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Richard LeakeyKenyan politician, paleoanthropologist and conservationist
Date of Birth: 19.12.1944
Country:  Kenya |
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Biography of Richard Leakey
Richard Erskine Frere Leakey was a Kenyan politician, paleoanthropologist, and conservationist. He was born on December 19, 1944, in Nairobi, Kenya, to renowned British archaeologists and anthropologists, Louis Leakey and Mary Leakey. He was the second of three biological brothers, with Colin Leakey being his older half-brother.
Early Life
During his childhood, Richard lived with his brothers and parents in Nairobi, where his father served as the curator of the Coryndon Museum (now the National Museum of Kenya) and his mother led excavations in the Olduvai Gorge. The Leakey brothers were incredibly active children and enjoyed horseback riding and participating in their club's competitions. Their home was always filled with children, horses, and dogs.
At the age of 11, Richard enrolled in the York School after being homeschooled. During his first day at school, he advocated for racial equality, following in his father's footsteps. However, other boys bullied him, calling him a "lover of niggers" and even subjected him to physical abuse. The school administration blamed Richard for the incidents, which led him to distance himself from Christianity and become an atheist. He frequently skipped school to earn money and left school at the age of 16 to pursue a successful career as a photographer and guide.
Path to Paleoanthropology
Although Richard Leakey had a strong interest in paleoanthropology and finding fossil remains of ancient humans, it was not until he met archaeologist Margaret Cropper during an expedition in 1964 that his passion truly ignited. Following their meeting, he decided to follow her back to England. They married in 1965 and returned to Kenya, where Richard bought a house in a suburb of Nairobi. However, they divorced in 1969 after the birth of their daughter. Richard later married his colleague Meave Epps, with whom he had two more daughters.
Richard's career in paleoanthropology was not a coincidence or a sudden decision. From childhood, he possessed the knowledge and skills that others spend years acquiring through university education and practical experience. Despite his initial hesitation due to a strained relationship with his father, Richard couldn't resist the lure of science. One of his most significant discoveries was the nearly complete skeleton of the "Turkana Boy," found during an expedition he led in 1984 on the shores of Lake Turkana. This boy, who lived approximately 1.5 million years ago, belonged to the Homo ergaster species. Today, he is exhibited at the National Museum of Kenya.
Conservation and Political Career
In the early 1990s, Richard Leakey became the first director of the Kenyan Wildlife Service. One of his notable contributions was the establishment of well-armed units to combat poaching, allowing for the use of lethal force. As a result, poaching rates in the country significantly declined.
From 1995 to 2001, Leakey ventured into politics and even served as the Secretary of the Cabinet under the Kenyan government. Since 2002, he has been teaching at Stony Brook University in New York.
Richard Leakey's life and work exemplify his commitment to conservationism, paleoanthropology, and the preservation of nature in its pristine state. His contributions to science and wildlife conservation continue to inspire and influence many in their pursuit of understanding human origins and protecting our planet's biodiversity.
