{"id":42658,"date":"2025-08-04T06:40:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T06:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/42658\/"},"modified":"2025-08-04T06:40:02","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T06:40:02","slug":"david-attenborough-fans-left-facing-nightmares-after-witnessing-baby-spiders-devour-their-mum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/42658\/","title":{"rendered":"David Attenborough fans left facing \u2018nightmares\u2019 after witnessing baby spiders devour their mum"},"content":{"rendered":"

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For most people, just the thought of a cluster of spiders crawling on top of each other within a large, entangling web is enough to send a shiver down your spine.<\/p>\n

But for David Attenborough<\/a> and his latest series Parenthood<\/a>, which explores the trials and tribulations of parenting within the animal kingdom, clearly, that\u2019s not enough. <\/p>\n

The 99-year-old natural historian<\/a> seems to be intent on showcasing one of the most nightmarish sequences possible as a 1,000-strong pack of young African social spiders can be seen eating their mothers.<\/p>\n

Captured by TV cameras in a never-before-seen moment, the premier episode of the series saw the spiders prey in a game of \u2018grandmother\u2019s footsteps\u2019 where they freeze in unison like musical statues before eating their elderly relatives.<\/p>\n

Attenborough explained \u2018demands of parenthood are finally taking their toll\u2019 on the mothers who offered their body as a \u2018gift\u2019 to their offspring before they departed.<\/p>\n

The atmospheric music, toe-curling sound effects and Attenborough\u2019s iconic voice combined to create the painstaking moment.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Sir
\n\t\tDavid Attenborough\u2019s latest documentary Parenthood has left viewers in shock (Picture: Victoria Jones\/ PA Wire)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"The
\n\t\tA horrifying sequence showed baby spiders swarming to eat their mother (Picture: BBC\/ Parenthood)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"The
\n\t\tThe sequence was described as one of the natural historian\u2019s \u2018best ever\u2019 (Picture: BBC\/ Parenthood)<\/p>\n

\u2018Unsurprisingly, the moment left many viewers in complete shock. Oh my GOD they eat their Mum then all their relatives. It just confirms what I have always know spiders are EVIL,\u2019 Viki posted on X. <\/p>\n

\u2018These spiderlings are nightmare fuel,\u2019 Melanie shared.<\/p>\n

\u2018A lioness, a giraffe,a hippo & a gang of cannibal spiders, it\u2019s been a bit of a blood bath in tonight\u2019s #Parenthood I can hardly watch,\u2019 Neil added.<\/p>\n

Series producer and director Jeff Wilson described it as \u2018probably one of the best\u2019 sequences he had worked on in 30 years of film-making.<\/p>\n

\u2018[I\u2019ve] never heard Sir David deliver a sequence as good as that\u2026 it sort of brings a lump to your throat\u2026 he\u2019s the master at delivery,\u2019 he told the Guardian<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018It makes one feel quite sort of chilled to the bone that you know that your own young could do that. It\u2019s an extraordinary behaviour [but] when you step away from it and from the horror of it, it sort of makes sense.\u2019<\/p>\n

He added that Attenborough was both \u2018delighted and horrified\u2019 by the groundbreaking footage.<\/p>\n

Joking, he also said that \u2018there will not be a parent of the land who won\u2019t turn up to school pickup without snacks ever again\u2019.<\/p>\n

This comes after Metro exclusively shared a spectacularly tender moment<\/a> from Parenthood between a female western lowland gorilla and her newborn baby.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\"The
\n\t\tToe-curling sound effects and dramatic music increased the intensity (Picture: BBC\/ Parenthood)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"The
\n\t\tThe spiders played a game of \u2018grandmother\u2019s footsteps\u2019 (Picture: BBC\/ Parenthood)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"The
\n\t\tThe 1,000-strong pack of young African social spiders ate other relatives (Picture: BBC\/ Parenthood)<\/p>\n

The snoozing baby gorilla is in a state of peaceful relaxation while lying on his mother\u2019s chest, his eyes closed as the forest hums gently around them.<\/p>\n

The five-part series Parenthood promises to \u00a0show viewers never-before-seen animal behaviours while delivering a \u2018universal message about preserving the natural world.\u2019<\/p>\n

Speaking to\u00a0The Mirror<\/a>, BBC head of specialist factual commissioning, Jack Bootle, described Parenthood as \u2018wonderful, warm, engaging, and surprising\u2019.<\/p>\n

He said that it is \u2018made by some of the very best wildlife filmmakers in the world,\u2019 adding: \u2018I\u2019m thrilled Sir David is joining us again to narrate it.\u2019<\/p>\n

Parenthood is streaming on BBC iPlayer.<\/p>\n

A version of this article was originally published on July 31, 2025.<\/p>\n

Got a story?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n


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