One of the world’s most beloved naturalists, Sir David Attenborough, has turned 100 years old. People around the globe, including here in New Zealand, are celebrating his incredible life and legacy.
Born on 8 May 1926 in London, Sir David spent decades bringing the natural world into people’s living rooms. From his early days at the BBC in the 1950s to landmark series like Life on Earth and Planet Earth, he helped create the wildlife documentary as we know it today. The BBC estimates up to 500 million people have watched Life on Earth alone.
His influence has reached Aotearoa too. DOC kākāpō operations manager Deidre Vercoe met Sir David in 2016 to share the work being done to save the critically endangered bird. She remembers him opening the door and greeting them warmly, like meeting an old friend.
Sir David was particularly interested in the conservation technology New Zealand teams are using. In honour of his support, DOC named a kākāpō chick after him that same year. That bird now lives in Fiordland National Park.
On his birthday, a celebration was held at London’s Royal Albert Hall, featuring music from his famous series and tributes from people who worked alongside him.
Sir David has said he may not see how Earth’s story ends, but believes the more people connect with nature, the better our chances of protecting it.
