William Henry Butler AO CBE (25 March 1930 – 11 December 2015) was an Australian naturalist and environmental consultant, best known as the presenter of the popular ABC television series In the Wild from 1976 to 1981.
His advocacy led to the establishment of offshore islands as reserves for plants and animals, protected from invasive species.
[2] Butler co-wrote "Sun Arise" with fellow Western Australian Rolf Harris; the song reached the Top 10 in the UK in 1962.
[3] Butler was a populariser of science and natural history for both child and adult audiences, especially through the ABC television series In the Wild, which led to him being named Australian of the Year in 1979.
Butler was a supporter of development projects such as mining, working with corporations and state governments as an environmental consultant.
[13] On 17 April 2016, the new Western Australian Museum research facility and storage centre in Welshpool was named in his honour.