Bertie Gregory’s enthralling documentary, Secrets Of The Penguins, has garnered acclaim for its captivating portrayal of the lives of three penguin species – Emperors, Galápagos, and Macaronis – across the southern hemisphere.
Yet, things took a worrying turn as Bertie Gregory feared for the lives of Emperor penguins after they tumbled into vast ice chasms. Recalling the “depressing” event, the 31-year-old, says: We don’t intervene, that’s a golden rule.
We didn’t know if they could survive the fall, but even if we wanted to intervene, we couldn’t get to them. I thought they were going to starve to death. They were all looking up, like they were in an ice prison.”
To his amazement, the resilient birds managed to escape their icy trap. Describing the moment captured by his drone, Bertie shares his astonishment.
“They used their beaks like ice axes,” and adds with admiration, “Then they climbed up to get out. I was like, ‘Emperor penguins can ice climb? Wow!'” They even dived from a clifftop and into the icy waters, completely unscathed, much to the crew’s amazement.
The Disney+ series, part of National Geographic’s Secrets Of… franchise, is brought to life by Academy-Award winner James Cameron and narrated by Blake Lively. It delves into the penguin populations of the Galápagos Islands and Antarctica.
Bertie recounts the extreme conditions faced during filming: “The coldest day was -54 degrees,” and confesses, “I thought I knew what cold was. I didn’t. You can’t do anything other than stay alive.”
He found inspiration in the penguins’ relentless spirit despite the harsh conditions. “They don’t only survive, they raise their chicks in the coldest, darkest, windiest time of year in Antarctica,” Bertie reflects, “They’re the only animal that’s capable of doing that.”
To battle the cold, Bertie donned “big mitts”, but quickly realised “you can’t control drones with mitts”. Ingeniously, he turned to heated gloves powered by his camera batteries.
The shooting brought to light an alarming truth: climate change. “The fact some people still doubt its existence blows my mind,” Bertie admits. Emperor penguins are particularly affected by the change.
“Most animals that are threatened by climate change are often threatened by something else, such as deforestation or poaching,” he points out. “But the Emperors’ sole threat really is climate change. Most of them will never see a human.”
With temperature increases, ice that’s essential for breeding shatters too soon each year, leading many chicks into the water before they can swim.
“They’re not adapted for that,” Bertie notes, revealing devastating consequences in some colonies. Yet, there’s a glint of hope. “New research shows that they mix more than we thought,” he shares.
“So it’s possible the penguins that live in areas very prone to early ice break-up could move to areas where the ice is more stable. It’s like a lifeline and buys a bit more time to figure out where we’re going wrong.”
For Bertie, capturing the wonders of wildlife on camera goes beyond a mere job. “I really love wildlife,” he enthuses, “I’m completely obsessed with it. My colleagues will tell you.”
But the transition back to normal life after spending weeks in the wild with his crew and nature’s creatures can be jarring. “I struggle with it and often have post-shoot blues,” Bertie admits. “You work in small teams and grow attached to the animals. Then, suddenly, I have to choose which type of salad I want to eat. It’s mind-blowing!”.
His passion for wildlife isn’t just a professional pursuit; it’s an all-consuming love affair. “I really love wildlife,” he reiterates, “I’m completely obsessed with it. My colleagues will tell you I’m relentless.”
While some might argue that patience is key for a successful explorer, Bertie begs to differ. “Being passionate, persistent, even stubborn, is far more important. You need to grind, day after day.”