New penguin documentary: Healthy dose of cute

Penguins are super cool. They are birds, but they cannot fly, let alone strike any resemblance to their other feathered cousins.

They fall in love, they live in colonies and enjoy environments that would make most humans freeze, pouring sweat or, in the case of African penguins, settle down with sea views on Cape Town’s southern coast. Robben Island was also theirs long before people moved in.

There’s a new documentary series on Disney Plus that, in three episodes, crams in healthy doses of cute, a lot of hanging out and some spectacular learnings.

British wildlife filmmaker Bertie Gregory spent more than two years documenting penguin populations across the globe for Secrets of the Penguins, a new three-part series.

From emperor chicks in Antarctica to desert-loving colonies on the Namibian coast and the endangered African penguins of Cape Town, the series explores never-before-seen behaviours, unusual and curious social bonds, and what these birds can teach us about our own lives.

Filmed in remote places

Gregory has filmed in some of the most remote and unforgiving places on the planet, but it is South Africa’s penguins that have left a lasting impression.

“They have got life figured out,” he said. “These birds do not need to put up with freezing temperatures and icebergs. They just hang out on bougie tropical beaches.”

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Gregory said the African penguins filmed in Southern Africa do not all enjoy the same easy living.

“We filmed a really cool population that lives in this crazy cave on the coast of Namibia in the desert,” he said.

“What I love about penguins is that they are full of surprises. I think when most people think of penguins, they think of icebergs and snowy mountains in Antarctica. But there are 18 species, and they live all over the place.”

Penguin chicks gone viral

One scene from the series has already gone viral. Hundreds of emperor penguin chicks are seen launching themselves off a 15-metre ice cliff into the ocean below.

“They had never seen the ocean. They had never been in the ocean,” he said.

“It is like the human equivalent of turning up to your first swimming lesson and being told the teacher is not there and you must jump off the Olympic diving board. It is absolutely insane.”

Gregory said he knew that moment would break through online.

“I remember calling a couple of the National Geographic execs from the field and telling them we had just filmed the penguin secret of all secrets. The reason it connected is that everybody knows what it feels like to be on the edge of a cliff. That kind of challenge is instantly understandable.”

He believes that wildlife stories that resonate emotionally also help carry the conservation message. “Anytime we are talking about wildlife instead of the latest music or political carnage, we are doing well.

“Penguins are indicators of ocean health. If they are in trouble, we are in trouble too. We need a healthy ocean for our survival.”

SA’s important role in conservation

With African penguins classified as endangered, Gregory said South Africans have a more critical role to play than most.

“A lot of penguin species live very far away from people and their sole threat is climate change. But African penguins face more immediate issues like overfishing and disturbance of their nesting habitats. People are directly responsible for those. So South Africans can do a lot more to look after penguins than many other countries can.”

Gregory also added that local scientists play an important role in bringing these stories to life.

“Scientists spend more time with these animals than anyone. We are always trying to figure out what the penguins are going to do next. Working with scientists is invaluable.”

Gregory started his career assisting celebrated National Geographic photographer Steve Winter and as a solo producer has gone on to create, make and host nine projects for the channel.

His previous series Animals Up Close was recently renewed for a second season. In 2020, he became the youngest ever cinematography winner at the BAFTAs for his work alongside Sir David Attenborough.

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