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22/10/2015

It is with great sadness that news was received of the passing of James (Jim) Michael Feely (17 January 1934 - 18 October 2015). Jim started his career in nature conservation in 1955, when he was employed by the then Natal Parks Board, to work in Zululand, and he was one of the team working with Ian Player on white rhino conservation and the development of the wilderness concept. He later became an archaeological and anthropological researcher of high standing. He also made significant contributions in the field of environmental history. Prior to his official retirement some years ago he was employed as an ecologist in the Scientific Services division of the Eastern Cape Provincial Conservation Department.  Jim became an NMMU Research Associate, affiliated with the Centre for African Conservation Ecology, in 2011, and continued in that role until his passing, publishing a number of papers (with one still in press) while into his 80s. He was irrepressible in his search for new information and he was interested in a wide range of research topics. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a passionate and dedicated conservationist and researcher, and his passing is a great loss for our country.