Wayne Lotter
Wayne Lotter | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 December 1965 |
| Died | 16 August 2017 (aged 51) |
| Nationality | South African |
| Occupation | Conservationist |
| Years active | 1990-2017 |
Wayne Lotter (5 December 1965- 16 August 2017) was a South African wildlife conservationist. Lotter was known as the founder of the PAMS Foundation, based in Tanzania. Lotter also previously served as Vice President of the International Ranger Federation.[1]
Biography
Having obtained a masters degree in conservation in 1990 Lotter began working in the non-profit and government wildlife protection sectors. He worked initially as a ranger in South Africa. He was a co-founder of the PAMS Foundation which trained thousands of young Africans in conservation.[2] Lotter was involved in funding the National and Transnational Serious Crimes Investigation Unit in Tanzania which had successfully pursued a number of high-profile ivory traffickers.[3]
In a 2015 interview with Newsweek Lotter was described as "enthusiastic and charismatic".[4]
Lotter was asked to take part in the 2016 Netflix documentary The Ivory Game but requested that rangers employed by the foundation be featured instead.[5]
Murder
Lotter, who had regularly received death threats, was shot dead on Wednesday 16 August 2017 while travelling in a taxi in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.[6][7]
His death attracted international attention, with an obituary being published in The Times of London.[8]
Jane Goodall, a British primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace paid tribute to Lotter, whom she described as a "hero of mine" and "courageous".[9] Tributes were also paid by other wildlife protection organisations.[10][11]
References
- ^ "New thinking needed in the war on ivory poachers". ITV News. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
- ^ "Wayne Lotter: Rights body calls for justice". www.ippmedia.com. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/kevin.sieff. "Renowned anti-poaching leader slain by gunmen in Tanzania". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help); External link in|last= - ^ "The Global Fight for Tanzania's Elephants". Newsweek. 2015-10-22. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
- ^ "Ex-KNP game ranger tackling poaching the unconventional way | Lowvelder". Lowvelder. 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
- ^ "SA conservationist killed in Tanzania after almost a decade of death threats". News24. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
- ^ "Anti-poaching activist Wayne Lotter shot dead in Tanzania". ITV News. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
- ^ "Wayne Lotter". Retrieved 2017-08-22.
- ^ "Wayne Lotter: Remembering a Wildlife Hero & Friend". Jane Goodall's Good for All News. 2017-08-18. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
- ^ Hauser, Christine (2017-08-18). "Crusader Who Saved Elephants From Poachers Is Shot Dead in Tanzania". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
- ^ Downes, Azzedine. "Conservation loses one of its best". IFAW - International Fund for Animal Welfare. Retrieved 2017-08-22.