Humans are putting entire species at risk like never before
The telling images are long shots showing the encroachment of human population. The big unspoken factor is the acceptance that animals are under pressure. It’s becoming more urgent that people realise what humans are doing to the planet.
“Increasing population and demand on space is one of the most important things we have to deal with.”
Executive producer Mike Gunton says Dynasties is a far tougher watch than 2016’s Planet Earth II.
He says: “Dynasties is a much grittier journey into the natural world, but it’s an important one. The animals are extraordinary creatures. But they’re also animals that have to share the world and compete with humanity. They are in trouble. All these animals are in decline because there isn’t enough space for them.
“We tell incredibly dramatic stories of these animals living really difficult lives against their rivals, their enemies and each other, and that’s hard enough.
“But when you superimpose them also having their space taken by humanity, it feels unfair. It will be a very thoughtprovoking series.”
He says the five species endure incredible ups and downs in the struggle for survival. “Every single day – today is a success, tomorrow could be absolute failure. It’s like Game of Thrones.”
The team’s dedication was remarkable. Cameraman Lindsay Mccrae missed the birth of his first child as he spent 11 months in Antarctica, achieving his lifelong ambition to film emperor penguins.
As well as narrating the series, Sir David went to Zimbabwe to join the team filming the painted wolves.
Thanks to the knowledge of expert
ON WHAT NEW SHOW DYNASTIES REVEALS
tracker Nick Murray, he was able to speak into the camera with the wolf pack just a few yards behind him.
Sir David says: “It was absolutely wonderful. I’d never seen them before. They plonked me in position and I kept thinking, ‘This isn’t normal’. They put me in a shot in which I am there with these wolves and I’m able to look at the camera and say something.
“Luck came into it because just as I finished the leader of the pack got up, and slowly walked away.”
The rest of the pack followed and that was the last moment filmed for the hour-long episode after 313 days and 16,000 hours in the field. When
We have to allow animals space… it is becoming more urgent SIR DAVID
the series starts, Sir David hopes that, as with Blue Planet II, it will inspire politicians to act to improve these creatures’ chances of survival.
He says: “Our job is to raise people’s passion and belief and desire to recognise that animals have a right to some sort of space.”
■ Dynasties, BBC1, Sunday at 8.30pm.