Education
Born in Johannesburg, Player was educated at Saint John's College, Johannesburg, South Africa and served in the 6th South African Armoured Division attached to the American 5th Army in Italy 1944-1946.
Born in Johannesburg, Player was educated at Saint John's College, Johannesburg, South Africa and served in the 6th South African Armoured Division attached to the American 5th Army in Italy 1944-1946.
His conservation career started with the Natal Parks Board in 1952 and whilst Warden of the Umfolozi Game Reserve, he spearheaded two key initiatives:
Operation Rhino - that saved the few remaining southern race of white rhino. Protected status for the Umfolozi and Saint Lucia Wilderness Areas - The first wilderness areas to be zoned in South Africa and on the African continent. This led to the formation of the International Wilderness Leadership Foundation (WILD), the Wilderness Foundation Société Anonyme, Wilderness Foundation United Kingdom, Magqubu Ntombela Foundation not to mention the World Wilderness Congresses, first convened in 1977.
He was the recipient of two honorary doctorates:
Doctor of Philosophy, Honoris Causa from the University of Natal.
Doctor of Laws (Doctor of Laws) (hc) from Rhodes University. Player died on 30 November 2014 of a stroke.
He was the brother of professional golfer Gary Player. His archives and legacy are owned and managed by Marc Player, who has initiated several projects including books (Into the River of Life) a feature length movie, a television series built around Operation Rhino and the PLAYER INDABA which seeks global "PLAYERS" to raise funds to fight the extension of various threatened animal species.
The famous movie director and producer Howard Hawks, wanted a movie about people who catch animals in Africa for zoos, a dangerous profession with exciting scenes the likes of which had never been seen on-screen before.
The name of his blockbuster movie is Hatari!, starring John Wayne. Hawks increased his knowledge on animal catching from the humane work of Doctor.Player. In 1952 South Africa was disastrously embarked to eliminate all large wild animals to protect livestock, and only 300 white rhinos survived.
Player then started his famed rhino catching technique to relocate and save the white rhinos.
Player’s humane project was called Operation Rhino and the renowned film documentary named Operation Rhino was produced. Hawks studied this film documentary repeatedly to help incorporate aspects of it into his film Hatari!.
