THE death of Dr Ian Player at his home in the Karkloof Valley yesterday at noon was confirmed by the Wilderness Foundation.
The 87-year-old Player suffered, what was described as, a severe stroke on Thursday 20 November.
The Foundation says,’Ian Player committed his life to conservation and, in particular, to the preservation of the rhino.
Player and his team of dedicated conservationists, is credited with saving the White Rhino from extinction in KwaZulu-Natal in the 1950s.
During his career, Player served on a number of parks boards including that of SanParks.
He was also founder of the Dusi canoe marathon and wrote a number of books, including one about his passion for canoeing, titled ‘Men, Rivers and Canoes,’ and a biography titled ‘Into the River of Life’.
Player is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
