New Penguin Documentary Unveils Hidden Secrets of Survival
A stunning new documentary series, Secrets of the Penguins, reveals the intense challenges faced by penguins in the wild. Years of filming, often in extreme weather, have brought fresh insights into the lives of these resilient birds. The series will premiere on Disney+ this Monday, the eve of Earth Day, and on Nat Geo Wild from Tuesday.
A Global Journey Captured Over Two Years
The three-part series, narrated by US actor Blake Lively, is hosted by National Geographic explorer Bertie Gregory. Filming took more than two years and included 274 days on the Ekström Ice Shelf in Antarctica, home to 20,000 emperor penguins. Additional locations ranged from Cape Town, South Africa, to the Galapagos Islands.
Gregory, who has extensive experience with penguins, said the project revealed new discoveries. “I thought I knew penguins. I was so wrong,” he admitted. One highlight features young penguin chicks leaping off a 50-foot ice cliff to reach the sea—a moment never captured on film before.
Extreme Weather, Remarkable Behaviours
Penguins are unique in their ability to raise young during the harsh Antarctic winter. Gregory described it as the coldest, darkest, and windiest place on Earth. Yet, the birds not only survive but also thrive in these unforgiving conditions.
He hopes ‘Secrets of the Penguins’ will inspire greater interest in the natural world. “We should want to look after penguins, not just because it makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside, but because we need healthy, wild places for so many things,” Gregory said.
A Rising Voice in Wildlife Storytelling
Gregory, aged 31, has already won two Daytime Emmy Awards for Animals Up Close with Bertie Gregory and a BAFTA for his work on David Attenborough’s Seven Worlds, One Planet. While he holds deep respect for Attenborough, Gregory insists, “He’s one of a kind. There is no replacement.”
with inputs from Reuters
