Michael Grzimek German biologist Date of Birth: 12.04.1934 Country: Germany

1. Early Life and Family
2. Childhood Interest in Animals
3. Expedition and Tragedy
4. Legacy and Epitaph
5. Marriage and Family

Early Life and Family

Michael Grzimek was born on April 12, 1934, in Berlin, Germany. His father was the renowned animal conservationist Bernhard Grzimek, and his mother was Hildegard Pruefer. He had an older brother named Klaus. In the later years of World War II, Michael and his family lived on a farm in Allgäu, which his father had purchased in the 1930s.

Childhood Interest in Animals

From a young age, Michael assisted his father in his animal research. At the age of 16, he accompanied Bernhard on an expedition to the Ivory Coast. Michael developed a deep passion for wildlife conservation, which would shape his life's work.

Expedition and Tragedy

On January 10, 1959, while piloting a plane, Michael encountered a bird strike. The plane lost control and crashed, fatally injuring Michael. He was buried the same day on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. The Tanzanian government later erected a stone pyramid over his grave. In 1987, Michael's father was buried beside him.

Legacy and Epitaph

Michael Grzimek's epitaph reads: "He gave all he had, even his life, to preserve the wild animals of Africa." His tireless efforts towards wildlife conservation left a lasting legacy.

Marriage and Family

Michael married Erika Schuft in 1973. They had two sons: Stefan Michael (born 1956) and Christian Bernhard (born 1959). In 1978, Michael's father divorced his first wife and married Erika, adopting her two sons.