I apologize if this has already been posted, but the last SCI mailing noted that HIH Prince Abdorreza Pahlavi passed away in May 11, 2004 from cancer.

http://www.safariclub.org/articles/index.cfm?action=view&articleID=530&typeID=3&archive=0

I haven't seen much reference to him, though argueably could be recognized as one of the top few worldwide hunters. He was also a dedicated wildlife conservationist, setting up game sanctuaries and parks throughout Iran and many other parts of the world.

Among those he considered his friends were Elgin Gates, James (Jay) Mellon, Herb Klein, CJ McElroy, and Jack O'Connor. It was Jack that convinced him to start using a scope on his rifles. Evidently O'Connor had given the Princess an Al Biesen 7x57 with a scope on it.

I realize the Prince, and some of the other people named, received the opportunity to hunt in areas and species that many of us would never be able to do. Yet, even in the last few years, the Prince continued to hunt in the high mountain ranges around the world and was a fine marksman.

I admit to not knowing much about the man, but recently picked up the one book dedicated to the Prince's hunting and conservation accomplishments, 'Royal Quest' by Bill Quimby and Safari Press.

One note, he was in the U.S., I believe, when the Ayatollah overthrew the Shah, and lost his personal trophy collection at his home.

He died in Florida.

The Prince donated the animals that started New Mexico's Persian Ibex herd which now inhabit the Florida Mountains east of Deming.He and Dr.Frank Hibbin hunted together at about the time Frank and Tom Bolak were trying to introduce exotic game here and when he heard their plans donated the initial herd.

Bravo five one

That's a Persian ibex with the prince in that picture; they are native to Iran an undoubtedly have the best looking coat of them all. They are sometimes said not to be a true ibex in that they are the only ibex to have that sharp vertical edge to the front curve of the horns instead of the blunt fronted segments of all others.

I may be going to hunt one of those in November
But I doubt it'll be that big, that is the world record!

Jack O'Connor, decated his Sheep Hunting Book to Him. One of the Good Guy's. I didn't know he was living in Florida. I'm sure that he is now on an internal sheep hunt with Jack and the rest.

leo--I believe that the Sind Ibex also has that horn structure. And of course the Persian Ibex is more properly known nowdays as the Bezoar Ibex. I wonder why it's not referred to as the Persian Ibex much anymore?

Maybe because the country that used to be known as Persia is know the Islamic Republic of Iran and the IRI Ibex doesn't quite roll off the tongue as well...
By the way, isn't bezoar a semi-precious stone found in the stomach of the ibex?

You got me on that one about the stone! Never heard that before, but perhaps that's why they are called Bezoar Ibex. The biggest and best are probably in Iran (a place I would dearly love to go hunt for them, but our gov't says no), but there are good stocks in Turkey, which is where most of the hunting of them occurs today.

After reading 'Royal Quest', James Mellon's 'African Hunter', and Rashid Jamsheed's 'Memoirs of a Sheep Hunter', I have the impression the Prince was a true conservationist and dedicated hunter. I know this is the African forum, and while the Prince did hunt extensively through Africa, his true passion appeared to be mountain game.

I can't comment on the Prince's politics, or his family's politics, but he did seem to truly care about wildlife across the globe and the pursuit of hunting. I believe the hunting community, worldwide, was struck a heavy blow on his passing.

Indeed, he was a major conservationist. I believe that his title and money made him seem distant to many average joe hunters, but he put his money where his mouth was, so to speak. There are several animals in existance today that would very likely be extinct were it not for him. He was a fantastic hunter with the highest of standards, and never really received the recognition he deserved for his conservation efforts (and money he put up).

That Bezoar (Persian) Ibex of his is like an idle to me--more impressive to me than McElroy's Altai Argali, which many consider the greatest sheep ever.