Michael Werikhe
Encyclopedia
Michael Werikhe also known as “the Rhino Man” was a Kenya
n conservationist. He became famous through his long fundraising walks in East Africa
and overseas. He started his campaign after learning how drastically Black Rhinos
had decreased in Africa. Wherever he walked, his arrival was greeted with much public fanfare and media attention. This helped to raise funds for conservation of Rhinos and other endangered African mammal
s.
to Nairobi
, lasted 27 days. In March 1985, he started his first international walk, from Kampala
to Dar es Salaam
and eventually Mombasa where he arrived on May 25.
Three years in 1988 he started he walked in Europe and walked through several countries, including Italy
, Switzerland
, West Germany
. His 3000 kilometres walk finished at the stairs of the Natural History Museum
in London
on September 14, 1988.
Werikhe visited United States
in 1991 where he held a walk culminating at the San Diego Zoo
.
He held two "Rhino walks" in 1993 in Taiwan
, a notorious consumer nation of Rhino horns.
Basically, Werikhe walked alone, but had often co-walkers and guides with him.
His campaign was supported by Nehemiah Rotich (then chief of the East African Wildlife Society
(EAWLS)), Richard Leakey
, Juanita Carberry, Prince Philip and Prince Bernhard among others.
), Michael's lifelong interest in conservation issues began.
By the age of 11 Michael had an extensive collection of rescued snakes, reptiles and chameleons living in pens at the family's two-bedroom flat in The Westlands residential area of Nairobi
. Aged 19 Werikhe worked at Fort Jesus
, Mombasa. Here he was given the task of cataloging the large store of illegally poached elephant
ivory
and Rhinoceros
horn. It was the experience of witnessing tonnes of poached ivory and rhino horns that led Werikhe to begin his fund raising.
Werikhe believed the East African conservation solutions would only work with the active participation of local East Africans. Kenyans had always lived alongside the wildlife; the concept of killing animals for sport or poaching for profit are driven by influences beyond Kenya's borders. During the fund raising walk across East Africa, Werikhe never carried money but relied on the goodwill of the ordinary Kenyans living in the bush to feed and shelter him. The rural population were Werikhe's initial target group. Rural people know what was happening within their local area and provide the first line of defence against poachers.
Werikhe died on 9 August 1999 after sustaining injuries in an assault near his home when leaving for work. He was a widower at the time of his death and left two daughters (Acacia and Kora). He was buried at Emmanuel Cemetery, Kisauni, Mombasa http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/200899/News/News17.html. The Michael Werikhe Trust was founded in his memory. In addition, the EAWLS donates an annual Michael Werikhe Award.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n conservationist. He became famous through his long fundraising walks in East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
and overseas. He started his campaign after learning how drastically Black Rhinos
Black Rhinoceros
The Black Rhinoceros or Hook-lipped Rhinoceros , is a species of rhinoceros, native to the eastern and central areas of Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Angola...
had decreased in Africa. Wherever he walked, his arrival was greeted with much public fanfare and media attention. This helped to raise funds for conservation of Rhinos and other endangered African mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s.
Activism
His first walk began on December 27, 1982. His walk from his hometown MombasaMombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
to Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, lasted 27 days. In March 1985, he started his first international walk, from Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
to Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
and eventually Mombasa where he arrived on May 25.
Three years in 1988 he started he walked in Europe and walked through several countries, including Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. His 3000 kilometres walk finished at the stairs of the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on September 14, 1988.
Werikhe visited United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1991 where he held a walk culminating at the San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, is one of the most progressive zoos in the world, with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species...
.
He held two "Rhino walks" in 1993 in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, a notorious consumer nation of Rhino horns.
Basically, Werikhe walked alone, but had often co-walkers and guides with him.
His campaign was supported by Nehemiah Rotich (then chief of the East African Wildlife Society
East African Wildlife Society
' is a membership-based non governmental conservation organization. It was founded in 1961 following the amalgamation of the Wildlife Societies of Kenya and Tanzania ....
(EAWLS)), Richard Leakey
Richard Leakey
Richard Erskine Frere Leakey is a politician, paleoanthropologist and conservationist. He is second of the three sons of the archaeologists Louis Leakey and Mary Leakey, and is the younger brother of Colin Leakey...
, Juanita Carberry, Prince Philip and Prince Bernhard among others.
Private life
Michael Sampson Werikhe was born 25 May 1956 in Mombasa. Son of Emanuel Werikhe. Michael spent his early life in Nairobi with his half-siblings Mary, Susan and David. Under the kind nurturing and guiding influence of Emanual Werikhe's British-born second wife, Sheila Margaret Werikhe (née LewisLewis (surname)
Lewis is a surname in the English language. It has several independent origins.One of origins of the surname, in England and Wales, is from the Norman personal name Lowis, Lodovicus. This name is composed of the Germanic elements hlod and wig, meaning "fame" and "war"...
), Michael's lifelong interest in conservation issues began.
By the age of 11 Michael had an extensive collection of rescued snakes, reptiles and chameleons living in pens at the family's two-bedroom flat in The Westlands residential area of Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
. Aged 19 Werikhe worked at Fort Jesus
Fort Jesus
Fort Jesus is a Portuguese fort built in 1593 by order of King Philip I of Portugal , then ruler of the joint Portuguese and Spanish Kingdoms, located on Mombasa Island to guard the Old Port of Mombasa, Kenya. It was built in the shape of a man , and was given the name of Jesus...
, Mombasa. Here he was given the task of cataloging the large store of illegally poached elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
ivory
Ivory
Ivory is a term for dentine, which constitutes the bulk of the teeth and tusks of animals, when used as a material for art or manufacturing. Ivory has been important since ancient times for making a range of items, from ivory carvings to false teeth, fans, dominoes, joint tubes, piano keys and...
and Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros , also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia....
horn. It was the experience of witnessing tonnes of poached ivory and rhino horns that led Werikhe to begin his fund raising.
Werikhe believed the East African conservation solutions would only work with the active participation of local East Africans. Kenyans had always lived alongside the wildlife; the concept of killing animals for sport or poaching for profit are driven by influences beyond Kenya's borders. During the fund raising walk across East Africa, Werikhe never carried money but relied on the goodwill of the ordinary Kenyans living in the bush to feed and shelter him. The rural population were Werikhe's initial target group. Rural people know what was happening within their local area and provide the first line of defence against poachers.
Werikhe died on 9 August 1999 after sustaining injuries in an assault near his home when leaving for work. He was a widower at the time of his death and left two daughters (Acacia and Kora). He was buried at Emmanuel Cemetery, Kisauni, Mombasa http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/200899/News/News17.html. The Michael Werikhe Trust was founded in his memory. In addition, the EAWLS donates an annual Michael Werikhe Award.
Awards
Michael Werikhe won several awards, including global 500 award by UNEP.- Guinness Stout Effort Award (1983)
- David Sheldrick Memorial Award (1984)
- Boots Action Award (1985)
- EAWLS Conservation Award (1986)
- UNEP Global 500 AwardGlobal 500 Roll of HonourThe United Nations Environment Programme established the Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1987 to recognize the environmental achievements of individuals and organizations around the world.The last Global 500 Roll of Honour awards were made in 2003...
(1989) - Goldman Environmental PrizeGoldman Environmental PrizeThe Goldman Environmental Prize is a prize awarded annually to grassroots environmental activists, one from each of the world's six geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island Nations, North America, and South and Central America. The prize includes a no-strings-attached award of...
(1990) - Eddie Bauer Heroes of Earth (1991)
- San Diego Zoological Society Conservation Medal (1991)
- African of the Millennium" award by BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
(1999) -posthumous