Earlier this year, on a tranquil summer evening, Sir David Attenborough was observed reclining, captivated by a hedgehog foraging in an urban garden.
“I think they’re lovely things,” he remarked gently, a hint of amusement in his voice.
His tone, a blend of youthful fascination and the profound understanding of his 99 years, resonated deeply.
Widely regarded as the preeminent broadcaster and conservationist of our era, Sir David has dedicated seven decades to traversing the globe, revealing the natural world’s splendor.
Now, a new, standalone documentary brings him back to his roots – to London.
Gaby Bastyra, executive producer at Passion Planet, the film’s production company, noted that Sir David “could live anywhere in the world… but he’s always come home to London.”
She describes the program as an “appreciation of his place – and he loves it.”
But can the capital’s wildlife truly compare to Sir David’s encounters with mountain gorillas in Rwanda, the mimicking lyrebird of Australia, or a blue whale breaching near his vessel?
Wild London presents a wealth of animal curiosities, from pigeons boarding the Hammersmith and City line to a snake colony residing by a canal.
Sir David also directs our attention to the ongoing dramas unfolding within this metropolis of approximately nine million inhabitants.
One scene reveals glimpses of a robust, boisterous creature amidst summer foliage.
This is not a predatory tiger in the Indian jungle, but rather a contented Dalmatian dog roaming in Dagnam Park, Romford, unknowingly approaching a newborn fallow deer fawn.
David Mooney, chief executive of the London Wildlife Trust, which co-produced Wild London, expressed being “enthralled” by this “juxtaposition.”
“This is not to say that dogs are a problem. It’s just wildlife is interacting with us at all times,” he clarified.
“The raw experiences of nature are something that at London Wildlife Trust we’ve been talking about for a long time.”
Perhaps the most poignant moments in Wild London, broadcast ahead of Sir David’s approaching 100th birthday, are those where he displays exceptional affection for the animals he encounters.
At the Houses of Parliament, he cradles a peregrine falcon chick as it is ringed for identification.
As it tilts its head to look at him, he says softly: “Now we can recognize you anywhere – yes, yes you.”
In Greenford, west London, Sir David gently holds a tiny harvest mouse before releasing it into a meadow.
He encourages it to climb onto a wildflower, saying affectionately: “Welcome to your new home – there you go.”
The mouse seems reluctant to leave the safety of his cupped hands.
Joe Loncraine, director of Wild London, who has collaborated with Sir David on several nature documentaries, remarked:
“There were some moments I think that deliver the kind of interactions with him and an animal that I hadn’t seen in a while.”
“There was something about the warmth that came across. And I think his enthusiasm for what was happening was so infectious.”
Sir David was greatly impressed by The Ealing Beaver Project, which he notes in the film, has had a “positive impact” in west London.
He observes: “If someone had told me when I first moved here that one day I would be watching wild beavers in London, I would have thought they were mad. But there they are, right behind me.”
He cites this as an example of “securing a brighter future for both animals, and us, too” in our unique metropolis – the world’s greenest major city.
Mr. Mooney articulated: “His message is: people have to take note of it – if people notice it, they will begin to love it – if people love it, they’ll want to protect it. And if people protect it, we’ll be on a path to nature recovery.”
Wild London, a late entry into such a distinguished collection of nature documentaries, is Sir David’s way of encouraging us to appreciate the nature at our doorstep, amidst the bustle of everyday life.
Mr. Loncraine summarized: “We can be rushing about our jobs, commuting to work, picking the kids up from school, going to the shops – and not really notice.
“There can be really quite beautiful animals right there – so it’s just about taking that moment to have a look.”
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