David Attenborough responds to letter calling for help to protect Lake Wendouree

A Ballarat man who wrote to David Attenborough raising concerns over lighting being installed at Lake Wendouree has received a handwritten response from the iconic naturalist.

• Scroll down to see the letter

Peter Kervarec wrote to Sir Attenborough after Ballarat council voted in favour of installing 225 80-watt lights on 5.5 metre tall posts around the lake.

He says the area is “a beautiful wetland and a flourishing ecosystem” and the lighting could have serious ecological consequences.

“I was mainly concerned about the insects because 225 80-watt lights attract a lot of insects and kill a lot of insects,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“Insects are the foundation of life and once that collapses that’s it.”

Sir Attenborough replied to Mr Kervarec’s letter, saying he “can well understand” his concern and urging him to contact the Australian Wildlife Conservancy about the matter.

It’s not the first time the naturalist has penned a handwritten letter after receiving mail from a concerned Victorian.

Last year he joined the fight to save a 157-year-old Mornington Peninsula pier.

Press PLAY below to hear more about the cause