Snelvuur
DR IAN PLAYER (1927 – 2014)
Dr Ian Player was one of the world’s most outstanding conservationists and environmental statesmen. Born in South Africa in 1927, he worked in the transitional era during which Africa’s protected areas were being created and tested. He passed away on 30 November 2014.
Ian Player was a friend, mentor and an inspiration to many people around the world. In 1974, together with a group of American colleagues, Ian established The WILD Foundation, and also created or inspired its sister organisations in The Wilderness Network. He worked with great persistence, especially on the escalating crisis of rhino poaching. Dr Player is largely credited for bringing the southern white rhino back from the brink of extinction in the fifties through his work as senior ranger for the then Natal Parks Board (today KZN Wildlife). Dr Player received the 2012 Anton Rupert Award for Lifetime Achievement in Conservation.
A survey of the white rhino population in the Umfolozi Game Reserve, the last stronghold of the white rhino, established that there were fewer than 400 left. The reserve was established in the 1890s to protect the two dozen or so white rhinos thought to be alive. “I could think of nothing but the white rhino,” he wrote in his 1972 book, The White Rhino Saga.
In an aerial survey in 1953, Dr Player found that their numbers had grown to 437. Dr Player had the foresight to realise the dangers of keeping the last remaining rhino in one area. With his team, he pioneered the saving of the white rhino from extinction through Operation Rhino. He quickly moved to first relocate some of these rhinos to the rest of South Africa’s state parks and then to promote their inclusion on the hunting list to encour- age landowners to keep them on their property, signalling the start of the country’s multi-billion rand wildlife industry.
After leaving government wildlife service, Ian founded the Wilderness Leadership School, the first organisation in Africa dedicated to providing a pure wilderness experience for people of all nationalities. This education and experiential programme spawned a global network of conservationists from all sectors of life who are committed to saving wilderness and wildlife.
Today, there are, thanks to Dr Player as many as 20 000 rhino in South Africa, representing 80% of the world’s total population, most of which are privately owned.
Ian’s approach to conservation highlights the importance of the spiritual as well as the scientific side of environmental impact. He truly made a difference in this world with his heroic efforts for which he was bestowed countless awards and accolades, all of which he richly deserved.
The world has lost a great South African, a dedicated conservationist, a gentleman. Although he will be missed sorely, we now hope to celebrate Ian’s life.
BLOUWILDEBEES OORLEEF RUGBESERING
Ons het ’n blouwildebees met ’n breinskoot gedood, aangesien slegs sy kop en nek vir die jagters sigbaar was. (Die meegaande foto is van die binnekant van die blouwildebeesbul se karkas geneem.) Groot was die verbasing toe ons by die karkas kom en sien dat die dier se liggaam klein en uitgeteer is, terwyl die kop en nek so te sê normaal ontwikkel is.
Ons het besluit om die wildebees af te slag en oop te sny om vas te stel waaraan sy toestand te wyte is. Die vel was heeltemal normaal en het geen littekens getoon nie. Dit was eers nadat ons die binnegoed uitgehaal het dat ons die aaklige wond aan die rugstring opgemerk het.
Dit is ’n wonderwerk dat die wildebees die besering oorleef het. Die dier het heel waarskynlik op een of ander stadium ’n baie ernstige besering aan sy rugstring opgedoen wat uiteindelik sy dood sou beteken. Tog het die wond wonderbaarlik (ten volle) herstel soos op die foto gesien kan word. Dit blyk dat die rugstring heeltemal afgebreek het, maar dat die rugmurg onbeskadig gebly het. Die rugstring het weer aan die ribbekas vasgegroei!
Daar is talle vrae wat sekerlik nie maklik beantwoord kan word nie…
Hoe is dit moontlik dat die rugstring kan breek maar die sagte rugmurg behoue bly? Hoe kon die dier met ’n gebreekte rug oorleef, wei en water gaan drink? Wanneer in sy leeftyd is hy so beseer, en hoe lank kon so ’n herstelproses geduur het?
NS: Die deel wat beseer is, is uitgesaag en bewaar. Indien enige persoon, byvoorbeeld ’n veearts of student belang sou stel om die wond verder te ontleed kan ek of my broer by die onderstaande selfoonnommers gekontak word. Albert du Preez: 081 717 4000; Giel Du Preez: 079 870 2943