The outpourings of grief and sorrow, memories and wishes for the family left behind after Zahoor Kashmiri’s passing on our previous post are overwhelming. Just before he left for Ethiopia, Kashmiri dropped offs some photographs for us to create his wildlife veterinary blog and promised to complete the process on his return. Nobody could have guessed that one of the elephants he was darting would eventually kill him.
Though we are all still grieving, his death must not shatter that dream, we (WildlifeDirect) have decided to create a special blog in his name to carry on his legacy, to raise funds that will enable wildlife vets anywhere to respond to emergencies and continue his amazing work. We want to thank those who have already made committments towards this.
Our target will be to create a fund of at least $10,000 that wildlife veterinarians can apply for in the events of wildlife emergencies and rescues, as well as for education bursary for one vet per year.
Though most people ignore common species like buffalo, to Kashmiri every injured animal deserve attention. This was in the Masai Mara a few years ago.
He was a mentor for many new vets, a collaborator with authorities and conservationists, a donor and a volunteer – never asking for any compensation. I don’t think Kenya has grasped the significance of this loss.
Kashmiri worked closely with Ann Kent Taylor who runs the Ann Kent Taylor Fund that supports a team of rangers who work with the Mara Triangle anti poaching and desnaring exercises. She often called on him to help injured wildlife in the Mara. Going along with him was always a great adventure.
Kashmiri also helped famous people like Jonathan Scott from BBC’s Big Cat Diary on lion and cheetah rescues. He never bragged about it.
I will be in personal debt to Kashmiri for everything he did to save Owen and Mzee
This photo is in the book Owen and Mzee. Without Kashmiri, Owen would have jumped out of the truck and injured if not killed himself. In typical style, Kashmiri just grabbed the baby hippo and ordered others around to come back and to tie him down.
He was a crack shot at darting – I never saw him miss a mark.
All of us at WildlifeDirect wish to express our sincere condolences to the entire family and all of Zahoor Kashmiri’s great network of friends. His body may be gone but his spirit will always be with us.
Many of you have other photos of this great man that I’m sure you’d like to share. We will be announcing the new blog shortly and the location where you can post your favourite Kashmiri, Zorro, Zul, Moppi, Babu, Zahoor, Mamu … photos and videos for all to enjoy. Be safe. Paula
Donations made here are
Jan 28th Sheryl B USD 23.00
30 Comments
What a wonderful tribute to an extraordinary man! Thanks for sharing…it seems some people die doing what they love..I bet he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way really……..
This would be the most befitting tribute to Doctor. He was truly a great man.
Thanks for a lovely tribute, Paula. I’m looking forward to the new blog.
s.
Dr. Kashmiri’s memory will live on through this fund that is being set up and who knows maybe another Zorro will immerge through this tragedy.
Paula — I truly envy all who had the opportunity to know and work with this amazing human being. Clearly what you are doing here, ensures that his life and his work will live on in all of us.
I can’t imagine you are gone. For me you will stay in my heart and mind for ever.
I will never forget the adventures we share together in the bush, all the things you teach me and all the wonderful pictures we shoot together.
I am very proud to have known you.
All my condolences for you great family and friends in Mombasa and all over the world.
My heart goes out to all the family and friends of Dr. Kashmiri at this tragic and sudden loss while he was doing what he loved. I only met him a few times and admired his honest love and concern for wildlife. This tribute is wonderful. If only we had more vets with the devotion, knowledge and experience of Dr. Kashmiri that we could call upon when there is an animal emergency here in Kenya. Over time perhaps this fund will begin to fill the huge void left behind. Many thanks Paula and Wildlife Direct. We will do all we can to help support this cause.
The death of our dear friend and brother in conservation while on duty is a big blow to all the conservation fraternity.Dr Kashmir as we fondly called him was always ready to come out at any time to assist animals in distress no matter where or what time.It is a pity the cruel hand of death has plucked him from our midst.FAREWELL THEE.WE WILL ALWAYS MISS YOU.
