Veteran zoologist and author Desmond Morris dies at 98, leaves behind a legacy of exploration and creativity

The man who lived a life of exploration, curiosity and creativity, Desmond Morris, the veteran zoologist, author, artist and television presenter, breathed his last on 20th April 2026 at the age of 98.
Morris was best known for his passion for zoology and surrealist art. The man rose to fame for his book, The Naked Ape, which was published in 1967, it framed modern humans as still being fundamentally ape-like despite our evolution and modernity. Read on…


A lifetime of achievements
Paying tribute to his father, Morris’s son Jason praised his many professional expeditions as well as his role as a father and grandfather. As per a report published in the BBC, it expressed that "his was a lifetime of exploration, curiosity and creativity.” Jason further added, “A zoologist, manwatcher, author and artist, he was still writing and painting right up until his death. He was a great man and an even better father and grandfather.” Here’s more about the exploration that changed his life!


How this one discovery changed his life
Looking back at the achievements of the renowned author and TV presenter Desmond Morris rose to prominence in 1967 when the Naked Ape became an international bestseller. Meanwhile, he was also a prolific producer of surrealist art, often painting until 4am. Morris believed that his work may have been indirectly influenced by his knowledge of nature and his interest in the reproductive behavior of animals.


Early life
Born in Wiltshire in 1928, Desmond Morris began his journey with two years of national service in the British army in 1946 before pursuing his interest in the arts and studying natural history. Moving on with his passion Morris studied zoology at the University of Birmingham and completed a doctorate in animal behaviour at Oxford University, where he remained to study the reproductive behavior of birds. Later, he became the face of the ITV Granada nature series Zoo Time in 1956. The show became a hit and was popular among the people until 1967. The show featured animal experts and zoo staff and explored the behavior of animals. Morris also hosted art exhibitions, including one at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London in 1957 which combined his interest in animals and painting, showcasing works created by chimpanzees.