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{{Infobox writer
⚫
'''Betty Leslie-Melville''' (died [[September 23]], [[2005]]) was an American conservationist. She was instrumental in creating sanctuaries to preserve the subspecies of the [[Rothschild's giraffe]] in [[Kenya]]. Often called the "Giraffe Lady", she spent much of her life living and working in Kenya protecting and caring for the Rothschild's giraffe population there. During her time working there, the Rothschild's giraffe population grew from about one hundred twenty to over four hundred.
| caption =
| image =
| birth_name = Betty Julia McDonnell
| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|03|07}}
| birth_place = [[Baltimore, Maryland]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2005|9|23|1927|3|7|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Baltimore, Maryland]]
| occupation = Writer, wildlife conservationist
| pseudonym =
| spouse = Lloyd Anderson,<ref name="BLMnytObit"/> (div.)<ref name="BLMnytObit"/><br>Dan Bruce,<ref name="BLMnytObit"/> (div.)<ref name="BLMnytObit"/><br> Jock Leslie-Melville, <br>(m. 1963; his death 1984)<ref name="BLMnytObit"/><br>[[George P. Steele|George Peabody Steele]]<ref name="BLMnytObit"/> <br>(her death 2005)<ref name="BLMnytObit"/>
| children = F. M. (Rick) Anderson, Eliza Dancy Bruce Mills, McDonnell Marshall Bruce
| genre =
| language = English
| movement =
| alma_mater =
| notableworks =''Raising Daisy Rothschild'', ''Elephant Have Right of Way'', ''There's a Rhino in the Rose Bed, Mother'', ''That Nairobi Affair'', ''Bagamoyo: Here I Leave My Heart'', ''A Falling Star: A True Story of Romance'', ''The Giraffe Lady'', ''Daisy Rothschild: The Giraffe That Lives with Me'' (children's edition), ''Walter Warthog: The Warthog Who Moved in'' (children's edition)
| footnotes =
}}
'''Betty Leslie-Melville''' (née '''McDonnell'''; March 7, 1927 – September 23, 2005) was an American born author and conservationist.


==Early life==
⚫
Along with her husband Jock Leslie-Melville and their adopted giraffe Daisy she was the subject of the film 'The Last Giraffe' (1979) with Susan Anspach playing Betty.
Born in [[Baltimore, Maryland]], on March 7, 1927,<ref name="BLMnytObit">{{Citation |first=Martin|last= Douglas| title = Betty Leslie-Melville, 78, Dies; Helped Save Giraffe Breed | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/04/obituaries/betty-lesliemelville-78-dies-helped-save-giraffe-breed.html | work=New York Times | location = New, York, NY | date = October 4, 2005}}</ref> the daughter of a chiropractor,<ref name="Peopmagstory"/> Leslie-Melville attended [[Johns Hopkins University]].<ref name="BLMnytObit"/>
==Family life==
Betty married Jock Leslie-Melville in 1964.<ref name="BLMnytObit"/><ref name="Peopmagstory">{{Citation |first=Joan|last= Oliver| title = The Leslie-Melville Marriage: Safari, So Good, People, Vol. I No. 16| url= http://people.com/archive/the-leslie-melville-marriage-safari-so-good-vol-1-no-16/| publisher=[[Time Inc.]] | location = New York, NY | date = June 17, 1974}}</ref>


⚫
She was instrumental in creating sanctuaries to preserve the subspecies of the [[Rothschild's giraffe]] in [[Kenya]]. Often called the "Giraffe Lady," she spent much of her life living and working in Kenya protecting and caring for the Rothschild's giraffe population there, primarily through a breeding programme established at her residence, [[Giraffe Manor]]. During her time working there, the Rothschild's giraffe population grew from about one hundred twenty to over four hundred.
⚫
As part of their fund-raising efforts, Betty and Jock Leslie- Melville collaborated on a series of books about animals, most of them characterised by Betty's rather breathless style. Raising Daisy Rothschild (1977) " 'the story of two delightful young people and how they raised and grew to love a young giraffe . . . or two' " became a best-seller. More animal stories followed: Elephant Have Right of Way (1973), There's a Rhino in the Rose Bed, Mother (1973), That Nairobi Affair (1975) and Walter Warthog (1989), a children's story about the tame warthog they named after their friend Walter Cronkite, the CBS news anchorman. The books helped to raise more funds for the Giraffe Centre they set up at Langata in 1983.


