David Attenborough Turns 100

Last Friday, David Attenborough turned 100 years old. The man whose TV shows taught the world to love animals, plants, and the environment thought it might be a quiet day. But his fans, and those who wished him well, had other ideas.

Mr. Attenborough was born on May 8, 1926. He grew up in the English countryside, exploring, and collecting things like birds’ nests and fossils. He loved collecting fossils so much that he became an expert on them.

In 1952, Mr. Attenborough began working at the BBC, the British Broadcasting Corporation. At that time, TV was still new, and most TV programs were recorded inside small studios. Mr. Attenborough wanted to use TV to show real animals in different parts of the world.

In 1954, Mr. Attenborough talked the BBC into letting him go to Africa to film a show called “Zoo Quest”. He worked on the show for the next ten years. Above, Mr. Attenborough and his daughter cover their ears as a sulphur-crested cockatoo from the Zoo Quest show lets out a loud call.

In 1954, he talked the BBC into letting him go to Africa to film a show called “Zoo Quest”. Mr. Attenborough worked on the show for the next ten years.

For a while, Mr. Attenborough was in charge of BBC Two, helping develop the TV channel and bringing many improvements in technology.

But Mr. Attenborough wanted to make shows about animals in their natural environment. In 1979, he made a 13-part series called “Life on Earth”. Mr. Attenborough’s careful research and the program’s new ways of filming set a pattern for almost all future shows about nature.

And that was just the beginning. Since then, Mr. Attenborough has created many, many more programs for TV, including “The Private Life of Plants”, “The Blue Planet”, and “Planet Earth”.

His programs have taught people about plants, animals, and how living things interact with each other. His shows have let people travel from their living rooms to amazing natural areas all over the world, including rainforests, grasslands, deserts, oceans, and icecaps.

In spite of the careful science and amazing camera methods in his films, many people say the most important thing about his shows is Mr. Attenborough’s voice. He often speaks softly, but his voice shows his excitement about the scenes he is sharing with the viewer. He’s an excellent teacher and explains things in a way that people find easy to understand.

Over the years, Mr. Attenborough has become more and more worried about climate change and the ways humans are harming the planet. His recent shows have focused on these subjects. Above, Mr. Attenborough speaks at the United Nations’ Climate Change conference (COP26) in 2020.

Over the years, Mr. Attenborough has become more and more worried about climate change  and the ways humans are harming the planet. His more recent shows have focused on these subjects, with the hope of inspiring people to work to solve these problems.

Mr. Attenborough is now famous around the world. His award-winning shows have been watched by millions of people and have changed the way people think about the natural world.

Scientists, politicians, and people working to protect the environment have celebrated Mr. Attenborough’s work. Over 50 different species have been named in his honor.

Mr. Attenborough has kept working despite his age. Scientists, politicians, and people working to protect the environment have celebrated Mr. Attenborough’s work. Above, Mr. Attenborough and England’s King Charles III at the opening of “Ocean With David Attenborough” in London last May.

Last Friday, Mr. Attenborough released a recording thanking his fans, and saying he had been “completely overwhelmed” by their “kind messages”.

Now that Mr. Attenborough is 100, many people may wonder if he will finally retire. Alistair Fothergill, who has worked with the film maker on several projects, says Mr. Attenborough has no plans to stop.