When asked to imagine a world without rhino, Ian Player replied: "Over my dead body!" Even in death, the conservationist ensured his voice was heard worldwide.
The 87-year-old founder of the largest global wilderness movement and the brother of golfer Gary Player left strict instructions on how his memorial service should be held, even selecting speakers to echo his voice and commitment to protecting the wilderness.
Wilderness Foundation SA chief executive Andrew Muir said at Player's memorial service in Hilton, outside Pietermaritzburg, yesterday that before Player's death in November, he had asked him to speak about an incident in which he had to choose between hiding in the shadows, as instructed, or stepping up to assist the conservationist when he collided with a tray of expensive crystal glasses.
"I think Ian wanted me to tell that story here because it's time for all of us to move out of the shadows."
US conservationist and Wild Foundation president Vance Martin said Player was a man of vision, faith and action, who had dreamt of a connection with the wilderness.
"This dream is now ours."
As a young game warden at Umfolozi Game Reserve, Player initiated a plan to save the last remaining white rhinos from extinction by capturing and shipping them to other reserves, parks, farms and zoos around the world.
By 1965, his plan had saved the white rhino from extinction.
Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said her department would continue Player's work in the battle against rhino-poaching and would win the war in his honour.
President Jacob Zuma said in a message read out by Molewa that Player's departure was "a great loss to our nation, to the environment and global conservation".
Game rangers and conservationists throughout the world bowed their heads at noon in tribute to Player.
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