BBC duped by tribe’s fake tree houses

THE BBC has admitted a tribe featured in a major documentary had built tree houses purely for the benefit of the cameras – but did not actually live in them.

The Corporation yesterday said that the Human Planet series had breached its ‘editorial standards’ by inaccurately portraying the lives of members of a community in Papa New Guinea.

In the BBC1 documentary, the Korowai tribe can be seen building the homes and relocating their pets and children up to the treetops.

Narrator John Hurt told how 42 workers used ‘countless felled trees’ and three miles of twine to complete their ‘new homes’.

A BBC spokesman said: ‘Since this programme was broadcast in 2011, we have strengthened our mandatory training for all staff in editorial guidelines, standards and values.’