Sir David Attenborough, the renowned wildlife expert and broadcaster, is celebrating his 100th birthday on May 8. For decades, he has captivated audiences with his nature documentaries like Planet Earth, The Blue Planet, and Frozen Planet, and most recently, his 2025 feature documentary, Ocean with David Attenborough.
While Attenborough is widely recognized for his iconic narration and passion for wildlife, there are lesser-known aspects of his life. Here are 10 intriguing facts about him, one for each decade of his remarkable career:
1. Despite his deep affinity for animals, Attenborough harbors a strong dislike for one creature – rats. He traces this aversion back to an unsettling encounter with a rat in the Solomon Islands.
2. Over 40 species have been named in honor of Attenborough, including a butterfly (Euptchia attenboroughi), a miniature orchid (Lepanthes attenboroughii), and a newly discovered wasp species (Attenboroughnculus tau).
3. In the 1960s, Attenborough’s innovative suggestion led to the adoption of bright yellow tennis balls at Wimbledon, enhancing visibility for viewers during matches.
4. Attenborough holds the distinction of being knighted twice – first in 1985 by Queen Elizabeth and later in 2022 by Prince Charles, becoming a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George.
5. He is the sole recipient of BAFTA awards across four different formats and holds the record for being the oldest person to win a Daytime Emmy at the age of 99.
6. At the age of 89, Attenborough set a record by descending 1,000 feet in a submersible to film the Great Barrier Reef, becoming the oldest person to reach such depths.
7. At a young age, Attenborough sold newts to a zoology department, demonstrating his early fascination with nature.
8. Despite receiving numerous letters from fans daily, Attenborough is known to respond to mail with self-addressed, stamped envelopes but remains inactive on social media.
9. Following the broadcast of Blue Planet II in 2017, Attenborough’s advocacy against single-use plastics spurred global awareness about ocean pollution and its impact on marine life.
10. If Attenborough could embody an animal for a day, he humorously professes a preference for being a sloth due to their leisurely lifestyle.
Sir David Attenborough’s enduring contributions to wildlife conservation and environmental awareness have left an indelible mark on society, inspiring generations to appreciate and protect the natural world.