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UP CLOSE: Sir David Attenborough and a sideblotched lizard
"REPTILES and amphibians are sometimes thought of as slow, dim-witted and primitive," says Sir David Attenborough.
"In fact they can be lethally fast, spectacularly beautiful, surprisingly affectionate and extremely sophisticated."
And he should know. As Britain's best-known natural history film-maker he has spent more than two years with 17 cameramen in the deepest, darkest corners of the globe to produce Life in Cold Blood, getting under the skin of some of the world's most misunderstood creatures.
The five-part BBC TV series is currently on our screens, and Sir David was in Bournemouth on Thursday to sign copies of the accompanying book.
Speaking to the Echo in that familiar, measured voice, he sounds quieter, more reserved than his on-screen persona: "Life in Cold Blood is about frogs and toads, turtles and tortoises, crocodiles and alligators, lizards, skinks and snakes," he explains.
It's the last in his long-running overview of all forms of life on our planet, which began with Life on Earth in 1979 and visited plants, mammals, birds and the undergrowth in between.
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This latest series produced a number of TV firsts, such as baby worm-like caecilians feasting on their mother's skin, and female salamanders viciously defending their broods.
There was also a personal first for the presenter who for many decades had wanted to catch a glimpse of the elusive pygmy leaf chameleon.
ELUSIVE: Pygmy leaf chameleon
"I first looked for it in Madagascar 40-odd years ago," he says.
"But this time we found it.
"It is a creature no larger than a thumbnail, yet within its tiny body there are all the organs of a full-size reptile.
"Its tiny tongue, which it shoots out to collect near-microscopic flies, is almost as thin as a whisker.
"To find these sorts of creatures you need the help of a local person who knows a lot about natural history.
"Luckily we met a very good Malagasian naturalist who said oh yes I'll find you one of those' - which he duly did!"
The stunning images of this tiny chameleon, as well as many other of its cold blooded cousins such as tiny scarlet frogs sumo wrestling, and spectacled caiman with crèches of up to 100 young, were captured thanks to plenty of patience, and some remarkable technology.
"There are lots of modern devices you have these days," he says.
"There's the heat-sensitive camera, and remote cameras - cameras which turn themselves on using an adaptation of the burglar alarm system."
Some of the filming actually took place in Dorset - at BJ Herp Supplies in Dorchester, which Attenborough visited last July.
Over two years crew captured a film sequence of royal pythons hatching using thermal imaging.
Unfortunately it didn't make the final cut.
It shows the lengths to which the BBC's Natural History unit will go to bring the unknown to our homes.
Attenborough tells the Echo: "Yet because we undertake so much research in order to capture these creatures on film, once the cameras roll there are no great surprises.
"Yes, there are still a lot of things we don't know about, but they are all rather technical."
He insists he wasn't squeamish getting up close and personal to species which would have many people running in the other direction.
"I can see why people are apprehensive about snakes," he admits.
"After all, many of them can be dangerous.
"But I find other things such as frogs and toads rather engaging."
He is less complimentary about his own species, however, describing the human race as "like a plague - overrunning the world".
And contrary to his enthusiastic presentation, he is not always in his element amid the flora and fauna - "Out filming in the back end of beyond I do get uncomfortable, cold and wet. Home certainly is the place for comfort."
Naturally, however, he insists that all the time, effort and patience is worth it.
"Over the years there have been too many high points to choose," he says.
Even though the cycle of Life programmes is over, Attenborough has no intention of hanging up his khakis at the age of 81.
"At the moment I'm working on a TV project on Charles Darwin."
After this, the enquiring mind will still have a lot of subject matter to work with.
"Because one of the pleasures of natural history," he says, "is that you are always discovering something new."
Life in Cold Blood by David Attenborough is published by BBC Books, £20.
Posted by: Sarah, Bournemouth on 8:24pm Wed 20 Feb 08
For nearly 30 years I have followed David Attenborough. I remember the Life on Earth series on TV and thought it was fascinating. I remember the book of the series had a pretty bright green tree frog on the cover and the photos in the book were stunning. Top marks for David - bringing the world's wildlife into our own front rooms. The way he describes nature is superb. I'm sure many people have learnt so much from watching David on TV. I will pop to the bookshop to catch a glimpse of him on Thursday.
For nearly 30 years I have followed David Attenborough. I remember the Life on Earth series on TV and thought it was fascinating. I remember the book of the series had a pretty bright green tree frog on the cover and the photos in the book were stunning. Top marks for David - bringing the world's wildlife into our own front rooms. The way he describes nature is superb. I'm sure many people have learnt so much from watching David on TV. I will pop to the bookshop to catch a glimpse of him on Thursday.
Posted by: Sarah, Bournemouth on 1:49pm Thu 21 Feb 08
Just been to Borders hoping to buy the book but the total disorganisation of the shop prevented me from doing so! The queue was all around the shop and across the square - police should have been there for crowd control. I know he's a very popular man, but with organisation like that! You were lucky if you could actualy get into the shop. How stupid to put him at the front of the shop! Very disappointed and the shop has lost my sale!
Just been to Borders hoping to buy the book but the total disorganisation of the shop prevented me from doing so! The queue was all around the shop and across the square - police should have been there for crowd control. I know he's a very popular man, but with organisation like that! You were lucky if you could actualy get into the shop. How stupid to put him at the front of the shop! Very disappointed and the shop has lost my sale!
Posted by: SW, Bournemouth on 12:29am Fri 22 Feb 08
What a load of rubbish Sarah! I was one of the few who were in the queue from 9am and thought that the whole event was well executed. Where else should they have put him - in the basement with people queueing on a switched off escalator? I think not! The staff were helpful and friendly and did a great job managing the queue, yes it was very long but well behaved with no pushing in. Crowd control from the police wasn't needed! With all three bookshops in the town sold out, I think you should have got there earlier Sarah!
What a load of rubbish Sarah! I was one of the few who were in the queue from 9am and thought that the whole event was well executed. Where else should they have put him - in the basement with people queueing on a switched off escalator? I think not! The staff were helpful and friendly and did a great job managing the queue, yes it was very long but well behaved with no pushing in. Crowd control from the police wasn't needed! With all three bookshops in the town sold out, I think you should have got there earlier Sarah!
Posted by: Nighthawk, Bournemouth on 1:54pm Sat 23 Feb 08
I would have loved to have been there, but unfortunately work always takes priority, and when you work 10 miles away from Bournemouth - Borders, it's tough luck. I am sure I will locate a copy of his new book somewhere, but it won't be signed.
I would have loved to have been there, but unfortunately work always takes priority, and when you work 10 miles away from Bournemouth - Borders, it's tough luck. I am sure I will locate a copy of his new book somewhere, but it won't be signed.
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