David Attenborough Makes Emotional Plea to Save Oceans as He Turns 99: ‘I Will Not See How That Story Ends’

David Attenborough is celebrating his milestone 99th birthday! The broadcaster got a special tribute from Prince William on Instagram on Thursday, May 8, to celebrate the big day.

“As he turns 99 today, in his new film, Sir David has once again reminded us of the need to protect natural habitats – this time those beneath the ocean. He has dedicated his life to ensuring we understand the realities of what mankind is doing to the planet,” the Prince of Wales wrote in a post on his and Princess Kate Middleton’s official Instagram account.

“However hard hitting his message is, Sir David always leaves us with a sense of hope and optimism that all is not lost and this film is no different,” the caption continued. “We must act together, with urgency, to restore our oceans. Happy Birthday, David. W.”

The biologist also released a book for his birthday, Ocean: Earth’s Last Wilderness, with a piece shared in The Sunday Times, reflecting on his dedication to showcasing the natural wonders of the world and preserving and restoring animals’ natural habitats.

“Young children playing on a beach today will live through perhaps the most consequential time for the human species in the past 10,000 years,” he noted. “They will grow up to see how this story ends, to see how our choices play out. If we use our great discoveries, apply our unique minds and direct our unparalleled communication and problem-solving skills to restoring our ocean, then those children will bring their own into a world where the biggest challenges our species has ever faced have already been navigated.”

David went on to say that the younger generation will get to “experience the rebirth of coastal communities and the turning point in the stabilization of our climate.”

“I will not see how that story ends but, after a lifetime of exploring our planet, I remain convinced that the more people enjoy and understand the natural world, the greater our hope of saving both it and ourselves becomes,” the Planet Earth narrator explained. “With that in mind, here are some of my favourite ocean experiences, which I hope will inspire you to look beyond the shore and beneath the waves.”

Further on in the piece, David reflected on some of his most memorable encounters with wildlife, including green turtles on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, capuchin monkeys in Costa Rica and more.

“Nothing can prepare you for actually seeing so many different species, all with their own way of overcoming life’s trials, somehow fitting together in an ecosystem so vivid and vibrant,” he reflected on his experience at the Great Barrier Reef. “Even though we know that a tropical rainforest harbors extraordinary animal diversity, you see relatively little of it on a single walk. Yet on that half-hour dive I saw more species of animals than I could have begun to count, let alone identify.”

His latest documentary, Ocean With David Attenborough, was released on his birthday, emphasizing the importance of our oceans and their ecosystems.

“After living for nearly 100 years on this planet, I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land but at sea. Through the course of my life we have been on a voyage of ocean discovery,” David says in the trailer. “Only now are we understanding what it means for the future of our world. What we have found could change everything. For once you’ll truly see the sea, you’ll never look at Earth in the same way again.”