Wildlife Wars

July 16, 2001
In conservation and wildlife preservation, paleontology and East African politics, few have mattered more than Leakey (The Sixth Extinction), who emerged as an expert on early humans, building on his famous parents' discoveries—as he explained in the 1983 memoir, One Life. This second memoir describes his high-stakes second career. In 1989, Leakey became the head of Kenya's Wildlife Department, which put him in charge of saving elephants from the poaching that risked their extinction. Leakey and Morell explain, with speed and cogency, the murderous business of poaching and the difficulties of the Wildlife Department—in 1989 perhaps "the most corrupt organization" in Kenya; "everyone thought the poachers were invincible"—in fighting it. Leakey arranged a bonfire of seized ivory, a public relations triumph. He also issued semi-automatic weapons to park rangers. Gangs retaliated, in part, by killing George Adamson, of Born Free
fame; public reaction helped Leakey and allies achieve an international ban on the ivory trade. Leakey later found his work and his life in peril, and a 1993 plane crash cost him his legs. Leakey and Morell (who has also penned a book about the Leakeys, Ancestral Passions) tell a brisk and vividly personal story. Though longer on laws and press conferences than on elephants, the memoir will fascinate anyone interested in conservation or East African politics. The detailed narrative stops in 1994, when Leakey first left his Wildlife job; subsequent events—including Leakey's ascent to Parliament as an opposition candidate—occupy just a few pages. Readers will await those stories eagerly, while holding out hopes for Kenya and its pachyderms.

April 15, 2001
More than a memoir, this heartfelt work is a focused account of the famed paleoanthropologist's struggle to protect African wildlife.

Copyright 2001 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 3, 2001
In this sequel to his 1983 memoir One Life, paleontologist Leakey writes about his appointment in 1989 to a mismanaged Wildlife Department in his home of Kenya. He immediately realized the unprecedented challenge that he faced in not only revitalizing the agency but also combating the precipitous decline in Kenyan wildlife, most particularly, the African elephant. One of his first decisions was to burn rather than sell tons of confiscated ivory. This sent a strong message that his department would be unwavering in opposing the ivory trade. He backed this up by reorganizing the department into the Kenyan Wildlife Service and arming his rangers to do battle with poachers. This, combined with international lobbying against the ivory trade, did much to bring the elephant back from the brink of decimation, but the cost included continual conflict with other government officials and the loss of his legs in a suspicious 1993 plane accident. He joined an opposition political party after a smear campaign but has now rejoined the government in a new role. Wildlife readers will find few animal stories here; this is a political story. At times, even Leakey himself admits that he is not a consummate political player, but as an effective champion of wildlife he appears to have few equals. Highly recommended. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 4/15/01.] Beth Crim, Prince William P.L., VA

Copyright 2001 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2001
Leakey, the scion of an internationally famous family of anthropologists, made headlines around the world for his discoveries of human ancestors in East Africa. His life of fossil-hunting expeditions changed radically in 1989, when Kenyan president Moi appointed Leakey to head the demoralized and corrupt Kenyan Wildlife Department. This period was the height of the slaughter of Africa's elephants for their precious ivory, and Leakey had spoken out about the need for change. In an engaging and blunt writing style, Leakey tells of political infighting and arm-twisting he had to go through in straightening out the Wildlife Department. One of the first, and most dramatic, things he did was to burn the 13 tons of ivory that had been seized from poachers. As he began to heal the malaise in the Wildlife Department, Leakey also lobbied to end the world trade in ivory as Kenya successfully proposed moving elephants to a totally protected area. Leakey tells his story well in this wonderful inside look at the politics of wildlife protection in a developing country.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)