “To interfere on a predation event is definitely wrong but in this situation, they didn’t spook the penguins. All they did was create an escape route for them.
“I certainly think, in that case, what they did was entirely justifiable and entirely understandable. I would have done the same thing in their situation.”
Main image via @BBCEarth
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