The home of conservation in northwest England, Chester Zoo works tirelessly to safeguard endangered species both in the UK and around the world. Recently, the zoo took time to honour English natural historian and broadcaster, Sir David Attenborough.
On May 8, the much-loved conservationist turned 100, and Chester Zoo’s CEO, Jamie Christon, paid tribute to his extraordinary contribution. The CEO recalled his own experience of meeting the famous documentarian and sharing sandwiches and stories during a conservation.
He said that Chester Zoo carries many memories of Sir David Attenborough, who visited to spend time with its plants, animal teams and conservationists. He added that the broadcaster always made time for everyone at the zoo who had been inspired by his work. Sir David also shared a friendship with the founder of Chester Zoo, George Mottershead, after they bonded over their love of wildlife.
For decades, Sir David Attenborough’s distinctive voice and storytelling have introduced the wondrous biodiversity of the planet to classrooms and living rooms around the world. Generations of working conservationists now trace their dedication and passion back to Attenborough’s deep commitment and countless documentaries.
While his earlier programmes focused mostly on the natural world, Sir David’s later work has given vocal support to environmental causes. He advocates for restoring planetary biodiversity, moving to renewable energy, reducing meat consumption, mitigating climate change and setting more areas aside for natural preservation.
To mark the major milestone for Sir David, Chester Zoo joined forces with the production company NPK Media and professional poet Joseph Roberts to make a heartfelt video tribute, which can now be streamed on the zoo’s official website.