Desmond Morris Last Words on Aging and Animals

Desmond Morris shared he 'didn't feel fit to be a pet owner' at the age of 98, in what would become his final interview before his death last month.

The zoologist and TV star passed away on April 19 in Ireland, where he had lived with his wife Ramona, until her death in 2018.

Prior to his passing, Desmond reflected on his quiet life with his beloved dogs Benji and Penny, as well as Congo the chimp, his childhood pet Bogey and one of his racehorses in a candid interview.

In the haunting interview, the star admitted that his animals helped him to 'stop focusing on his infirmities' despite struggling to care for his animals due to his age.

Desmond, who hosted the popular show Zoo Time, rose to fame in 1967 when his book The Naked Ape became an international bestseller. 

He said: 'At 98, and barely able to walk, I don't feel I'm fit to be a pet owner any longer, with all the care, feeding and treatment needed. 

'I live next door to my family in Ireland and we have two rescue dogs: a chihuahua called Penny and a Yorkshire terrier called Benji who loves jumping up to watch television with me. Penny watches me eat dinner in case scraps fall.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Desmond shared the benefits of having pets, adding: 'When we're very old the company of a pet can stop you focusing on your infirmities and draw your attention to another living being. 'It's better than pills,' someone once said. 

'I made a TV programme about people who took pet animals into care homes, where the terminally ill were so excited.'

Desmond added that much of caring for his pets was divided between himself and his late wife Ramona.

He added: 'She was always in charge of our dogs and I was in charge of our cats. Although biased in the feline direction, I also love dogs and have written about both.'

Desmond's son Jason was among the first to pay tribute to him after his death last month, saying: 'His was a lifetime of exploration, curiosity and creativity.

'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.'

The Wiltshire-born author joined the British Army in 1946 and fulfilled two years of national service, before later pursuing his interest in the arts and studying natural history.

Morris began his academic career studying zoology at the University of Birmingham, and later completed a doctorate in animal behaviour at Oxford University, where he remained to study the reproductive behaviour of birds.

He became the face of ITV Granada's hit nature series Zoo Time in 1956, which ran from 1956 until 1967 and featured animal experts and zoo staff and explored the behaviour of animals.

Morris also hosted many art exhibitions throughout his career, including one at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London in 1957 which combined his interest in both animals and painting, showcasing a series of works created by chimpanzees.

He also co-organised an exhibition titled The Lost Image in 1958 which compared images created by infants, human adults and apes and was on display at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Morris became the Zoological Society's curator of mammals at London Zoo in 1959, a post he held for eight years.

He started his career with the BBC in 1965, hosting its Life In The Animal World programme, and later went on to headline many documentaries for the corporation.

In 1967, Morris penned his most popular book, The Naked Ape: A Zoologist's Study Of The Human Animal, which led to his global recognition.

Following its success, he wrote many follow-up books including The Human Zoo (1969), Manwatching (1977) and The Naked Man (2008), and has contributed to more than 90 titles in his decades-long career dedicated to the study of animals and zoology.

During his tenure as a broadcaster, he hosted BBC documentaries including Manwatching (1977), TV And Natural History (1986) and The Human Animal (1994), and he had regular appearances on shows such as The Animals Roadshow and Friday Night And Saturday Morning.

In recent years, Morris continued to dedicate his life to his academic endeavours and his work as a surrealist artist, having held many exhibitions showcasing his work.

The BBC also released a programme titled The Secret Surrealist in 2017 showcasing Morris and his artwork as it examined his 'double life' as a painter.