This is very sad news, a great man and a big loss for conservation.

Johannesburg - Nature conservationist Ian Player has died at his home in the Karkloof Valley in KwaZulu-Natal, the Wilderness Foundation said on Sunday.

"87-year-old Dr Ian Player, passed away peacefully at midday on 30 November 2014 after a short illness," said the organisation in a statement.

"Ian Player committed his life to conservation and, in particular, to the preservation of the rhino".

On Friday, rumours of Player's death arose after his brother and renowned golfer Gary Player tweeted: "My beloved brother Ian has cast his canoe onto the river of life that will shortly take him across to the other side. I will miss you. Love".



Subsequently Project Rhino KZN spokesperson Sheelagh Antrobus said the tweet was "ministerpreted".

However, by then the Professional Hunters' Association of SA had already issued a statement paying posthumous tribute to Player.

"Dr Ian Player is without a doubt the grandfather of conservation in South Africa," said PHASA head Adri Kitshoff at the time.

Player - who is credited with saving the white rhino from extinction in KwaZulu-Natal in the 1950s - suffered a stroke last Thursday.

During his career, Player served on a number of parks boards including that of SanParks.

He also established a number of conservation organisations and wrote books, including one about his passion for canoeing, titled "Men, Rivers and Canoes," and a biography titled "Into the River of Life".

I interviewed Mr. Player and met his wife at their modest home in Karkloof Valley in 2006 or 2007, when I was researching a book I was ghost-writing for a southern African outfitter.

I was staying with a friend in the town of Hilton, a short drive away, and as we drove away after the interview my friend remarked on the lack of security at the isolated rural home of two senior citizens living alone.

There were no fences or gates, and all of the doors and windows were open on that warm winter day. Player's closest neighbor was way out of shouting distance.

Ian player was more than the father of conservation in South Africa. I would expand that to include the entire southern hemisphere.

The Dallas Safari Club later presented him their highest award, and it was well-deserved.

RIP, Mr.Player. May our paths cross again.

Bill Quimby

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:
I interviewed Mr. Player and met his wife at their modest home in Karkloof Valley in 2006 or 2007, when I was researching a book I was ghost-writing for a southern African outfitter.

I was staying with a friend in the town of Hilton, a short drive away, and as we drove away after the interview my friend remarked on the lack of security at the isolated rural home of two senior citizens living alone.

There were no fences or gates, and all of the doors and windows were open on that warm winter day. Player's closest neighbor was way out of shouting distance.

Ian player was more than the father of conservation in South Africa. I would expand that to include the entire southern hemisphere.

The Dallas Safari Club later presented him their highest award, and it was well-deserved.

RIP, Mr.Player. May our paths cross again.

Bill Quimby

Very sad to hear this.

We met Gary Player here in Dubai, and had him over for dinner one evening.

A very enjoyable man to talk to, and he certainly knows a lot about conversations and animals.

Condolences to all his family and friends.

A great no nonsense conservationist. My condolences to the family.

Now there goes a man who lived his life well, a giant. A life to be remembered and celebrated. Thank you for all that you have done for the conservation of our wildlife and wild areas, for educating and teaching those who wanted to hear, who wanted to learn.

I had the privelage of meeting Dr. Player at the 2013 PHASA AGM.

He has left some really big shoes to fill.

Very sad to hear. He used to come give talks at our school as did his brother Gary. My brother used to bump into him and found him to be a great gentleman since he lives in the same area. If you have not read his book on the white rhino rescue efforts it highly recommended. To have taken a wild population of white rhinos from 15 to now about 18,000 is extraordinary by any measure, just like American bison.

I just found his New York Times obit. A life well lived!

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12...?ref=obituaries&_r=0