Michael Werikhe

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Michael Werikhe

Michael Werikhe (born May 25, 1956 in Mombasa ; died August 9, 1999 ), also known as "The Rhinoceros Man", was a Kenyan conservationist. He became known for his long charity runs through the African Great Lakes region. He began his efforts when he learned how the black rhinoceros population in Africa was being drastically decimated. His charity runs met with great media coverage. The runs raised many donations for the protection of rhinos and other threatened African mammals .

activism

  • Werikhe started his first fundraising run on December 27, 1982. It ran from his hometown of Mombasa to Nairobi for 27 days . In March 1985 he ran his first international run, from Kampala to Dar es Salaam and finally to Mombasa, where he arrived on May 25th.
  • Three years later, Weikhe ran through several European countries, including Italy , Switzerland and West Germany . His 3,000-kilometer run ended on September 14, 1988 on the stairs of the Natural History Museum in London.
  • Werikhe also ran in the United States in 1991, where his run ended at the San Diego Zoo.
  • He also did his "rhinoceros runs" in Taiwan, which is known for its consumption of rhinoceros horns.

Although Werikhe often ran alone, he was also accompanied by supporters. Werikhe's campaign was supported by Nehemiah Rotich, director of the East African Wildlife Society (EAWLS), as well as Richard Leakey , Juanita Carberry , Prince Philip and Prince Bernhard .

Private life

Werikhe was born in Mombasa. His father was Emanuel Werikhe. He grew up in Nairobi with his half-siblings Mary, Susan and David. His lifelong interest in nature conservation was sparked by the influence of his father's second wife, Sheila Margaret Werikhe (née Lewis).

At the age of 11 Werikhe already had a large collection of rescued snakes, reptiles and chameleons that lived in stables in the family's apartment. He graduated from St. Georges High School in Giriama, a Catholic school. When he was 19, Werikhe worked in the Fort Jesus port in Mombasa. His job there was to catalog the large amounts of illegally poached ivory and rhinoceros horns. This experience was the reason why Werikhe started his charity runs.

Werikhe believed that nature conservation could only work if the local residents were actively involved. During his charity runs at the Great African Lakes, he survived solely through the hospitality and support of the Kenyan people. Werikhe believed that local residents could be of great help in the fight against poachers.

Werikhe died on August 9, 1999, after suffering serious injuries from an attack near his home. At the time of his death he was the widowed father of two daughters (Acacia and Kora). He was buried in Emmanual Cemetery, Kisauni, Mombasa. The Michael Werikhe Foundation was established in memory of him. The EAWLS presents the Michael Werikhe Award every year.

Awards

Werikhe won several awards, including the Global 500 Award from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

  • Guinness Stout Effort Award (1983)
  • David Sheldrick Memorial Award (1984)
  • Boots Action Award (1985)
  • EAWLS Conservation Award (1986)
  • UNEP Global 500 Award (1989)
  • Goldman Environmental Prize (1990)
  • Eddie Bauer Heroes of Earth (1991)
  • San Diego Zoological Society Conservation Medal (1991)
  • African of the Millennium award by BBC (1999) posthumously

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Michael Werikhe - In memory of Kenya's Rhino Man on savetherhino.org.
  2. ↑ Michael Werikhe - Rhino man. (PDF) on rhinoresourcecenter.com.
  3. ↑ 'Rhino' man Werikhe is dead. (PDF) on rhinoresourcecenter.com
  4. ↑ Head of Fencing, KWS Wins the Michael Werikhe Award 2005 ( Memento from October 11, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
  5. ^ Nationaudio.com ( Memento of December 17, 2000 in the Internet Archive )
  6. ↑ global500.org
  7. ^ Michael Werikhe - 1990 Goldman Prize Recipient Africa
  8. ↑ Michael Werikhe wins the first Goldman Environmental Prize (PDF) on rhinoresourcecenter.com.
personal data
SURNAME Werikhe, Michael
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Werikhe, Michael Sampson; Werikhe, Michael Mayeku
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Kenyan activist who campaigned for the establishment of reservations
DATE OF BIRTH May 25, 1956
PLACE OF BIRTH Mombasa
DATE OF DEATH August 9, 1999
Place of death Nairobi