As the head of the Kenya Wildlife Service, Richard Leakey played a leading role in persuading international donors to commit $150m to improving wildlife conservation in Kenya
RICHARD LEAKEY, who died on January 2nd aged 77, was the heir on both sides to a dynasty of palaeontologists who helped prove that Africa was where humankind emerged—a notion that was controversial to many until the 1970s. But it was as a rousing advocate, first in the service of wildlife conservation and then of multiparty democracy in Kenya, that he forged his own way.
Having worked in his 20s and 30s almost exclusively on the distant past, Mr Leakey leaped onto the contemporary stage in 1989 when he was appointed to run Kenya’s national wildlife service and save the country’s dwindling elephant population. One of his first moves was to persuade President Daniel arap Moi to set fire to 12 tonnes of ivory that had been seized from poachers.
Outside the ruling party’s tent, however, he proved a forceful political adversary. Kenya in the early 1990s had slowly begun to allow opposition politics to find voice after almost a decade as a one-party state. Channelling Benjamin Franklin, the American ambassador at the time warned Moi’s opponents to hang together if they were not to “all hang separately”. In those early days Mr Leakey seemed to many to be their natural leader.
Danmark Seneste Nyt, Danmark Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også læse nyheder, der ligner denne, som vi har indsamlet fra andre nyhedskilder.
One-party rule is now the credo of Trump and his followers | Lloyd GreenAn illiberal democracy, similar to Viktor Orbán’s Hungary, is increasingly the model for Republicans
Læs mere »
Capitol attack: Biden to stress Trump’s ‘singular responsibility’ on anniversaryPresident will lead sombre commemorations in Washington of deadly assault on US democracy
Læs mere »
German police dogs sent off duty after ban on ‘pulling collars’Method used to control dogs while making arrests illegal under new animal rights law
Læs mere »
'Doing it for the environment!' Lewis Hamilton savaged for flying vegan dog in private jetLEWIS HAMILTON came under fire on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday as Susanna Reid and Richard Bacon discussed the Formula One star's dog's vegan diet.
Læs mere »
Trump calls Twitter a 'disgrace to Democracy' after Rep. Greene's banTrump's call for his supporters to drop the platforms comes months after he announced the creation of his own social media venture, TRUTH Social, scheduled to launch in early 2022.
Læs mere »