Biography – I.C. Player 1 BIOGRAPHY IAN CEDRIC PLAYER BORN March 15, 1927, in Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa EDUCATED St John’s College, Johannesburg MARITAL STATUS Married to Ann Farrer 1957. Three children Kenneth, Jessica and Amyas. MILITARY/ACTIVE SERVICE Served with 6th South African Armoured Division attached to the American 5th Army in Italy 1944 – 1946 WORK EXPERIENCE • Miner on the Gold Mines of the Witwatersrand. • Shipping Company worked in the stores • Aluminum factory in Pietermaritzburg worked in the stores • Game Ranger at Natal Parks Board retiring as a Chief Conservator • Technical Advisor to Metro Goldwyn Mayer • Consultant PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN PERSONALLY INITIATED 1. In 1950 initiated the Msunduzi canoe marathon, between Pietermaritzburg and Durban as a conservation awareness project. In 2007 two thousand competitors took part in the race. Canoeing is now a well established activity countrywide. 2. Initiator and team leader of the team that saved the White Rhinoceros from extinction. Research papers published successfully, films presented nationally and internationally. 3. Introduced the concept of Wilderness Trails to the game reserves and founded the Wilderness Leadership School, a unique conservation education programme to develop leaders and preserve wilderness. More than 30 000 young people and adults of all races and many nations have graduated from this school and have made a great impact on conservation matters in their communities and countries. Biography – I.C. Player 2 4. Established for the Natal Parks Board, facilities in the remote game reserves of Ndumu, iMfolozi, Mkuzi, Lake St. Lucia and Mtunzini which opened these wild areas to the public for enjoyment and nature appreciation. 5. Established an extensive anti-poaching network in the game reserves which resulted in an impressive reduction in poaching and predation. More than 1 000 poachers were apprehended and continue to be apprehended under this system. 6. Conducted eco-surveys of crocodile and hippopotamus populations and of the avifauna at the Ndumu Game Reserve. Conducted “Operation Crocodile”, at Lake St. Lucia, which saw the first helicopter airlift crocodiles from the high salinity area of the Mkuze River, to the fresher regions of the southern part of the Lake. 7. Established a training programme for rangers, and trained many young game rangers who are now renowned worldwide. 8. Raised funds for a facilitated production of several acclaimed conservation films to further popularize “conservation” and to convey the message to a wide conservation base of people. 9. Set up international conservation links and relationships throughout Africa, Europe and the United States of America. Note organizational membership. 10. Lectured and promoted conservation films and raised money for environmental projects within the Republic of South Africa. 11. Sold breeding colonies of White Rhinoceros to many zoological gardens and safari parks outside of the Republic of South Africa in order to assure their survival as a species. 12. Founder of Wilderness International Leadership Development United States of America. As Vice President responsible for (Programmes) of WILD, raised scholarship money which sent more that 100 American citizens to the Wilderness Leadership School. Such trips now inspire similar programmes such as Sierra ll, a wilderness programme for juvenile offenders in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States of America. 13. Raised the initial funds for and co-founder with Sir Laurens van der Post of the Wilderness Foundation (United Kingdom) (now the Wilderness Trust) in the British Isles. This Foundation currently takes British people on foot into the wilderness areas of Africa and Scotland. Participants from Northern and Southern Ireland now regularly go on trail into Zululand and learn to reconcile their differences. Biography – I.C. Player 3 14. Established the World Wilderness Congresses, which first convened in October 1977 in Johannesburg. Over 2000 of the world’s leading scientists, politicians, financial leaders, poets, artists, etc., shared the platform to focus attention on the need for conservation and protection of wilderness areas and how such goals can be accomplished. Now an established triennial event, the 2nd Congress was held in Australia (1980), the 3rd in Scotland (1983), the 4th in the United States (1987), the 5th in Norway (1992) and the 6th in India (1997), 7th in Port Elizabeth (2001) South Africa and 8th in Anchorage Alaska (2005) 15. Produced and facilitated environmental education films including: “Magqubu”, a documentary film about his mentor. 