The team consisted of renowned broadcaster David Attenborough and photographer Martin Saunders. They were confident their work would proceed smoothly, having secured all the necessary permits from Rwandan authorities. In addition, they had the support of primatologist Dian Fossey, who had extensive experience studying gorillas in the Karisoke area, between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke.
According to Attenborough, their preparations had been thorough, with all required permissions in place and everything appearing well organized.
Dian Fossey, widely known in the Ruhengeri by a local nickname as Nyiramacibiri, had devoted her life to protecting mountain gorillas. Her work went far beyond feeding or treating them, she lived among them in the wild, even establishing a base in the volcanic mountains. She would later be killed under circumstances widely believed to be linked to powerful interests opposed to her conservation efforts.
Filming the gorillas proved challenging for Attenborough, who was not yet accustomed to their behavior. At one point, a dominant male gorilla named Pablo climbed onto him, creating a moment of fear. Despite the tension, he remained focused and continued the work that had brought him there.
After completing the demanding work, Attenborough and Saunders returned to Kigali, preparing to head back to the United Kingdom with what they believed was an extraordinary story, one that would reveal to the world the complex and human-like nature of these animals.
Their journey from Ruhengeri had been filled with excitement, as they believed they had achieved something rare. However, as they approached Kigali International Airport, that sense of accomplishment quickly turned into fear. Attenborough began to wonder whether they would safely leave the country—or lose everything they had worked so hard to capture.
Gunfire suddenly erupted overhead. At first, they were unsure what was happening, but it soon became clear that they themselves were being targeted by Rwandan soldiers attempting to stop them, apparently suspecting them of wrongdoing.
Attenborough later described the confusion of the moment, recalling how they turned and saw armed security personnel approaching them.
The two men were stopped and quickly realized that the footage they had captured was at risk. Sensing danger, they discreetly rearranged how they stored their film in an effort to prevent it from being confiscated.
When the soldiers reached them, they demanded to inspect their belongings. However, the exact reason for the suspicion remained unclear—whether they were accused of threatening national security, illegal wildlife activities, or something else entirely.
They were taken away from the airport and first brought to a hotel. The following morning, they were transferred to a military facility, where they were made to stand in an open area under the sun, surrounded by armed personnel. At that moment, they feared for their lives, unsure whether they would be imprisoned, executed, or subjected to other forms of punishment.
Saunders later reflected that they were left standing in the heat without explanation, unable to understand what they were being accused of, which only heightened their anxiety about what might happen next.
After some time in detention, the authorities unexpectedly decided to release them. The two men were allowed to leave, greatly relieved—not only to have regained their freedom, but also because their valuable footage remained intact.
This dramatic episode is recounted in the documentary, Making Life of Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure, released by BBC on May 3, 2026, just days before Attenborough’s 100th birthday.
More recently, Attenborough has also been involved in another documentary released on April 17, 2026, on Netflix. This production also explores the lives of mountain gorillas and was created in collaboration with Silverback Films.
The film brought together contributions from several prominent figures in filmmaking, including James Reed, Alastair Fothergill, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Davisson, and Phillip Watson.
The project combined over 250 hours of footage captured between 2023 and 2024, along with archival material filmed by Attenborough during his time in Rwanda.
According to Fothergill, the original idea was simply to tell the story of gorillas. However, after discussions with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund—which has spent more than six decades protecting gorillas in Rwanda—the project gained momentum.
The concept evolved further when Fothergill approached Attenborough, who had previously worked on gorilla-related documentaries. Attenborough welcomed the idea and revealed that he had kept detailed notes from his earlier experiences in Rwanda, which could enrich the film.
The resulting documentary not only highlights how gorillas live, but also shows their complex social dynamics, including struggles for leadership and behaviors that often resemble human interactions.
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