Sir David Attenborough says he has been “completely overwhelmed by birthday greetings” as he thanked well-wishers “most sincerely” ahead of his centenary.
The beloved naturalist said he had hoped to celebrate his 100th birthday on Friday “quietly”.
Instead the milestone will be marked with a live event at the Royal Albert Hall featuring music from his programs, as well as stories and reflections from public figures and leading advocates for the natural world.
In a recorded audio message shared the night before his birthday, he said: “I had rather thought that I would celebrate my 100th birthday quietly but it seems that many of you have had other ideas.
“I’ve been completely overwhelmed by birthday greetings from pre-school groups to care home residents and countless individuals and families of all ages.
“I simply can’t reply to each of you all separately but I would like to thank you all most sincerely for your kind messages.”
The National History Museum paid tribute to Sir David by naming a new species of wasp after him.
The insect native to the Patagonian lakes of Chile will be known as Attenboroughnculus tau.
Others species named after him include a wildflower, butterfly, grasshopper, dinosaur and ghost shrimp.
The wasp specimen, which was collected in 1984 in the Valdivia province of Chile, may be the only record of the entire species’ existence, according to the museum, and was found by chance four decades later after someone peeked into a drawer.
The museum said the naming was in recognition of the “incredible work that Attenborough has done to show us the wonder and beauty of nature, but also to inspire generations of scientists to pursue careers in natural history”.
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