Wildlife Wars

Description

Richard Leakey spent years trying to save Africa’s animals. Now he’s trying to save a nation.

Leakey began his career by becoming a renowned paleoanthropologist and head of Kenya’s National Museums. In 1989, Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi put Leakey in charge of the Kenyan Wildlife Service. Ivory poachers were killing hundreds of elephants annually and the organisation was close to collapse. Leakey sacked corrupt rangers and brought in millions of dollars from international donors to help enforce a ban on the ivory trade. But when Moi accused the service of corruption, Leakey quit, later forming an opposition party. He clashed with Moi but in July 1999, Moi appointed him head of Kenya’s civil service and secretary to the Cabinet. He is now charged with ridding the government of corruption and jumpstarting the economy.

Author Information

Richard Leakey has written several books on the origin of mankind. His previous autobiography “One Life” (1983) was published before his involvement in Kenya’s wildlife and its politics. He lives in Nairobi with his wife Maeve, who continues to work as a paleontologist.