FOR more than 50 years he has brought the wonders of the natural world into the nation’s living rooms. Now, for the first time, Sir David Attenborough is asking viewers to dig deep into their pockets to help protect endangered species for a new BBC series.

The veteran naturalist and broadcaster is waiving his customary impartial approach to wildlife documentaries and has recruited a team of celebrities to try to rescue nine animals facing extinction.

Attenborough will launch the Saving Planet Earth season on BBC1 later this month and it will culminate in a telethon from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.

The show, which will attempt to raise a seven-figure sum for wildlife charities, has already been dubbed “Animals In Need”.

“Our species has changed the landscape of our planet to such a degree that we now have the power to let a species go extinct or to save it,” Attenborough said.

“Global warming now casts a shadow over all our habitats across the whole planet . . . All the animals we shall see over the course of the series are disappearing because of one species – humans. Saving planet Earth’s wildlife has never been more urgent. If you are a child, this is your future. If you’re a parent, it’s your legacy. The time to act is now.” Despite making countless natural history films – which have included some remarkable footage, such as his close encounter with a family of mountain gorillas – Attenborough made his first unequivocal televised statement linking humans to climate change only last year.

His decision to present a personal journey through the science of climate change silenced environmentalists who criticised him for not using his international profile to highlight the impact of global warming.

Although Attenborough has privately been involved with several charities, he is now going a step further by urging viewers to donate to a wildlife fund set up by the BBC to accompany the Saving Planet Earth series.

The season, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the BBC’s award-winning natural history unit, starts with an hour-long documentary by Attenborough.

“Increasing human pressure threatens many of the places and animals I have seen,” Attenborough will tell viewers. “Some experts believe we are in the middle of a mass extinction and our species is to blame.”

The opening show will be followed by nine programmes on consecutive nights, each featuring a guest presenter including Graham Norton, Carol Thatcher, and Will Young, the singer.

Saving planet Earth

Celebrity champions travelled the world to film endangered species

Orang-utan

Borneo (Nick Knowles) Disappearing at a rate of 5,000 a year

Tiger India (Fiona Bruce) Three of eight subspecies already extinct

Siamese crocodile Cambodia (Edith Bowman) Only 200-250 remain in the country

Turtle Sri Lanka (Saira Khan) About 150,000 a year killed by fishermen

Ethiopian wolf Ethiopia (Graham Norton) Rarer than the giant panda. Only 500 adults remain

Albatross Falklands (Carol Thatcher) Of 21 species, 19 face extinction

Lowland gorilla West Africa (Will Young) Estimated population of 50,000-100,000

Elephant Namibia (Jack Osbourne) Numbers have fallen to 750 in the African state

Rhino India (Phil Tufnell) Only 18,000 of five different species remain

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