Richard Leakey

Richard Erskine Frere Leakey (born 19 December 1944 in Nairobi, Kenya), is a paleontologist, archaeologist and conservationist. He is the second of the three sons of the archaeologists Louis Leakey and Mary Leakey. A high school drop-out, Leakey discovered his love of paleontology when he led an expedition to a fossil site he had discovered while flying. Frustrated by the lack of recognition he received for his accomplishments due to his lack of scientific credentials, Leakey left for England to catch up on his high school education. However, after six months, Leakey returned home to continue his safaris. He never completed his degree.

Conservation

In 1989 Richard Leakey was appointed the head of the Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) by President Daniel Arap Moi in response to the international outcry over the poaching of elephants and the impact it was having on the wildlife of Kenya. With characteristically bold steps Leakey created special, well-armed anti-poaching units that were authorized to shoot poachers on sight. The poaching menance was dramatically reduced. Impressed by Leakey's transformation of the KWS, the World Bank approved grants worth $140 million.

Related Topics:
1989 - Kenyan Wildlife Service - Daniel Arap Moi - Elephant - Kenya - World Bank

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Richard Leakey, President Arap Moi and the KWS made the international news headlines when a stock pile of 12 tons of ivory was burned in 1989.

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Richard Leakey's confrontational approach to the issue of human-wildlife conflict in national parks did not win him friends. His view was that parks were self-contained ecosystems that had to be fenced in and the humans kept out. Leakey's bold and incorruptible nature also offended many local politicians.

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In 1993 Richard Leakey lost both his legs when his propeller-driven plane crashed. Sabotage was suspected, but never proved. In a few months Richard Leakey was walking again on artificial limbs. Around this time the Kenyan government announced that a secret probe had found evidence of corruption and mismanagement in the KWS. An annoyed Leakey resigned publically in a press conference in January 1994. He was replaced by David Western as the head of the KWS.

Related Topics:
1993 - Artificial limb - January - 1994 - David Western

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Richard Leakey wrote about his experiences at the KWS in his book ' (2001).

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