Myles Turner
Encyclopedia
Myles Turner was a warden of the Serengeti National Park
in Tanzania
from 1956 to 1972. His efforts enabled the park to survive its formative years and grow into one of Africa
's finest parks.
Turner was born in England
but spent most of his childhood in Kenya
. He served in Africa during World War II
and joined the Kenya Game Department in 1946 as a Game Control Officer. Three years later, he became a hunting tour leader with an East African company. It was during this time that Turner learned much about the animals that he would later fight so hard to protect. In 1956, he married and accepted a job at the newly formed Serengeti National Park.
In his sixteen years as a warden, Turner worked to prevent poaching
, developed the use of aircraft
in park management, and directed the training of numerous Tanzanian wardens.
He later worked as an advisor to the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya, which borders the Serengeti National Park.
Turner died of a sudden heart attack
in 1984. He is buried in the Masai Mara Reserve, just a few steps away from the Tanzanian border.
His autobiography
, My Serengeti Years, was published posthumously, and is a collection of stories and mental images of life in Africa in earlier times. It is no longer in print.
Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti National Park is a large national park in Serengeti area, Tanzania. It is most famous for its annual migration of over one and a half million white bearded wildebeest and 250,000 zebra...
in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
from 1956 to 1972. His efforts enabled the park to survive its formative years and grow into one of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
's finest parks.
Turner was born in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
but spent most of his childhood in Kenya
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...
. He served in Africa during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and joined the Kenya Game Department in 1946 as a Game Control Officer. Three years later, he became a hunting tour leader with an East African company. It was during this time that Turner learned much about the animals that he would later fight so hard to protect. In 1956, he married and accepted a job at the newly formed Serengeti National Park.
In his sixteen years as a warden, Turner worked to prevent poaching
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
, developed the use of aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
in park management, and directed the training of numerous Tanzanian wardens.
He later worked as an advisor to the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya, which borders the Serengeti National Park.
Turner died of a sudden heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in 1984. He is buried in the Masai Mara Reserve, just a few steps away from the Tanzanian border.
His autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, My Serengeti Years, was published posthumously, and is a collection of stories and mental images of life in Africa in earlier times. It is no longer in print.