Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

The Coelacanth

Veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough recalls how a fish caused an international incident.

Veteran British broadcaster, Sir David Attenborough takes us back to 1952 when, as a TV producer, he was dispatched to report on a fish that was causing a diplomatic incident.

The fish was the Coelacanth – a supposedly extinct animal that was thought to be the fish ancestor of all creatures with backbones that, later in evolution, were to emerge and walk on land.

Sir David describes the attempts to film this ancient creature in the ocean for his ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ series, Life on Earth. On that particular occasion he failed, but a future mission was more successful.

He reveals how his programme became the first on television to film the Coelacanth alive.

8 minutes

Last on

Sun 20 Sep 2009 02:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 19 Sep 2009 10:32GMT
  • Sat 19 Sep 2009 23:32GMT
  • Sun 20 Sep 2009 02:32GMT