Its a real tragedy and I can’t belief you are not with us anymore. You will stay always in my heart. My deepest sympathy and cordial condolence accompany my lines and goes to your family.
Oh my God. I met Dr Kashmiri first time during the WDA meeting in Kasese/Uganda. He became friendful for me and wanted to realise a safari at Tshiaberimu.I was waiting his plan for a trip to tshiaberimu.I and Dr Mavisi as we were together at Kasese will try to support this cause. I’ll not forget him.
Dearest Chacha Zahoor
You will be sincerely misssed! Words cannot express the loss we feel. You were a wonderful man, friend to many, uncle, and cousin. A true inspiration not only through your work but you made us all so proud. Your memory will be with us safe in our heart. Suddenly the world seems alot less brighter. May you rest in peace…All of our love – Zulfkar Ali, Zuhaida Ali, Nadia & Moustafa Tartoussy and Iffat Darr (the late Shokat Darr’s wife)
This weekend we performed a cataract operation on Rosy, Simon Thomsetts crowned eagle. Dr Kashmiri had so wanted to be there at this historic event – the first cataract operation in a crowned eagle! He would be proud that eye specialist doctors and veterinarians that he knows so well … Barry Cockar and Noneee Magree who came together and went ahead with the operation. We all lamented his absence, and acknowledged the pain we individually feel, and we talked about the incredible comments that are being left on this blog – about how much he meant to so many people. None of us imagined how important he was to so many, how much his loss is being felt. Still, it was good to get together, remember the good times, and get to work together though I couldn’t help missing his presence.
Daktar!!!! , You will be missed, memories will linger of the good times we shared…..RIP
Tribute at Mara Triangle dot org … http://www.maratriangle.org/blog/2008/9/8/dr-kashmiri-may-you-rest-in-peace.html
News Item at Elephant News dot com … http://www.elephant-news.com/index.php?id=4150
Kashmiri was the greatest vet I ever met in my lifetime, a mentor and hero to me. Many Kenyans truly may not realise what we, individually and as a nation, have lost in him. He touched and inspired so many people’s hearts with the passion he had for his work, and for the bravery and easy skill he showed at pretty difficult (and dangerous) tasks. We won’t see his like again. He will be sorely missed; but his memory lives on and we can only strive to follow his example in our work.
It is with great sadness that we came to learn of your untimely death. You were an inspiration to your immediate and extended family all over the world. You will be remembered for your great deed that you have left behind in this world.
May Allah All Mighty rest your soul in peace and give sabar to your brothers, sisters and your nephews and neices who all were very fond of you.
It is with great sadness that we came to learn of your untimely death. You were an inspiration to your immediate and extended family all over the world. You will be remembered for your great deeds that you have left behind in this world.
May Allah All Mighty rest your soul in peace and give sabar to your brothers, sisters and your nephews and neices who all were very fond of you.
With grief and shock, I came to know that Zahoor is no longer with us. I Have known him since 1985. He was a very dear friend whom I stayed with for long in his farm house in 2003 and he was always on standby to attend wild animal treatment call. He was buying precious medicines from his own resources and would never charge or expect anything for this great service to wildlife. He will always be remembered and I really miss his good company and husky voice. May God bless his soul in eternal peace and let his mission to serve wildlife carry on with his name distinctly embedded thereon.
Tribute to Zahoor at Kenya’s Coastweek newspaper … http://www.coastweek.com/3137-27.htm
uncle mappi, u will b dearly missed by everyone who got to know you. i’ll miss sitting with u at the ranch eating good food just talking and having the best time… hope u r in a better place whereever u are and may god bless u always… asante sana for everything
It is quite sad that i will miss my dear boss of time at Cerebral Palsy Foundation Tudor. RIP Dr.
Daktari, whilst living many years in Kenya I’ve met you as a real friend and I always thought: Kashmiri seemed bulletproof.
