Wildlife presenter and film-maker Hamza Yassin has discussed how children have a natural love of wildlife – and how we need to do more to nurture it.
Hamza spent his early childhood in Sudan, near the Nile River, where "the wildlife was incredible. There were lions, hippos, crocs… you name it." Despite his subsequent career in natural history, he says that when he was a youngster he didn't have more of an interest in wildlife than any other child – because it's something that all children share.
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"Every single kid has that same passion but we, especially in the west, are very good at beating it out of them," he says in a new episode of the Wild Lives podcast.
"Kids, especially under the age of five, are super-interested in the natural world. Parents need to give them that opportunity, they need to say, 'Go out and see it, get some dirt on your nails, and then let's talk about what you've seen.'"
"Children have that childlike wonder of the natural world already," adds Hamza. "They're not scared of spiders, they're not scared of snakes, they're not scared of sharks. You see them wanting to go and pet dogs and pick up cats and worms and frogs, right? But it's us adults who say, 'Don't touch that.'
"Let's spark that interest in the natural world. Because the moment they have that they can go on with their lives but they will always have that wonder of the world about them."
Listen to the full conversation with Hamza in the latest episode of Wild Lives, available wherever you get your podcasts.
Hamza is known for his BBC nature series for both adults and children, including Hamza's Hidden Wild Isles and Ranger Hamza's Eco Quest, and has also written a number of books, including the children's book Hamza's Wild World, which uses a dyslexia-friendly layout.
His current tour, called My Life Behind the Lens, runs until 30 May 2026 and promises "adventure, storytelling and stunning wonders from the natural world". Tickets are on sale now.
Top image: Hamza on set. Credit: Hamza Yassin