16. Travelled extensively in the Far East, Europe and the United States, lecturing and raising funds for worthy conservation projects. Significantly, he was asked by President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines to help conserve the endangered Tamaraw, a miniature buffalo, and travelled to that country seven times while implementing a Tamaraw conservation programme. 17. Keynote speaker 1st World Wilderness Congress in South Africa 1977, Australia 1980, Scotland 1983, Colorado 1987, Tromso Norway 1993, India 1998, Port Elizabeth 2001 and Anchorage Alaska 2005. 18. Speaker at various business conventions in South Africa and the United Kingdom. 19. Keynote speaker Royal Geographical Society in London on three occasions. 1996, 2005 and 2006. 20. Speaker at International Wild Talk Africa – Durban 2006. 21. Initiated the Cape of Good Hope Centre for Jungian Studies:- Now South African Society for Jungian Analysts. 22. Columnist Daily News South Africa from 1976 – 1993. 23. Columnist Biosphere South Africa from 2002 - 2003 MEMBERSHIP OF ORGANIZATIONS Honorary Game Rangers Association of Africa Member: International Association of Jungian Analytical Psychologists. The Natal Hunters sand Game Conservation Association Member of: New York Safari Club Explorer Club of the United States of America Wilderness Action Group Trustee of: South African Wildlife Heritage Biography – I.C. Player 4 Game Conservation International United States of America. Open Africa Initiative Wilderness Trust United Kingdom. Wilderness Foundation (Republic of South Africa) Wilderness Foundation (United Kingdom) Wilderness International Leadership Development (WILD) – United States of America Wilderness Leadership School (Republic of South Africa) Magqubu Ntombela Foundation Patron of: The Bateleurs – Flying for the Environment in Africa Duzi uMgeni Conservation Trust Audi Terra Nova Awards Wildlands Conservation Trust Board Member of: Wilderness International Leadership Development United States of America. (WILD) Wilderness Foundation United Kingdom Wilderness Leadership School Wilderness Foundation Republic of South Africa Vice-President: Wilderness International Leadership Development (WILD), United States of America Vice Chairman: Magqubu Ntombela Foundation- Republic of South Africa Chief Judge Chief Judge South African Breweries Journalist of the Year Award Founder: Wilderness Leadership School Duzi Canoe Club Magqubu Ntombela Foundation Wilderness Foundation South Africa Wilderness International Leadership Development (WILD) United States of America. PAPERS Preliminary report on the Square-Lipped Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum simum by Ian Player and J.M. Feeley May 1960 PUBLISHED ARTICLES 1. A note on the Nuchal Hump of the Square Lipped Rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum simum (Burchell) by Ann Alexander and Ian Player – The Lammergeyer 111(2) February 1965 Biography – I.C. Player 5 2. Make them work for your Vote. African Wildlife Vol 29 no 4 Summer 1975 3. Wilderness a Stimulating Prescription. Mzuri – Drumbeat – Official Publication of the Mzuri Safari Foundation. Vol 2 no 16 Summer 1975 4. Columnist Daily News South Africa from 1976 – 1993 5. Voices from the Wilderness Daily News, Durban 1981 6. More from the Wilderness Daily News, Durban 1984 7. Hierdie is die bymekaarkomplek van mense en diere – The Motorist Second Term 1985. 8. Man and the Wilderness Daily News, Durban 1986 5. Using Wilderness to Experience and Enhance Human Potential and Understanding – University of Idaho. Wilderness Research Centre April 12 1988 6. Unforgettable Magqubu Ntombela. Readers Digest Vol 134 January 1989. 7. Gary Growing Up by Brother Ian . Tomorrow Oct/Nov 1990. 8. The Scent of Woodsmoke. Getaway Magazine Oct 2000. 9. Life with the “Great White Ape” – The Ecologist June 2000 10. Columnist Biosphere South Africa from 2002 – 2003 . 11. The Heart of a Game Ranger. Thin Green Line( Newsletter of the International Rangers Federation) – September 2003. 12. St John’s School Magazine. July 2004. PUBLICATIONS Book Titles: 1. Men, Rivers and Canoes Simondium 1964 2. Men Rivers and Canoes second edition Echoing Green Press 2006 3. White Rhino Saga William Collins Son & Co Ltd 1972 4. Big Game Caltex 1972 5. KwaZulu/Natal Wildlife Destinations (Co Author) 1995 ( must still find out) 6. Zululand Wilderness: Shadow and Soul David Philip Publishers 1997 Biography – I.C. Player 6 EDITORS OF PROCEEDINGS WORLD WILDERNESS CONGRESSES 1979 ,1980, 1983 1. Voices of the Wilderness Jonathan Ball 1979 Editor 2. Wilderness (contributor) Findhorn Press and Thorsons Publishers (1980) 3 Wilderness - The Way Ahead -(contributor) Findhorn Press & Lorian (1983) SPORTS ACHIEVEMENTS 1. Three times winner of the Umzinduzi Canoe Race. VIDEO AND FILM CONTRIBUTOR 1. Magqubu – uMkhombe Television Productions 1997 2. White Rhino Saga - uMkhombe Television Productions 3. Dr Player –Profile 4. Mark of Humanity – Tekeweni Durban - distributors