Hugo van Lawick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hugo van Lawick
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Jesús Mosterín, Hugo van Lawick and Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente in Africa 1969
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Hugo Arndt Rodolf van Lawick
10 April 1937 |
| Died | 2 June 2002 (aged 65) |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 1 |
Hugo Arndt Rodolf, Baron van Lawick (born April 10, 1937 – died June 2, 2002) was a famous Dutch wildlife filmmaker and photographer. He spent much of his life capturing incredible moments of animals in their natural homes.
His still photos and films helped people learn about chimpanzees. This was especially true during his first wife Jane Goodall's studies. She researched chimpanzees at Gombe Stream National Park in the 1960s and 1970s. Hugo's films also showed the exciting lives of many wild animals in the Serengeti. These included wild dogs, elephants, and lions.
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Early Life and Passions
Hugo van Lawick was born in Surabaya, Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). His father, Baron Hugo Anne Victor Raoul van Lawick, was a pilot for the Dutch fleet. Sadly, his father passed away while serving in the military.
After his father's death, Hugo's mother moved him and his brother. They first went to Australia, then to England. In England, they lived in London, Hull, and Devon. Hugo attended a boarding school in Devon. His mother and brother later moved to the Netherlands after World War II ended. In 1947, Hugo joined them in Amersfoort.
Capturing Wildlife on Film
In November 1959, Hugo traveled to Africa. He wanted to follow his dream of photographing and filming wild animals. He found a job as a cameraman for a couple who made films. Hugo created a film that was shown with a lecture by Louis Leakey. A staff member from National Geographic saw it. They were so impressed that they offered him work for the magazine.
In August 1962, Louis Leakey suggested Hugo film chimpanzees. He began photographing and filming the Kasakela chimpanzee community at Gombe Stream National Park. This was where Jane Goodall, who was also mentored by Leakey, had been studying chimpanzees since July 1960.
Hugo and Jane married on March 28, 1964, in London. They lived in Tanzania for many years. They worked at Gombe and on other research projects. In 1967, they had a son named Hugo Eric Louis, who they called "Grub." They later divorced in 1974 but remained good friends. Hugo married Theresa Rice on March 23, 1978, in Banjul, Gambia. They divorced in 1984.
Documenting Chimpanzee Lives
Through Hugo's film People of the Forest, the world met the famous "F" family of Gombe. This family included chimpanzees named Flo, Fifi, and Flint. The film also showed many of their relatives. Hugo continued filming at Gombe for over twenty years. He created a visual record of three generations of chimpanzees. This helped scientists and the public understand chimpanzee lives much better.
Hugo made many wildlife documentaries for television. He also created several films for movie theaters. These included The Leopard Son (1996) and Serengeti Symphony. Both were produced by Nature Conservation Films WW. Hugo was also a great teacher and guide for younger wildlife filmmakers. His tented camp, Ndutu, in the Serengeti, became a place where new filmmakers learned from him.
Later Life and Achievements
In 1998, Hugo had to stop working because of a lung condition called emphysema. He left Ndutu to live with his son, "Grub," in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Hugo passed away on June 2, 2002, at 65 years old. On June 7, he was buried at his camp in the Serengeti. This was the spot where his tent had stood for over 30 years. His family, friends, staff, and government officials attended the ceremony.
Hugo van Lawick received many awards for his films. He won eight Emmy awards. One of these was the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program. He received this award sixteen years after his death for some of his previously unreleased photos. In 1992, Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands honored him. The Prince, who helped start the WWF, made Hugo an officer in the Order of the Golden Ark.
