Anton Rupert Dies in his sleep

[Woestynryer]

WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) South Africa is saddened to hear of the death last night (Wednesday, 18 January 2006) of its Founder and Patron, Dr Anton Rupert.

Tony Frost, Chief Executive of WWF in South Africa, says: “The world has lost one of its most dedicated conservationists, but one who has made an invaluable contribution that will benefit conservation for years to come.

“Many us have also lost a dear friend and a mentor, but one who will continue to inspire us with memories of his zeal, wisdom and kindness. When I last saw him a few weeks ago he was as fired-up about conservation as he was when I first met him.

“While we mourn the loss of a great South African, an astute entrepreneur and an icon in conservation, our thoughts and prayers are with the Rupert family at this time.”

Mr Frost notes that Dr Rupert was ahead of his time in much of his thinking on conservation and that he has done much to help secure environmental sustainability for the world and for South Africa.

In 1968, at the invitation of WWF Founder President Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, Dr Rupert founded the SA chapter of WWF, initially called the SA Nature Foundation. He served as the organisation's President until 2003.

In 1971, Dr Rupert launched the 1001: A nature Trust, a highly successful trust fund which saw 1000 men and women from over 50 countries around the world each contribute $10 000 to create a $10 million capital fund to cover WWF’s operating and conservation costs. In total 71 South Africans joined the 1001, placing SA fourth on the list of contributing countries.

During the 1990s Dr Rupert brought his philosophies together in one major initiative to create and support trans-border protected areas. This led to the founding of the Peace Parks Foundation (PPF) in 1997, in a remarkable partnership between Dr Rupert, Dr Nelson Mandela and Prince Bernhard.

Dr Rupert also influenced conservation globally through his work in establishing and supporting the WWF Network. Specifically, he helped establish WWF national organisations in Canada, Malaysia and Australia. Through his work with the PPF, he has been dedicated to conservation in the whole southern African region and increasingly through PPF in Europe, South America and South East Asia.

It was due to a lifetime’s contribution to nature conservation that he was awarded the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Award in 2003.