 | Conservationist, Waterberg Contributor since 05/10 Nationality: South African |
Location: Southern Africa | South Africa Themes: natural world | conservation, fauna | |
CONTRIBUTOR
CLIVE WALKER : Art and Conservation
The Flight of the Unicorn, The Fight to Save Africa's Rhinos [audio]
meet Clive Walker
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Clive Walker is one of the best known conservationists in southern Africa. He founded the Endangered Wildlife Trust, which today runs over 90 projects, protecting threatened species and eco-systems throughout the sub-continent. The Trust runs wilderness trails and other education programmes and is credited, in particular, with helping to save the black rhino from extinction. |
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| Unlike many leading conservationists Clive did not come from an academic background. He is an artist. Growing up in Africa, riding elephants at the Jo’burg Zoo, camping in the Kruger, even hunting in Mozambique, he imbibed the wild. Hunting gave him an intimate contact with animals, but as he saw the devastation of species, especially the rhino, mainly through poaching, he became a passionate conservationist. | |
Since boyhood his art has featured wildlife. In 1973 he followed the example of David Shephard, the famous English wildlife artist, and began selling his work to raise money for conservation. This led to exhibitions in the USA which helped fund the establishment of the Endangered Wildlife Trust.
Central to Clive’s work has been experiential education.His Wildlife Expeditions, in the Okavango and in South Africa have taken thousands of people, over four decades, into Wilderness areas on multi-day camping expeditions. Whilst he has guided the rich and the famous, National Geographic and TV crews, Clive’s work is mostly focused on kids, particularly those from communities adjoining wildlife reserves. Many thousands of children have learned to enjoy, respect and protect the environment because they have experienced it with Clive and his staff. Clive says this is the only way to counter poaching in the long-term.
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Clive’s list of achievements are a testament to his dedication. With Dale Parker, he founded the massive Lapalala Wilderness area in the Waterberg district, creating one of South Africa’s largest private reserves. Here they bred endangered species, especially rhino, and hosted a succession of school groups on 5 day trails. He led the process that established the Waterberg district as a UNESCO Biosphere. For six years he was on the board of South African National Parks, during a time of dramatic expansion and for 16 years he was a member of the IUCN Rhino Specialist group. |
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With the success of his Rhino Museum at Lepalala he is now creating a ‘living museum’ in the Waterbeg focused on evolution. Clive lives in the Waterberg, and continues to paint.He is the author of numerous books, including editions of his photographs.
Author: Clive Walker
Date: 12 Jun 2011
Location: East Africa, Southern Africa
Themes: natural world | conservation, fauna, parks and trails
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