Kenyan wildlife vet killed by an elephant in Ethiopia

Paula - Baraza
www.wildlifedirect.org
Posted: 02 Sep 2008 01:52 PM CDT

It is with great sadness that I report the death of another great conservationist at work.

Zahoor Kashmiri was darting elephants in Babille in Ethiopia where a little understood population of elephants was being studied. The work was a collaboration with Yirmed from Ethiopian Elephants blog. I spoke to Yirmed who told me that a well know aggressive single tusked bull attacked and killed my good friend who simply didn’t have a chance. For me this is one of the saddest days in the year. Some of you may recognize his name, Kashmiri (Zorro to some). He never charged a fee for his work and helped us save hundreds of animals from lions, cheetah, primates and elephants over the years. He helped us save Owen, the orphaned baby hippo and bring him to Haller Park where the famous relationship between the baby hippo and Mzee, a giant tortoise blossomed - Kashmiri features prominently in the video about Owen and Mzee on the Owen and Mzee website - he fixed Mzees shell and interprets Owens protective behaviour. We jokingly called him The Walrus of Diani, he had a rare charisma and a wonderful voice. It seemed like he was invincible.

A call shattered my morning. It is almost impossible to believe he is gone. Just before he left for Ethiopia he told me about his plans to start a conservation NGO and dedicate all of his time to conservation. He’d just started a website which remains uncompleted. You see, though he was a qualified vet, Kashmiri’s real job was airport security and he was getting bored with it.

Conservation was just one of his passions, he saved animals that others would have put down. He also supported a number of unrelated charities like handicapped children especially cerebral palsy.

I have just left a message on his facebook. I know it’s too late, he won’t get it, but I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. I’ll be at his funeral tomorrow, with hundreds of other people who also loved him and feel the loss of someone so important to the community and to conservation.

Original von Jan
Kenyan wildlife vet killed by an elephant in Ethiopia

Although I never met Dr Kashmiri I had heard for many years of his legendary work - saving every sort of wild creature from snares, injuries and illnesses. He was one of my all time wildlife heroes. What a tragedy for the wildlife conservation community and most of all for the animals that were saved and that were to be saved by him in the future.
He never took a fee for his work and was a tireless advocate for all African wildlife.

It has been suggested that a memorial fund be set up to nurture future passionate wildlife vets. I think that would be a fitting tribute to this courageous and dedicated man.

Kat

Kat:

Dr. Kashmiri was indeed a truly remarkable gentleman as you stated. I met him on one of my stays at Elephant Watch Camp in Samburu when he was working with Iain Douglas-Hamilton.

His loss is wildlife's loss. He will be sorely missed. Rest in peace Zorro.

As a kid I grew up knowing Dr Kashmiri - my father and him worked at times together for a good 25 years and I am very sorry to hear such shocking news and my most sincere condolences to all his family memebers and friends.
May all his work be seen by others - private camp and lodge owners and specially by the various political parties of Africa - that striving to protect wildlife is worth every minute for us all.
He will be missed by many.

I had only few chances to meet him but he was so famous, it was nearly impossible to live in Africa without knowing his name.

May he rest in peace but inspire many others to follow his exemplary working attitude and endless effort to save wildlife.