David Attenborough, 98, makes harrowing prediction about future ahead of landmark milestone: ‘Out of time’
Sir David Attenborough has made a powerful statement acknowledging he is “approaching the end of my life” in his upcoming documentary about the world’s oceans on Disney+.
The 98-year-old broadcaster reflects on his mortality in Ocean with David Attenborough, which explores the challenges facing marine environments.
“Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true,” Attenborough says in the film, referring to how humanity’s understanding of the ocean has evolved during his lifetime.
The documentary presents both the environmental threats to our seas and a message of hope for their recovery – with the series set to be released on May 8, coinciding with Attenborough’s 99th birthday.
It exposes the challenges facing our oceans, from destructive fishing techniques to mass coral reef bleaching and will initially be released as a Global Cinema Event.
Despite the sobering subject matter, the documentary is also described as a “story of optimism” where Attenborough makes the case that our oceans can “recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen.”
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The film is believed to potentially be the final time Attenborough goes on a location shoot for a TV programme, with the beloved star reflecting on how his perception of the ocean has transformed throughout his long life.
“When I first saw the sea as a young boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity. After living for nearly a hundred years on this planet, I now understand that the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.”
In the film, Attenborough describes the ocean as “Earth’s support system” and “our greatest asset against climate change” whilst emphasising the importance of environmental and conservation efforts to maintain its delicate ecosystem.
“Today, it is in such poor health I would find it hard not to lose hope were it not for the most remarkable discovery of all.”
The documentary reveals Attenborough’s most hopeful discovery – that the ocean can “recover faster than we had ever imagined”.
“The ocean can bounce back to life. If we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime of filming our planet, I’m sure nothing is more important.
“Together, we now face the challenge of making it happen,” he urges, suggesting that creating protected marine reserves where fishing is banned could allow recovery.
Attenborough’s career in broadcasting spans over seven decades, beginning with his first TV credit as a presenter on the 1953 BBC show Animal Patterns and has gone on to be best known for narrating Planet Earth, the groundbreaking natural history series.
Following its theatrical run, the documentary will be made available to stream on National Geographic, Disney+ and Hulu later this year.
This release strategy will allow viewers worldwide to experience Attenborough’s powerful message about ocean conservation.
The broadcaster has previously acknowledged feeling a “paradox” regarding the environmental cost of travel required to film documentaries aimed at spreading awareness of climate change.
Despite this, he has maintained that seeing nature up close still carries a “hypnotic appeal”.