It is disconcerting that, since the last installment of Planet Earth six years ago, the third series has taken on a more somber tone. As always, these documentaries narrated by Sir David Attenborough continue to celebrate the marvels of the natural world. The footage, collected over a span of five years across 43 countries, is both astonishing and awe-inspiring. The inaugural episode, dedicated to coastlines, traverses a wide range of locations from Kent to Australia, through South Africa, Canada, Indonesia, and beyond. The sheer scale and magnitude of this undertaking are truly remarkable.
Viewers often find great delight in watching these documentaries. The camera provides a heavenly perspective, presenting a picturesque and stunning portrayal of seal pups frolicking near a South African peninsula, until great white sharks begin to view them as an appetizing buffet. In Namibia, desert lion sisters are observed learning to hunt seabirds at night, despite their aversion to water. Off the coast of Argentina, a right whale gives birth and nurtures her calf, which finds playmates in the vicinity.
Archerfish showcase their extraordinary skills by shooting water at insects perched up to 2 meters above them to dislodge them from leaves and turn them into meals. In the melting glacier waters of the Arctic, sea angels and sea butterflies, ethereal and fairytale-like creatures, captivate with their otherworldly appearance as they glow and dance.
However, it’s important to remember that this is not a fantasy world; it’s reality. While it’s possible to appreciate the documentary’s majesty for its sheer visual splendor, the comfort and gentle approach are in keeping with most nature shows, especially those that air on One on Sunday evenings. The animals depicted here generally triumph over the adversities they face. The seals, for instance, form a collective, or what could be termed an “eco-mob,” and successfully ward off the sharks. The survival of the right whale offers a hopeful picture: despite being hunted to near extinction 40 years ago, a ban on commercial whaling has increased their numbers to approximately 12,000.
There is frequent discussion of species “adapting” to the changing world. For instance, it’s unusual to see great white sharks, typically solitary hunters, collaborating, just as it’s remarkable to witness desert lions returning to the Namibian coast after a 40-year absence due to their newfound protected status. While this optimism is heartening, it may inadvertently give the impression that life on Earth will continue unaffected, even as the environment becomes more extreme, apocalyptic, and inhospitable to organic life due to human activities.
This is more of a quiet alarm than a despairing cry, but it follows a familiar structure, as seen previously in “Wild Isles” earlier this year. Attenborough and the team draw you in with captivating narratives before delving into more distressing stories. At the beginning, Attenborough hints at the need to view the world through a new lens, suggesting that while a sea angel with a neon orange belly is captivating, it’s impossible to ignore the devastating consequences of the climate crisis.
In the opening episode, there are two cautionary tales: the Caribbean flamingos struggling to nest in the briny waters of Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula, and the endangered green turtles of Raine Island on the Great Barrier Reef. “Seasonal” storms are arriving earlier each year in Mexico, flooding flamingo nests and jeopardizing their eggs and chicks. The aftermath of a storm surge is depicted as an apocalyptic landscape. Attenborough’s original visit to Raine Island in 1957, captured in black and white footage, contrasts starkly with the present situation. In the current context, it’s dire: if sea levels continue to rise, the island will likely vanish in 30 years. The turtles are perishing en masse due to changing coastlines and rising temperatures, leaving them dehydrated and unable to reach the water, resulting in exhaustion and the rotting of their eggs in floodwaters. The sound of a dying turtle is a harrowing experience.
In summary, Planet Earth III offers a less cozy and more stark perspective, even though this grim reality is tacked onto the end of the episode like a profoundly disheartening postscript. The warnings have been sounded for decades, and we may have already crossed the point of no return.
Conclusion:
Planet Earth III is described as magnificent yet horrifying by reviewers. The series, hosted by Sir David Attenborough, showcases the struggle of animals battling to survive amidst rapidly changing environments.
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