Richard Leakey (77) deceased: paleontologist and protector of elephants – Science

This was announced by the services of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Leakey, the second of three sons of Louis and Mary Leakey, both paleontologists and archaeologists, made a name for himself providing clues that helped prove the evolution of humanity in Africa.

He had no formal training in archeology, but led expeditions in the 1970s that made groundbreaking discoveries of the first hominid fossils, involving skulls of handyman.

This put him on the cover of Time magazine. The BBC made him explain the evolution of man in 7 episodes.

Turkana boy

He and his team made the most famous discovery later, in 1984, while researching Lake Turkana in Kenya. They found an almost complete skeleton of the man standing, also known as “Turkana Boy”. It was one of the most complete skeletons of a human ancestor / predecessor.

The youngster was 1.63 meters tall and 1.6 million years old.

In 1989, then President Daniel Arap Moi asked Leakey to lead the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). He launched a vigorous campaign against the poaching of elephant ivory and campaigned for the protection, among other things, of rhinos.

Plane crash

His harsh and controversial approach grabbed headlines around the world, including after Special Armed Forces were allowed to use lethal force against poachers caught in the act. But the approach worked in the sense that it drastically reduced poaching. Leakey also caused a sensation by burning 12 tons of ivory seized in 1989. It became the first in a series of such burns.

The anti-poaching campaign has won him many enemies.

In 1993, his small plane Cessna crashed in Kenya’s Rift Valley. He lost both lower legs. The alleged malicious intent has never been proven.

In his later years, Leakey suffered from skin cancer. He also suffered from kidney and liver disease. According to The world he continued to grow wine on his farm in the Rift Valley.

It was made public by the services of President Uhuru Kenyatta.Leakey, the second of three sons of Louis and Mary Leakey, both paleontologists and archaeologists, made a name for himself by providing clues that proved evolutionary of humanity in Africa. He had no formal training in archeology, but led expeditions in the 1970s that made groundbreaking discoveries of the first hominid fossils, including Homo habilis skulls. This earned him the cover of Time magazine. The BBC asked him to explain human evolution in episodes 7. The most famous discovery he and his team made later, in 1984, during an investigation of Lake Turkana in Kenya. They found an almost complete skeleton of Homo erectus, also known as “Turkana Boy”. It was one of the most complete skeletons of a human ancestor / predecessor. The youngster was 1.63 meters tall and 1.6 million years old. In 1989, then President Daniel Arap Moi asked Leakey to lead the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). He launched a vigorous campaign against the poaching of elephant ivory and campaigned for the protection of rhinos, among others. . But the approach worked in the sense that it drastically reduced poaching. Leakey also caused a sensation by burning 12 tons of ivory seized in 1989. It was the first in a series of such burns. The anti-poaching campaign has won him many enemies. In 1993, his small plane Cessna crashed in Kenya’s Rift Valley. He lost both lower legs. The alleged malicious intent has never been proven. In his later years, Leakey suffered from skin cancer. He also suffered from kidney and liver disease. According to Le Monde, he continued to grow wine on his farm in the Rift Valley.