Kuki Gallmann - Biography

Biography

As a teenager she went with her father to Africa, visiting the Sahara Desert. In 1970 she visited again and fell in love with the land. She moved to Kenya with her second husband, Paolo, and her son, Emanuele, in 1972.

Between 1972 and 1980 they acquired Ol Ari Nyiro, a 100,000 acre (400 km²) cattle ranch on the edge of the Great Rift Valley in Northern Kenya, where they created the first ever anti-poaching squad to protect the largest population of Black Rhino in Africa and large populations of elephants, buffalo, and leopards. Kuki became deeply involved with conservation.

In 1980 her husband was killed in an automobile accident while bringing a crib home for their unborn baby. Three years later her 17-year-old son, Emanuele, died of a snake bite while trying to extract viper venom for antiserum.

Kuki founded the Gallmann Memorial Foundation in honor of Paolo and Emanuele and dedicated her life to saving the environment and wildlife of Kenya.

Kuki divides her time between Ol Ari Nyiro, Nairobi, international speaking engagements, and writing.

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