He received a wasp.
By Amanda Yeo on May 8, 2026
Sir David Attenborough celebrated his 100th birthday on Friday, receiving well-wishes from around the world. He was also honored with a wasp.
A revered natural historian, conservationist, and broadcaster, Attenborough has educated millions about the wonders of the natural world over a career spanning more than 70 years. After joining the BBC in the early 1950s, he has presented numerous acclaimed documentary programs, including Planet Earth, Blue Planet, and Extinction: The Facts. His distinctive voice is synonymous with the majestic beauty of nature.
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Attenborough has also worked behind the scenes, writing and producing many documentaries showcasing the amazing world around us. As a conservationist, he advocates for renewable energy, combats climate change, and works to preserve the planet’s biodiversity.
His work has inspired countless people, highlighting the beauty and fragility of our environment and the urgent need to protect it.
“Don’t waste anything,” Attenborough said in a 2020 interview. “Don’t waste electricity, don’t waste food, don’t waste power. Just treat the natural world as though it’s precious, which it is.”
Attenborough’s 100th birthday is a cause for celebration. Various events have been organized in the UK and abroad, including a live BBC special, David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth, and a 242-foot sand portrait of him by arts collective Sand In Your Eye. The Australian Museum is also offering free entry to their exhibit Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires to mark the occasion.
Google also marked the occasion by creating an Easter egg, generating images of animals and plants over Search results of Attenborough’s name.
When an older, widely beloved personality like Attenborough hits the headlines without context, it often causes concern. Fortunately, this alarm was unwarranted.
Although Attenborough hasn’t been active on social media since a brief stint in 2020, he released an audio message via the BBC thanking people for their birthday messages.
“I thought I would celebrate my 100th birthday quietly, but many of you had other ideas,” Attenborough said on Thursday. “I’ve been overwhelmed by birthday greetings from pre-school groups to care home residents and countless individuals and families of all ages. I can’t reply to each of you separately, but I want to thank you sincerely for your kind messages.”
Sir David Attenborough received at least one unusual birthday gift this week. London’s Natural History Museum named a new species after him. Over 50 species have been named after Attenborough, including a long-beaked echidna, a ghost shrimp, and a plesiosaur. Now one more is added to the list: Attenboroughnculus tau, a species of parasitic wasp from Chile. The museum named it to honor Attenborough’s work and inspire others to pursue natural history.
“I wanted to be a taxonomist because of Attenborough from Life on Earth,” principal curator of insects Dr. Gavin Broad told Australia’s ABC News. “Attenborough opened my eyes to the bigger world. It’s his fault I am where I am now.”
Though it may seem unusual, naming a parasitic wasp after Attenborough fits, given his respect for all living creatures, despite reportedly hating rats. While no rats are named after him, a carnivorous pitcher plant is. Attenborough could likely find beauty in a parasitic wasp.