This week’s episode of the nature documentary Dynasties was an emotional rollercoaster
Once again, the nation gathered around the TV to watch a BBC nature documentary, totally aware that things aren’t always rosy in the animal kingdom. But nobody was emotionally prepared for the heartbreaking scenes about to unfold as a number of penguins, including tiny chicks, fell into a ravine and were unable to escape. Here’s how the drama played out.
It was tough for everyone seeing the penguins struggle to save themselves and their babies.
I can’t watch 😫#Dynasties pic.twitter.com/xoo7jDJbcl
— BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) November 18, 2018
Neither can my mum. She’s yelling at the TV. My dad told her to calm down and she just shouted “He’s gonna die, Darren!”. 😂 Luckily the penguin survived, she would be in tears if it died.
— Jade/YoungBlood💜💜🖤🖤 (@KittyKat3801) November 18, 2018
I don’t remember pingu being this brutal. #Dynasties pic.twitter.com/YPacyCxELU
— JC (not that one) (@_Lady_Gardener) November 18, 2018
One mother penguin realised she couldn’t get out of the ravine with her chick, so she left it behind.
I’m sorry but if I were a camera man on #Dynasties – I wouldn’t care for letting nature ‘take it’s course’. I’d run head first into that snow storm to rescue that abandoned penguin chick. Heart broke watching it tumble down like that 😢 pic.twitter.com/m5J25cuLQc
— Sanna (@sanna995) November 18, 2018
Not ok with that Mam penguin leaving that poor little chick in the ravine to freeze 😫 Duno how the camera people didn’t go and scoop it out and take it back to its Mam 😟😢 #Dynasties
— Nat 🌻 (@natmills_) November 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/Miles_Tarbox/status/1064259638001053703
Me: I’m calm, totally calm, not flapping at all
Also me: #Dynasties pic.twitter.com/ytltwxYSrV— BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) November 18, 2018
Because the circumstances were beyond even the usual tough conditions, the crew decided to give the stranded birds a fighting chance.
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
Viewers were relieved and full of praise for the crew.
THE FILMMAKERS ARE DIGGING A RAMP TO SAVE THE PENGUINS IN THE RAVINE, FOUR FOR YOU #DYNASTIES FILMMAKETS pic.twitter.com/YeRP8OPUEC
— Becki Jayne Crossley ❄️ (@literarypanckes) November 18, 2018
Three cheers to the @BBCEarth camera crew for digging a little ramp to save those penguins and their babies…! Remarkable work all round, but extra thanks for giving nature a tiny helping hand. We need to give nature all the helping hands we can. #Dynasties #BBC
— Dominic Jermey (@DomJermey) November 18, 2018
Go mumma! GO!#Dynasties pic.twitter.com/VGR7bx6jDq
— BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) November 18, 2018
When we saw one penguin mum reach safety with her chick, it was a bitter-sweet moment.
We totally had to pretend to the youngest that the mum penguin 🐧 who made it out of the ravine with her baby was the same mum as the one who abandoned her chick, and she’d just realised her terrible mistake and gone back for him 😭#Dynasties #meltdownavoided
— Jen Dyson (@Dyson1Jen) November 18, 2018
This is what it took to bring us the incredible scenes.
🐧 11,000 birds
🎥 337 days filming
🌪 130kph winds
☀️ 62 days without sun
❄️ -44.3°C temperatures
👨🏻 3 crew members
🎬 1 incredible episodeA huge thank you to @willplawson, @Badger__Boy + @christmannphoto 💚#Dynasties pic.twitter.com/MHZGbiacEm
— BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) November 18, 2018
We can’t express it any better than this understated reaction from Gary Lineker.
Penguins don’t get it easy, do they? #Dynasties
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 18, 2018
Images property of the BBC.
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