David Attenborough joined Instagram. Four hours later he had 1 million followers

Naturalist and TV host David Attenborough has claimed the record for shortest time to reach 1 million followers on Instagram, racking up the numbers just hours after joining the social media platform Thursday.

The veteran broadcaster’s first post –— a video warning about climate change — was posted at 2 am Pacific Daylight Time, and just over four hours later, his account hit 1 million followers, Guinness World Records said.

Attenborough explained that he was new to the social media platform but was debuting on Instagram to raise awareness of the climate emergency.

Xi Jinping, China's president, speaks during the United Nations General Assembly seen on a laptop computer in Hastings on the Hudson, New York, U.S., on Tuesday, Sept. 22. 2020. President?Xi Jinping?took a veiled swipe at the U.S. in a strongly worded speech, saying no country should "be allowed to do whatever it likes and be the hegemon, bully or boss of the world." Photographer: Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Related article China will become carbon neutral by 2060, Xi Jinping says

“As we all know, the world is in trouble,” he said in the IGTV video, which has had more than 9 million views.

“Continents are on fire, glaciers are melting, coral reefs are dying, fish are disappearing from our oceans. The list goes on and on.”

“But we know what to do about it,” he said.

SUN VALLEY, CA - DECEMBER 11: The Department of Water and Power (DWP) San Fernando Valley Generating Station is seen December 11, 2008 in Sun Valley, California. Under a new climate plan before state regulators, California would take major steps toward cutting greenhouse gas emissions. If adopted by the California Air Resources Board, it would be the most ambitious global warming prevention plan in the nation, outlining for the first time how businesses and the public would meet the 2006 law that made the state a leader on global climate change. The action would lead to the creation of a carbon-credit market to make it cheaper for the biggest polluters to cut emissions, and change the ways utilities generate power, businesses use electricity, and personal transportation (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Related article The world set a 2020 deadline to save nature but not a single target was met, UN report says

Attenborough told viewers to tune in over the next few weeks to learn more about the problems — and solutions — the world faces when it comes to climate change.

“Over the next few weeks I’ll be recording messages to explain what the problems are and how we can deal with them,” he said.

Attenborough’s Instagram account will be run with the help of his colleagues, Jonnie Hughes and Colin Butfield, the pair wote in a message accompanying the 94-year-old’s first video.

Kim Kardashian West of 'The Justice Project' speaks onstage during the 2020 Winter TCA Tour Day 12 at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 18, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

Related article Kim Kardashian West will freeze her Instagram to protest Facebook

“Social media isn’t David’s usual habitat,” they said.

“David Attenborough has spent a lifetime travelling, exploring the wild places of our planet and documenting the living world in all its variety and wonder. He’s also witnessed the damaged caused. Saving our planet is now a communications challenge. We know what to do, we just need the will,” they added.

Attenborough’s speedy acquisition of Instagram followers beats the previous record holder, Jennifer Aniston, who gained 1 million followers in five hours and 16 minutes after joining the Facebook-owned platform in 2019, Guinness World Records said.