BBC filmmakers broke a major rule to rescue hundreds of penguins trapped in a blizzard
Filming a documentary is easier said than done. While most people would think the profession involves only capturing the reality that unfolds, filmmakers are often faced with difficult choices to make. BBC’s Dynasties Crew found themselves at a crossroads while documenting trapped Emperor penguins in Antarctica and broke one crucial rule that interfered with the film’s subjects, as seen in BBC Earth’s YouTube channel (@bbcearth). “I know it’s natural, but it’s bloody hard to watch,” one of the crew members said, shedding tears. Narrated by famed British presenter and biologist Sir David Attenborough, the documentary offers a unique take on wildlife filmmakers challenging convention.
When the Dynasties crew reached the frigid landscapes of Antarctica, they found hundreds of Emperor penguins trapped in an icy ravine with no way out. A tragic scene unfolded as they watched the blood-stained ravine claiming the lives of the flightless birds one by one. Heartbreaking glimpses of dead penguin chicks lying frozen on the snow pushed tears out of the filmmakers watching from a higher vantage point. Several penguins stood huddled together, trying to survive the plummeting temperatures within the steep boundaries of the ravine. While a few others seemed determined to fight the elements with chicks between their legs.
As the weather conditions worsened, the crew was left with no choice but to pack up and wait for the next day. However, they were delighted to see one penguin with a chick make its way out of the ravine using its flippers and beak. Two days later, the team returned to continue documenting the colony. “Already, the gully has claimed more casualties. The team decides to act,” said Attenborough. After giving it much thought, the team got to work carving a shallow ramp and some manmade steps that would be “hopefully” used by the penguins to escape the extreme conditions of the ravine. “It’s fairly rare for the film crew to intervene, but they realized that they may be able to save at least some of these birds simply by digging a few steps in the ice,” the narrator explained.
The crew had their fingers crossed while waiting for the penguins to identify the steps. Moments later, as they were about to leave, they witnessed something extraordinary. The first set of penguins was finally making their way out of the ravine, giving them another shot at survival. The filmmakers turned rescuers were delighted that the penguin chicks, associated with low survival rates due to climate change, would live to see the world. According to SeaWorld, Emperor penguin chicks may experience a 90% mortality within the first year of life. In 2023, none of the chicks survived from four Emperor colonies in one region of Antarctica. This devastating consequence was attributed to the loss of sea ice.
Using satellite imagery, the researchers observed that no ice was left in a region near the Bellingshausen Sea in December, typically a breeding site for the penguins. per PBS. Having said that, the filmmakers’ rescue attempt sparked a debate in the documentary realm, with experts sharing insights on the rights and wrongs of the profession. A key aspect of the “holy grail” of documentary filmmakers is to never intervene in the events that tell the story. A “cardinal rule”, as veteran wildlife cameraman Doug Allan stated in an interview with The Guardian. “To interfere with 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,” he said, lauding the rescue attempt by the Dynasties crew.
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