'Watership Down' author Richard Adams dies at 96

NEWBURY, England, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Author Richard Adams, best known for penning the classic tale Watership Down, has died at age 96.

Adams' passing was confirmed by his daughter, the BBC reported Tuesday. A cause of death was not immediately released.

Watership Down, first published in 1972, went on to become one of the best-selling children's books of all time. The story followed a group of rabbits as they searched for a new home following the destruction of their warren.

The story was turned into an animated film in 1978 and into an animated television series that ran from 1999 to 2001 in the United Kingdom and Canada.

In April, Netflix and BBC announced a new upcoming animated miniseries based on the story that will feature the voices of actors John Boyega, James McAvoy and Nicholas Hoult.

Adams, who served in the British Army in World War II, was also known for writing Shardik and The Plague Dogs.

He died Saturday.