LEGENDARY television presenter Sir David Attenborough says humans are a plague on the Earth and the only way to save the planet is to limit population growth.

Sir David, whose documentary series Africa is currently wowing Australian viewers, told Britain's Radio Times that humans are threatening their own existence and that of other species by using up the world's resources.

He spoke of the need for sex education in developing countries top stem population growth, saying "it's not an inhuman thing'' to suggest.



"We are a plague on the Earth. It's coming home to roost over the next 50 years or so,'' he told the Radio Times.

"It's not just climate change; it's sheer space, places to grow food for this enormous horde. Either we limit our population growth or the natural world will do it for us, and the natural world is doing it for us right now.''

Sir David has previously spoken out before about the "frightening explosion in human numbers'' and the need for investment in sex education in developing countries, London's Telegraph reported.



"We keep putting on programs about famine in Ethiopia; that's what's happening. Too many people there. They can't support themselves - and it's not an inhuman thing to say. It's the case.

"Until humanity manages to sort itself out and get a coordinated view about the planet it's going to get worse and worse.''