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Zoo Quest: Sir David's First Wildlife Expedition
4 May
Summary
- Zoo Quest began in 1954, launching Sir David Attenborough's career.
- The first expedition for Zoo Quest was to Sierra Leone.
- Attenborough brought the natural world into homes via television.

The year 1954 marked a significant moment in British television history with the debut of Zoo Quest on the BBC. This seminal program launched the career of Sir David Attenborough, a broadcaster who would go on to bring the natural world into homes across the globe.
Louise Hidalgo explored the BBC archives to recount the story of Zoo Quest's very first natural history expedition. This initial journey took the team to Sierra Leone, located in West Africa, capturing early footage for the series.
The historical context of this expedition is important, as it predates much of modern wildlife documentary filmmaking. The archival images reveal Attenborough, the producer of Zoo Quest, alongside Jack Lester, the curator of London Zoo's reptile house, meticulously planning their adventures.