Frederick Courteney Selous was a prominent figure in British exploration, hunting, and natural history. Born in London in 1851, he developed an early fascination with the natural world and African adventures, shaping his remarkable career. His adventures across Africa impacted geographical knowledge and the understanding of the continent’s ecosystems. He is remembered for his exploits and his eventual role in advocating for wildlife preservation.
A Life of Adventure: Early Expeditions and Big Game Hunting
Selous arrived in South Africa in 1871 to become a professional elephant hunter. He journeyed from the Cape of Good Hope to Matabeleland, a region in present-day Zimbabwe, where he secured permission from Lobengula, King of the Ndebele, to hunt freely. This began nearly two decades of exploration and big game hunting across Southern and Central Africa.
During this period, Selous traversed uncharted territories north of the Transvaal and south of the Congo Basin. His skill as a hunter earned him renown, and by age 25, he was recognized as one of South Africa’s most successful ivory hunters. Records from his game book indicate that between 1872 and 1874, he and a hunting companion, Cigar, killed 78 elephants. In one four-month period in 1873, he acquired about 5,000 pounds of ivory while hunting in the Zambezi Valley, also taking buffalo, hippos, lions, rhinos, and various antelope species.
Selous’s expeditions were not limited to Africa; he also pursued big game in Europe, Asia, and North America. This included hunting chamois in Austria in 1870 and later expeditions to places like Bavaria, Transylvania, Turkey, Persia, Wyoming, Alaska, and Eastern Canada. His pursuits often involved challenging conditions, and he experienced close calls with death.
Contributions to Science and Exploration
Beyond hunting, Selous contributed to natural history and geographical exploration through meticulous record-keeping and specimen collection. He maintained detailed journals and game lists, providing valuable data on animal populations and habitats. These records offer a historical snapshot of wildlife in the regions he explored.
Selous was a prolific collector for scientific institutions, donating over 5,000 plant and animal specimens to the Natural History Museum in London. His collection at the museum includes 524 mammals from three continents, among them 19 lions. Even in 1916, while engaged in combat, he continued to collect specimens, carrying a butterfly net for the same institution.
His geographical discoveries and mapping efforts were significant. Selous explored and surveyed uncharted regions of Southern and East Africa. For instance, his travels in south-central Africa expanded knowledge of the area later known as Rhodesia. He also helped construct over 400 miles of road through Mashonaland for the British South Africa Company. For his explorations and surveys of Africa, he was awarded the Founder’s Medal of the Royal Geographical Society in 1892.
A Lasting Legacy
Selous’s influence is multifaceted, reflecting his role as both a hunter and a naturalist. His writings, such as “A Hunter’s Wanderings in Africa,” captivated the public and inspired many, including Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt, a close friend, corresponded with Selous and accompanied him on parts of his 1909 African safari. Selous was elected an Associate Member of the Boone and Crockett Club, a wildlife conservation organization co-founded by Roosevelt.
Selous’s legacy includes his later advocacy for wildlife conservation, a shift from earlier hunting practices. By the early 1880s, he observed declining elephant populations, noting it was becoming impossible to make a living solely from ivory hunting south of the Zambezi. He began discussing the importance of conserving game to prevent species from disappearing. In 1900, with Selous as a leader, many former African hunters formed the Society for the Preservation of the Fauna of the Empire, gathering data to support its conservation efforts.
His name is etched into the geography of Africa; the Selous Game Reserve in southeastern Tanzania, Africa’s largest game reserve, is named in his honor. This reserve covers over 17,000 square miles (44,800 square kilometers) and is home to a large population of elephants and buffalo.
Final Chapter: World War I and Demise
Selous rejoined the British Army during World War I, serving in the East Africa Campaign. Initially rejected at 64, his persistence led to his commission as an Intelligence Officer in the 25th (Frontiersmen) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, in early 1915. His knowledge of African terrain and conditions proved valuable.
Selous was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in September 1916 for his gallantry, resourcefulness, and endurance. On January 4, 1917, while on reconnaissance during a bush war engagement against German colonial forces near the Rufiji River in German East Africa (now Tanzania), he was shot in the head by a German sniper and died instantly. He was buried under a tamarind tree at Chokawali, within what is now the Selous Game Reserve.