Ian Player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dr. Ian Player DMS (born 1927, Johannesburg), is an international conservationist.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Player was educated at St. John’s College, Johannesburg, South Africa and served in the 6th South African Armoured Division attached to the American 5th Army in Italy 1944–46.
Together with his colleague and mentor, the late Magqubu Ntombela, he brought people from all walks of life and all parts of the world together to experience the importance of wilderness and the conservation thereof.
His conservation career started with the Natal Parks Board in 1952 and whilst Warden of the Umfolozi Game Reserve, he spearheaded two key initiatives:
- Operation Rhino - that saved the few remaining southern race of white rhino
- Protected status for the Umfolozi and St. Lucia Wilderness Areas - The first wilderness areas to be zoned in South Africa and on the African continent.
Dr Player is the Founder of the Wilderness Leadership School that has taken many young leaders from southern Africa and other countries of the world.
This led to the formation of the International Wilderness Leadership Foundation (WILD)], the Wilderness Foundation SA, Wilderness Foundation UK, Magqubu Ntombela Foundation not to mention the World Wilderness Congresses, first convened in 1977.
Amongst many orders and awards he counts Knight of the Order of the Golden Ark and the Decoration for Meritorious Service (the highest Republic of South African civilian award).
He is the recipient two honorary doctorates:
- Doctor of Philosophy, Honoris Causa from the University of Natal
- Doctor of Laws (LLD) (h.c.) from Rhodes University[1].
Dr Player is also the brother of golfer Gary Player
[edit] Selected Works
- Men, Rivers and Canoes – 1964 - Reissued 2007 - ISBN: 978-0-9802501-2-1
- White Rhino Saga – 1972 - ISBN: 978-0-0021193-8-2
- Big Game – 1972 - ASIN: B0007BO5E4
- Man and the Wilderness – 1986 - ASIN: B0007BQ0FG
- Zululand Wilderness: Shadow and Soul – 1997 - ISBN: 9780864863409 - [1]
[edit] External links
- WILD Foundation
- Wilderness Foundation SA
- Wilderness Foundation UK and articles about him on their blog
[edit] References
- ^ Walters, Paul (2003). CITATION by the Rhodes University Public Orator, Professor Paul Walters (doc). Rhodes University. Retrieved on 2007-06-30.
 |
This South African biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
