Before you dreamed of brainstorming episodes from pristine jungles and remote grasslands, here’s the behind‑the‑scenes twist: some of David Attenborough’s latest series, Parenthood, wasn’t entirely filmed in the wild.
The BBC has now confirmed that several underwater scenes—featuring delicate creatures like boxer crabs, skeleton shrimps, and Banggai cardinalfish—were shot in controlled tanks, not out in the open sea.
Why Tweak the Wild for the Camera?
The show’s first episode aired on August 1 and introduced viewers to jaw‑dropping parenting rituals in animals across Bhutan, Botswana, and beyond.
Sir David, now 99, narrates a series all about how animal parents are adapting to a rapidly changing world.
But filming these tiny, extremely sensitive creatures in their natural habitats proved nearly impossible.
The BBC stressed that key scenes had to be filmed in marine tanks or incubators to avoid disturbing fragile environments and ensure animal welfare.
Turtle Hatchlings: From Beach to Lab Incubator
One standout scene in the opening features hundreds of turtle hatchlings responding to their mother’s calls as they race to the river.
It looked incredibly real, but it was shot in a Brazilian incubation project, not deep in the wild.
According to producers Jeff Wilson and Olly Scholey, this approach allowed them to film safely without disturbing the eggs—and still capture a visually moving narrative.
Boxer Crabs: Tiny Stars Caught in Tins
Another carefully staged scene shows boxer crabs in action—also filmed in a specialist tank setup in Indonesia.
Given how delicate these creatures are, the team chose to film under controlled conditions rather than risk their survival in the open sea.
Most of the Show? Still Filmed on Location
Despite these studio shots, much of Parenthood was filmed across real wild locations—from the savannahs of Botswana and Namibia to the deserts of Arizona and the woodlands of Tanzania and southern Spain.
Capturing underwater behavior, in particular, posed unique challenges like changing visibility, difficult divers, and shifting conditions that made authentic shooting tough.
Gorilla Groundwork: Pulling Scenes from Swamp to Screen
One truly immersive segment sees the film crew tracking silverback gorilla families through knee‑deep swamps, trying to build a relationship with them before filming starts.
In the footage, a crew member almost trips in the mud—and simply says, “Nope” when asked if they’re okay. Sir David’s voiceover frames the effort as a battle of wills: the gorillas move with purpose, and the crew scrambles to keep up.
Social Reactions: Fans Celebrate Stunning Scenes
After the premiere, fans on X (formerly Twitter) flooded in with praise.
One person said, “All the contributors to Parenthood are amazing,” while another congratulated the BBC and Sir David on delivering yet another captivating natural history series.
Creepy Crawly Moment: Spider Babies Turn Predators
One of the most chilling sights in the series shows a colony of newly hatched African social spiders, each hunting in sync by sensing vibrations.
In a horrifying twist, the juvenile spiders then turn on their own mothers—and begin to feed on them alive.
It’s a rare behavior—and entirely mesmerizing.
Wild Tech: Night Vision and Gimbal Cameras in Action
Parenthood doesn’t just rely on artistry; it also uses cutting-edge gear—think military-grade infrared cameras on moving gimbals—to capture nighttime hunts and personal moments.
One episode even shows hippos chased by lions at night, all recorded under infrared light for dramatic detail.
Episode Two: What’s Next and When to Watch
The BBC confirmed the next episode airs on Sunday, August 10 at 4:20 pm on BBC One, and all episodes will be made available to catch up via BBC iPlayer.