(Image Source: BBC)  

BY AMY WILLMOTT

ANCHOR ALLEX CONLEY

The BBC has been accused of telling a very big (and fluffy) white lie.

Sir David Attenborough’s acclaimed natural series, Frozen Planet, has caused an icy controversy after it became clear that footage of newborn polar bear cubs was actually shot in captivity - not in the arctic.  ABC News reports;

“This video shows a mother bear feeding her cub in what looks like their natural Arctic habitat but in reality it was shot a zoo in Germany. The show, Frozen Planet, is accused of being unethical, but producers say it was all explained on the show and online, and was not misleading at all.”

Attenborough appeared on ITV1’s This Morning and defended the use of zoo footage. The veteran broadcaster argued that the choice to use captivity footage was both for the safety of the animal and enjoyment of the audience.

“So, the question is during the middle of this scene when you’re trying to paint what it’s like in the middle of winter in the pole, and you say ‘Oh by the way this was in a zoo,’ you completely ruin the atmosphere and destroy the pleasure of the viewers.”

And the show’s executive producer went head-to-head with a host on Radio5.

“These first moments are very very special. They’re a very important part of the story that you want to tell and that’s why we decided to do it in captivity”

“But you gave the impression that these cubs were in the arctic.”

“I don’t think we did at all. I think we were extremely careful. Well, what we said was that polar bear cubs in the Arctic are born at this time of year and this is what happens.”

But a writer for The Global Warming Policy argues that ‘spoiling the mood’ of the documentary is not enough of a justification for deceiving audiences -- and that this is another sour note for documentary-style TV.

“The pictures would have been NO LESS remarkable if Sir David had simply mentioned that they were effectively library footage, shot in what we now know was a German animal park … viewers will be disappointed to find out that Sir David is yet another TV presenter they cannot totally trust.”

But a blogger for the New Statesman defends the show’s decision, saying there are bigger things to worry about -- literally.

“Natural history programmes have reconstructed things for years ... So the polar bears were filmed in a captive environment, rather than wild animals being disturbed out in the snow? Maybe the film crew didn't want to be decapitated by a giant paw being swung at them from an angry ursine parent … ”