Animal rights charity Peta has named a rescued bull Sir Attenbullock as a tribute to Sir David Attenborough ahead of his 100th birthday on 8 May. The bull, rescued through Peta India’s Delhi mechanisation project, which replaces animal-drawn carts with electric vehicles, will be mentioned in a letter to the broadcaster from Peta founder Ingrid Newkirk.
In the letter, Ms Newkirk writes that Sir Attenbullock is “strong, yet gentle”, qualities she says he shares with Sir David, and that he “quietly inspires others to appreciate the richness of the natural world”. She adds: “He has a presence that draws people into his world… inviting visitors to the sanctuary to pause with him, and in doing so, they notice more – the bird songs, the life moving through the grass and trees.”
Sir David Attenborough was born on 8 May 1926 in London. After studying geology at Cambridge and serving in the Royal Navy, he joined the BBC in 1952, becoming known for the Zoo Quest series. He later served as controller of BBC Two, overseeing the advent of colour television, before returning to wildlife filmmaking.
His iconic whispering voice was heard in 1979’s Life on Earth and its sequel The Living Planet. He was knighted in 1985 and received a Knight Grand Cross in 2022. He has two children with his late wife Jane, and his late brother Richard was a celebrated actor and director.