Your barrel-chest, your gentle gravel voice and your walrus
moustache commanded respect.
Anyone who had the good fortune to know you either professionally
or personally cannot fail to have been touched by your compassion,
your humanity and especially your humour.
How many dinners and parties we spent together, where you kept us up all night laughing with your endless accounts of your adventures.
Your always seemed in control, but never with aggression and
always with humility.
You always seemed to know exactly what was going on and exactly
what to do.
You always gave a helping hand, not only to my animals, who
melted away when they listened your voice.
My last memory picture: when you passed by to bid farewell and
left happily with most of my kitchen stuff, the afternoon
before I left Kenya.
It is only little consolation in the fact you died doing what you loved and lived for.
We will miss you !
i shall trully miss you daktari,u made me believe in my dreams n follow them.may god rest ur soul in peace…amin
I was very saddened to learn of the tragic death of Kashmiri. Although I only had the opportunity to meet and work with him for a few days, I was deeply moved by his compassion, courage, wisdom and especially his generosity. He was a skillful practitioner who was calm, careful and caring in his work showing concern and respect for the animals he treated and the people he worked with.
Kashmiri, I feel so fortunate to have known you and to have shared a little bit of your beautiful Kenya and your love for wildlife. Thank you for believing in me, giving me the courage to “ride in the front truck” and sharing an animal adventure that will forever be a highlight of my time in Africa.
He was a friend and a true Rotarian, we pray Allah rests is Soul in Eternal Peace.
ER WAR EIN GUTER FREUND UND BERATER EIN GROSSER MANN MIT ABSOLUTEM KÖNNEN UND WISSEN SEIN HERZ GEHÖRTE DEN TIEREN AFRICAS ER IST NUN EIN STERN ÜBER AFRICAS HIMMEL UND WIRD ÜBER SEINE TIERE WACHEN ICH HOFFE NUR DAS ES JEMANDEN GEBEN WIRD DER SEINE ARBEIT FORTSETZT ES WIRD SCHWIERIG ER WIRD WOHL FÜR IMMER UNVERGESSLICH BLEIBEN SEINE WÄRME UND HERZENSGÜTE IST UND WIRD UNERSETZLICH BLEIBEN ER HAT SEINEN TRAUM GELEBT WER VON UNS KANN SCHON VON SICH BEHAUPTEN DAS TUN ZU KÖNNEN UND ER IST FÜR IHN GESTORBEN BEI DER ARBEIT DIE ER ÜBER ALLES LIEBTE
WIR ALLE LIEBTEN IHN DAFÜR NUN HAT GOTT IHN ZU SICH GEHOLT ABER ICH BIN SICHER ALLE DIE IHN KANNTEN UND LIEBTEN WERDEN IHN SO IN IHREN HERZEN BEHALTEN
ES IST EIN GROSSER VERLUST
Kashmiri, the only reason I ever thought of going into veterinary studies. I spent almost every sunday between the age of 6-13 and later most weekends whilst I was home on holiday, at his ranch in kikambala, exploring the beautiful world he’d created there. His raw love for wildlife and all things natural was moving and very inspirational. I still remember not being able to saddle a very naughty horse and Kashmiri boldly walking straight into the stable and looking it straight in the eye. He was truly amazing at what he did and had a natural realtionship with all animals. Talking to him this summer of his plans and ideas for Ethiopia and feeling the general sense of satisfaction in the way he spoke, gives me such hope to one day find something that I truly love to do and will eventually find peace with. There is no doubt that he touched just as many people like he did me. What an amazing guy that I will never forget.
I surely was shocked in this sad news… it reached me unexpectedly…. I used to work with him though not in the same dept. but in the same company African Safari Club….
It is such a loss and he was such a great leader….
May Allah rest his soul in peace.
Condolescence to all my ex-staffs from the Company African Safari club”
Regards
Swabra
A year has passed, and I struggle to find words.
Never will you be forgotten.
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