What Happens in The Year Earth Changed?
The complete story of The Year Earth Changed, from the first scene to the last, in 301 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 7 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Narrated by David Attenborough, this documentary explores the unexpected environmental benefits that emerged during the global lockdowns. The first segment highlights the reduction of pollution; in San Francisco, white-crowned sparrows altered their songs due to decreased noise, while in Jalandhar, India, air clarity improved so significantly that the Himalayas became visible for the first time in years.
The film further examines how the halt in tourism benefited wildlife. On Florida’s beaches, loggerhead turtles experienced a record breeding season, and in Alaska, humpback whales—studied by experts like Christine Gabriele, Janet Neilson, and Suzie Teerlink—could communicate more effectively without the interference of cruise ships. Similar improvements in acoustic communication were noted among common dolphins in New Zealand and orcas in Canada.
As human activity ceased, animals began reclaiming urban spaces. The documentary captures sightings of a hippopotamus in South Africa, golden jackals in Tel Aviv, a puma in Santiago, and capybaras in Buenos Aires. In Japan, sika deer returned to their natural grazing sites, while in Mpumalanga, a male leopard began hunting during the day near a safari lodge.
Other notable benefits included:
- Marine Life: In Cape Town, African penguins could return to shore during the day, leading to higher chick survival rates.
- Land Mammals: In Kenya’s Maasai Mara, cheetah mothers and cubs communicated more easily without safari vehicles, a process observed by Salim Mandela. Meanwhile, mountain gorillas in Uganda and spiny seahorses in Dorset also thrived.
- Conservation: For the first time in over two decades, no rhinoceros were poached in Kenya.
The film concludes with a call for better coexistence with nature. This is illustrated in a village in Assam, involving locals like Bhashkar Bara and Dulu Bora, where residents created a wild rice plantation specifically for Asian elephants to reduce human-elephant conflict—a project that has proven to be a great success.
The Year Earth Changed Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
16 key events in the order they happen, from “Sparrows Rewrite Their Songs” to “A Plea to Coexist With Nature”. 14 events name a place, across 14 locations.
- 1
Sparrows Rewrite Their Songs
The sudden fall in pollution brought by the lockdown was felt even in birdsong. In the shadow of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, white-crowned sparrows changed their songs in response to the drastically reduced noise pollution. With human activity halted, their natural behaviour was able to re-emerge in the newly quiet city.
Where:San Francisco, California, USA
- 2
The Himalayas Become Visible Again
Air pollution dropped dramatically across the world as traffic and industry slowed. In Jalandhar, India, the clearing skies revealed the Himalayas, visible for the first time in a lifetime. The moment became one of the most striking symbols of the environment's rapid response to the lockdown.
Where:Jalandhar, India
- 3
Loggerhead Turtles Get a Record Season
Florida's famous beaches, normally crowded with tourists, were left completely deserted when tourism came to a standstill. With the shoreline undisturbed, loggerhead turtles thrived in the peace and quiet. The animals went on to enjoy a record breeding season on the empty sands.
Where:Florida, USA
- 4
Humpback Whales Hear One Another Again
The abrupt halt of tourism emptied Alaska's coastal waters of cruise ships. Without the constant drone of engines, humpback whales were able to hear each other's calls much more easily. As a remarkable result, mother whales could leave their calves alone while going out to hunt.
Where:Alaska, USA
- 5
Common Dolphins Benefit From Quieter Seas
The drop in global shipping traffic made the world's oceans noticeably quieter. In New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf, common dolphins found it far easier to communicate with much less vessel noise masking their calls. The calmer waters offered the cetaceans a rare moment of clear, undisturbed communication.
Where:Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand
- 6
Orcas Reap the Rewards of Empty Waters
In Canada's Salish Sea, orcas also gained from the sharp reduction in global shipping. With far fewer vessels crossing their home waters, the orcas were able to communicate much more effectively. The change highlighted how heavily human shipping had long interfered with these highly social animals.
Where:Salish Sea, Canada
- 7
Wildlife Ventures Into Empty Cities
With human activity suddenly halted in many areas, animals began appearing in cities around the world. A hippopotamus was seen in St Lucia, South Africa, golden jackals roamed Tel Aviv, a puma ventured into Santiago, and capybaras appeared in Buenos Aires. The empty streets showed how readily wildlife reclaims space when people step back.
Where:Various cities worldwide
- 8
Nara's Deer Rediscover Wild Grazing
In Nara, Japan, the local sika deer had long depended on handouts from visiting tourists. When the visitors stopped coming, the deer did not go hungry: they rediscovered their old grazing sites and returned to feeding themselves the way their ancestors once had. It was a striking demonstration of how quickly animals can re-adapt when human support disappears.
Where:Nara, Japan
- 9
A Leopard Hunts in Broad Daylight
Animals of many kinds visited the grounds of a safari lodge in Mpumalanga, including vervet monkeys, impala, nyala and even a male leopard. With the lodge empty of people, the leopard — normally a nocturnal hunter — began hunting during the day. The usually busy grounds became a haven for wildlife to roam freely.
Where:Mpumalanga, South Africa
- 10
African Penguins Thrive on Empty Beaches
African penguins normally return to shore only at night after finding food, avoiding humans on the beach. With Cape Town's beaches entirely to themselves, they could come ashore at any time during the day, feed their chicks, and then head out to sea again. As a result, their chicks were fed much more often and many more chicks were successfully raised.
Where:Cape Town, South Africa
Show the other 6 events of The Year Earth Changed Hide the last 6 events
- 11
Cheetahs Call Their Cubs in Peace
In Kenya's Maasai Mara, the usual stream of safari vehicles vanished during the lockdown. Without the constant noise and disturbance, cheetah mothers were able to communicate much more effectively with their cubs across the plains. The quieter savannah gave the vulnerable big cats valuable space to raise their young.
Where:Maasai Mara, Kenya
- 12
Gorillas and Seahorses Feel the Difference
The lockdown's benefits extended to remarkable species across the world. Mountain gorillas in Uganda and spiny seahorses off the coast of Dorset were among the many creatures that gained from the sudden reduction in human activity. Their improving circumstances highlighted how much everyday human presence affects even the most secluded habitats.
Where:Uganda and Dorset, England
- 13
A Milestone for Kenya's Rhinos
During the lockdown, not a single rhinoceros was poached for its horn in Kenya. This was the first time in more than 20 years that the country had gone without a rhino poaching incident. The milestone offered real hope for the future of these heavily targeted animals.
Where:Kenya
- 14
Emissions Fall and the Earth Falls Silent
As transport and industry slowed around the globe, global carbon emissions were significantly reduced. The decreased human activity on the earth's surface also led to one of the quietest periods underground ever recorded. The lockdown effectively became a natural experiment, revealing what the planet is like when humanity pauses.
- 15
Assam Villagers Plant Wild Rice for Elephants
In a village in Assam, Indian elephants had long raided farms and villages, creating conflict with local people. Because people were working from home during the lockdown, they were able to create a plantation of wild rice grown specifically for the elephants. The project proved a great success, reducing raids and easing human-elephant conflict.
Where:Assam, India
- 16
A Plea to Coexist With Nature
The documentary closes with a plea to use these observations to find ways of better coexisting with the natural world. Seeing how quickly animals and ecosystems responded when people stepped back offers a powerful blueprint for the future. The film leaves viewers with the idea that sharing the planet more thoughtfully is both possible and urgent.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Year Earth Changed? Test yourself on the story.