⚫
Along with her husband Jock Leslie-Melville and their adopted giraffe Daisy, they were the subject of the film ''The Last Giraffe'' (1979) with [[Susan Anspach]] playing Betty.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079438/ The Last Giraffe (1979) (TV)] [[Internet Movie Database]]</ref>
==See also==
*[[Giraffe Centre]], Nairobi, Kenya


⚫
As part of their fund-raising efforts, Betty and Jock Leslie-Melville collaborated on a series of books about animals, most of them characterized by Betty's rather entertaining style. ''Raising Daisy Rothschild'' (1977) "the story of two delightful young people and how they raised and grew to love a young giraffe... or two" became a best-seller. Other animal stories and fiction publications include: ''Elephant Have Right of Way'' (1973), ''There's a Rhino in the Rose Bed'', ''Mother'' (1973), ''That Nairobi Affair'' (1975), ''Bagamoyo: Here I Leave My Heart'' (1983), ''A Falling Star: A True Story of Romance'' (1986), ''The Giraffe Lady'' (1997), ''Daisy Rothschild: The Giraffe That Lives with Me'' (children's book, 1987), and ''Walter Warthog'' (1989), a children's story about the tame warthog they named after their friend [[Walter Cronkite]], the [[CBS News]] anchorman. The books helped to raise more funds for the [[Giraffe Centre]] that they set up at [[Lang'ata]], Kenya in 1983. She died on September 23, 2005, in Baltimore.<ref name="BLMnytObit"/>
⚫
{{US-activist-stub}}


== References ==
⚫
[[Category:2005 deaths|Leslie-Melville, Betty]]
{{reflist}}
⚫
[[Category:American conservationists|Leslie-Melville, Betty]]
[[Category:Animal rights movement|Leslie-Melville, Betty]]
⚫
[[Category:American activists|Leslie-Melville, Betty]]


{{Authority control}}
[[de:Betty Leslie-Melville]]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Leslie-Melville, Betty}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
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[[Category:2005 deaths]]
⚫
[[Category:American conservationists]]
[[Category:Keepers of animal sanctuaries]]
[[Category:People from Baltimore]]
[[Category:Writers from Maryland]]
[[Category:Writers about Africa]]
[[Category:Johns Hopkins University alumni]]


⚫
{{US-activist-stub}}
{{environmentalist-stub}}

Latest revision as of 21:45, 19 October 2024

Betty Leslie-Melville
BornBetty Julia McDonnell
(1927-03-07)March 7, 1927
Baltimore, Maryland
DiedSeptember 23, 2005(2005-09-23) (aged 78)
Baltimore, Maryland
OccupationWriter, wildlife conservationist
LanguageEnglish
Notable worksRaising Daisy Rothschild, Elephant Have Right of Way, There's a Rhino in the Rose Bed, Mother, That Nairobi Affair, Bagamoyo: Here I Leave My Heart, A Falling Star: A True Story of Romance, The Giraffe Lady, Daisy Rothschild: The Giraffe That Lives with Me (children's edition), Walter Warthog: The Warthog Who Moved in (children's edition)
SpouseLloyd Anderson,[1] (div.)[1]
Dan Bruce,[1] (div.)[1]
Jock Leslie-Melville,
(m. 1963; his death 1984)[1]
George Peabody Steele[1]
(her death 2005)[1]
ChildrenF. M. (Rick) Anderson, Eliza Dancy Bruce Mills, McDonnell Marshall Bruce

Betty Leslie-Melville (née McDonnell; March 7, 1927 – September 23, 2005) was an American born author and conservationist.

Early life

[edit]

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 7, 1927,[1] the daughter of a chiropractor,[2] Leslie-Melville attended Johns Hopkins University.[1]

Family life

[edit]

Betty married Jock Leslie-Melville in 1964.[1][2]

She was instrumental in creating sanctuaries to preserve the subspecies of the Rothschild's giraffe in Kenya. Often called the "Giraffe Lady," she spent much of her life living and working in Kenya protecting and caring for the Rothschild's giraffe population there, primarily through a breeding programme established at her residence, Giraffe Manor. During her time working there, the Rothschild's giraffe population grew from about one hundred twenty to over four hundred.

Along with her husband Jock Leslie-Melville and their adopted giraffe Daisy, they were the subject of the film The Last Giraffe (1979) with Susan Anspach playing Betty.[3]

As part of their fund-raising efforts, Betty and Jock Leslie-Melville collaborated on a series of books about animals, most of them characterized by Betty's rather entertaining style. Raising Daisy Rothschild (1977) "the story of two delightful young people and how they raised and grew to love a young giraffe... or two" became a best-seller. Other animal stories and fiction publications include: Elephant Have Right of Way (1973), There's a Rhino in the Rose Bed, Mother (1973), That Nairobi Affair (1975), Bagamoyo: Here I Leave My Heart (1983), A Falling Star: A True Story of Romance (1986), The Giraffe Lady (1997), Daisy Rothschild: The Giraffe That Lives with Me (children's book, 1987), and Walter Warthog (1989), a children's story about the tame warthog they named after their friend Walter Cronkite, the CBS News anchorman. The books helped to raise more funds for the Giraffe Centre that they set up at Lang'ata, Kenya in 1983. She died on September 23, 2005, in Baltimore.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Douglas, Martin (October 4, 2005), "Betty Leslie-Melville, 78, Dies; Helped Save Giraffe Breed", New York Times, New, York, NY
  2. ^ a b Oliver, Joan (June 17, 1974), The Leslie-Melville Marriage: Safari, So Good, People, Vol. I No. 16, New York, NY: Time Inc.
  3. ^ The Last Giraffe (1979) (TV) Internet Movie Database


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