Sir David Attenborough joins Instagram

‘Saving our planet is now a communications challenge,’ says broadcaster

(Getty Images)

Sir David Attenborough has joined Instagram in a bid to share his environmentalist views with a larger audience.

The legendary broadcaster shared his first post on Thursday.

In the short video, the 94-year-old described saving the planet as “a communications challenge”.

“I’ve been appearing on radio and television for the past 60 years, but this is my first time on Instagram,” Attenborough said.

"I’m exploring this new way of communication to me because, as we all know, the world is in trouble.

"Continents are on fire, glaciers are melting, coral reefs are dying, fish are disappearing from our oceans… the list goes on and on.

“But we know what to do about it. And that’s why I’m tackling this new way, for me, of communication.”

Attenborough added that over the next few weeks, he will be sharing videos on his account to explain key environmental issues and how we can overcome them.

“Join me, or as we used to say in those early days of radio, stay tuned," he concluded.

The broadcaster has already amassed more than 235,000 followers, many of whom are famous faces.

Among them is British tennis champion Andy Murray, who commented on Attenborough’s debut post: “Welcome to Instagram Sir David!”

In a statement, the World Wide Fund for Nature confirmed that two of Attenborough’s key collaborators, Jonnie Hughes and Colin Butfield, will help him run the account.

Both Hughes and Butfield have also worked on Attenborough’s upcoming film for Netflix, David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet, and book, titled A Life On Our Planet – My Witness Statement and Vision for the Future.