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Java

First transmitted in 1956, David Attenborough and his cameraman Charles Lagus explore the island of Java in their quest for the largest lizard in the world.

First transmitted in 1956, David Attenborough and his cameraman Charles Lagus explore the island of Java in their quest for the largest lizard in the world.

They see gibbons having a leisurely breakfast in the treetops, stop off at the 8th century Buddhist temple Borobudur and take a glimpse into Bromo, a sulphur-spewing volcano.

Attenborough also captures a fully grown python to bring back to London Zoo. This creature later makes a wriggly appearance as a guest in the studio.

Available now

24 minutes

Last on

Fri 19 Oct 1956 20:15

Clip

Sir David Attenborough - The Early Years

Sir David Attenborough - The Early Years

This programme is part of a ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Four Collection showcasing the early work of Sir David Attenborough.


More about this programme

In the 2012 ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ series , Sir David Attenborough returns to Selingan Island, now the site of a turtle conservation park. Recalling the moment he ate turtle eggs when he was first on the island in 1956, he explains: β€œLooking back it all seems rather shocking, and I hadn’t got a clue how to cook them. We had cheerfully added as much salt as if we were dealing with chicken's eggs.Β  The result, though no doubt very nourishing, wasn’t, I’m afraid, particularly delicious. Turtle eggs may not have been to my taste but the local people loved them, and they were an important source not only of nutriment but income.Β  The trouble was that the human population was growing so fast that the turtle eggs were being collected in huge numbers and turtles worldwide were in decline. In the decades that followed the Malaysian government stepped in to save their turtles. Harvesting the eggs was banned and a hatchery established on Selingan Island which people visit to see what’s going on.”

About ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Four Collection programmes

Programmes are selected, in part, for their historical context and reflect the broadcast standards and attitudes of their time, which may not accord to some current ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ editorial guidelines. We aim to select programmes which can be shown in their entirety but in some cases edits are required.

Broadcast

  • Fri 19 Oct 1956 20:15

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