White told Smithsonian Magazine that she owes her love of animals to her parents.
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“They imbued in me the fact that, to me, there isn’t an animal on the planet that I don’t find fascinating and want to learn more about,” she told the publication in 2012.
In 2017, White was awarded the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal for her “commitment to wildlife and efforts to create a sustainable planet,” which was seen in her work with accredited zoos and animal rescue organizations.
Betty White poses with a snake at the Los Angeles Zoo on June 7, 2012. Brian To / Getty Images
“What a privilege to be honored simply for my passion — for what I love most in the world — animals,” White said in a statement in reaction to the honour.
— With files from The Associated Press
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