Zoo Quest for a Dragon (6 Parts)

Synopsis

ZOO QUEST FOR A DRAGON, first broadcast in 1956, was the third in David Attenborough’s groundbreaking ZOO QUEST television natural history series. In these programmes he pioneered techniques in programme making in environments that were often inhospitable. The series began as a joint venture with London Zoo and ended with millions of viewers seeing for themselves animals and locations that might otherwise have remained the stuff of myths and legends. in his quest for the Komodo dragon Attenborough visited Borneo, Java and Bali. The six programmes are streamed in in their entirety (approx 30 minutes each) and there is separate 7-minute feature, recorded in 2007, in which David Attenborough shares his memories of the series.

The website also contains background material to the series such as photographs, audience reports and handwritten letters from Attenborough to his production team and the friends he made during filming.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2009

Year of production

1956

Subjects

Anthropology; Biology; Geography; Media studies

Keywords

archive television; Bali; Indonesia; Java; natural history; Borneo; Attenborough, David; Komodo dragons; Dayak tribe

Online availability

URI

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/attenborough/index.shtml

Price

free

Delivery

Streamed

Credits

Contributor

David Attenborough

Sections

Title

Borneo

Synopsis

David Attenborough and cameraman Charles Lagus begin their quest in Borneo, the first in the chain of islands they must cross in order to reach Komodo. There they trek through jungle to a village belonging to the Dayak tribe, where they are given a warm welcome. The ZOO QUEST team are hoping to find an orangutan and, with guidance from the Dayaks, they discover and film one in the wild. However, it is an orphaned orangutan held captive by a hunter that Attenborough falls for in the end.

Duration

29 mins

Title

Borneo Part 2

Synopsis

David Attenborough’s search for rare animals in Borneo continues. In this stretch of the journey, Attenborough has a close encounter with a crocodile, spends time with Dayak villagers and makes the acquaintance of Benjamin, an abandoned baby bear.

Duration

29 mins

Title

Java

Synopsis

In this episode of the quest for the largest lizard in the world, David Attenborough and his cameraman Charles Lagus explore the island of Java. There is a wonderful sequence featuring gibbons having a leisurely breakfast in the treetops, a stop-off at the 8th-century Buddhist temple Borobudur and 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.

Duration

24 mins

Title

Bali

Synopsis

David Attenborough’s search for the legendary Komodo dragon reaches Bali, where he witnesses a procession in honour of an ‘invisible god’ and explores a temple that provides shelter to a colony of bats believed by the locals to be sacred. Back in the studio, Attenborough meets a fruit bat that is a resident of London Zoo.

Duration

29 mins

Title

Bali Part 2

Synopsis

In this penultimate episode, David Attenborough walks through avenues of palm trees and rice fields in order to reach a small Balinese village. Once there, he encounters curious villagers and remarkable creatures, including ants that demonstrate some ingenious behaviour. In addition to exploring less celebrated wildlife, this is also an opportunity to witness the unique Balinese culture with its hypnotic music and dance based on ancient Hindu legends.

Duration

29 mins

Title

Dragons of Komodo

Synopsis

In this last episode, the team sail to Komodo island, the home of a giant lizard known as the Komodo dragon. The first and last known sighting of these animals by a European was in 1912. Once on shore, however, David Attenborough soon comes face to face with the prehistoric-looking creatures. A villager had recently been killed by one, and it is plain to see why they are a danger to man. Attenborough also discovers that all is not safe on board the boat.

Duration

31 mins

Title

David Attenborough: Special Interview

Synopsis

David Attenborough speaks about the making of ZOO QUEST, a series that brought images of exotic places and rare wildlife into the homes of 1950s Britain, in partnership with London Zoo. This interview has been specially released for this collection.

Duration

7 mins

Production Company

Name

BBC Television

Distributor

Name

BBC Archive

Web

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/ External site opens in new window