David Attenborough’s latest documentary on Great Barrier Reef is something every Aussie needs to see

IT’S the icon every Aussie takes for granted, but now never-before-seen microscopic details of the Great Barrier Reef have emerged in a record-breaking film.

What every Australian needs to see

LEGENDARY broadcaster Sir David Attenborough has warned the Great Barrier Reef is in “imminent” danger due to global warming after a record-breaking dive to the ocean floor.

Speaking at the screening of his new three-part documentary on the “magical” Australian icon, the 89-year-old naturalist said humans were destroying the planet at phenomenal pace with major changes evident in just a generation.

“It’s a very serious threat that the reef is facing,” he said at the Australia House screening in London, attended by the Duke of Edinburgh.

“The issue is going to be rather quicker than the next generation or so. The issue is, in fact, the changes of the ocean and the speed at which the planet is changing.

“Within the next 10-20 years that issue will be real. It’s real now but it will be imminent unless we manage to control the warming of the planet to within two degrees.”

The comments came as 150 world leaders gathered in Paris to try and nut out a deal to contain global warming to two degrees by 2100.

While Australia committed to cutting emissions by 26-28 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030, the government also granted approval for what would be one of the world’s largest coal mines in Queensland, slammed as “indefensible” and “environmentally irresponsible” by those opposed to the plan.

The reef can be seen from space. Picture: Mark Fitzpatrick.

Site of Adani's Carmichael Coal mine project in Queensland which is set to create one of the world’s biggest coal mines.

The Great Barrier Reef with David Attenborough was made over two years by a BAFTA-winning team led by Anthony Geffen’s Atlantic Productions which is also behind First Life, Rise of the Animals, Galapagos and Penguins.

During filming, Sir David ventured to record-breaking depths of 1000 feet in a submersible bubble fitted with cameras used to create a virtual-reality experience.

Shot around Ribbon and Osprey reef as well as Lizard and Heron islands, the visit marked a return to the place he ventured to 60 years ago. Since then however, he warned the explosion in the world’s population had left many species and natural icons in danger.

“Even the dinosaurs disappeared over tens of thousands of years, we’re doing it not in a 1000 years, not in 100 years we’re doing it in decades,” he said.

“The greatest environment concern at the moment does amounts to the question of the … warming of the planet and also the speed at which we, the human species are spreading.

“We all want food to eat, we all want a place to live, roads to put cars on, aeroplanes and so on and we are overrunning the planet.”

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest living organism. Picture: Tourism Australia.

‘UTTERLY UNIQUE’

The extraordinary documentary provides an immersive experience of life on the reef which is larger than the UK, Holland and Switzerland combined. It showcases the quirky abilities of the Mantis Shrimp, a crustacean that has 16 colour-receptive cones on its eyes that can see colours not visible to humans and the epic struggles of baby clownfish as they look for a new spot to live.

Series producer Anthony Geffen said the 75-person crew was like a “moving laboratory” while making the film, with helicopters, multiple camera men and the eight-tonne submersible vehicle to navigate.

The footage was shot using “4K” cameras that provided an experience better than high definition for viewers.

“That’s utterly unique. It’s never been there before, to have that technology and crew at our fingertips was just wonderful,” Mr Geffen said.

The documentary also revealed scientific modelling which showed how Australia’s coast line had changed over time, corroborating traditional stories told by indigenous Australians.

“The original people of Australia do have this extraordinary ability which perhaps people in Western Europe don’t have anymore, of having extremely accurate long-term memories which really go back thousands of years,” Sir David said.

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