Sir David Attenborough has spoken frankly about approaching “the end of his life” as he prepares to celebrate his 99th birthday.
The legendary broadcaster and wildlife expert shared his concerns for the planet when he is no longer around as part of his new film Ocean: With David Attenborough, the release of which coincides with birthday on May 8.
“When I first saw the sea as a young boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity.
“Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true. After living for nearly a hundred years on this planet, I now understand that the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.”
He added: “Today, it is in such poor health I would find it hard not to lose hope were it not for the most remarkable discovery of all.”
Sir David, who has been working for over seven decades, did however express his hope that there’s a chance that the sea can “bounce back to life”, adding: “If we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime of filming our planet, I'm sure nothing is more important.”
He went on to reflect on his time on this earth, during which their have been a number of extraordinary ocean discoveries over the decades and how important it is to preserve the health of the oceans.
He said: “My lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Over the last hundred years, scientists and explorers have revealed remarkable new species, epic migrations and dazzling, complex ecosystems beyond anything I could have imagined as a young man.
“In this film, we share some of those wonderful discoveries, uncover why our ocean is in such poor health, and, perhaps most importantly, show how it can be restored to health. This could be the moment of change.
“Nearly every country on Earth has just agreed, on paper, to achieve this bare minimum and protect a third of the ocean.
“Together, we now face the challenge of making it happen.”
