Peter Byrne has passed

[joebeelart]

While this is "old" news, attached is the obituary and remembrance photograph.   These can be copied and forwarded to responsible parties at will by Forum members.  Joe here

 

Peter Cyril Byrne

 

WWII Veteran, Conservationist, Explorer, Author: 1925–2023

 

Peter was born August 22, 1925 in Dublin, Ireland. He was raised with three siblings on their family estate in Ireland. In 1943 he enlisted in the Royal Air Force and was stationed in the East Indian Ocean on the Coco’s Islands off of Australia where he served with distinction until the war ended.

 

When the war ended Peter became a tea planter in northeast India. After a serendipitous encounter in Bombay, he became friends with the King of Nepal’s brother and was granted property in Nepal where Peter conducted hunting safaris in the White Grass Plains of western Nepal. More details of Peter’s early days can be viewed at www.peterCbyrne.com.

 

In 1968, after 18 years of big game hunting, he turned to conservation in Nepal where he convinced the government to create a wildlife preserve, and eventually establish the Sukila Phanta National Park. He said, “I showed them that taking a photograph of a rhinoceros was worth 1,000 times more than shooting it once.” He also pioneered Nepal river rafting, and trekking expeditions on many of his trips to the country.

 

During the Nepal years, Peter also established the non-profit International Wildlife Conservation Society. In the interests of the Society, he traveled globally and through his magnetic personality, established many friends and gained honors, among them a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and membership in the Explorers Club of New York. But, spiritually, he was forever drawn to Nepal and the Himalayas, with his last trip to Nepal thought to be in 2012.

 

In Nepal, Peter was sought after by Texas oil man Tom Slick.  Slick financed a two year Byrne Himalayan expedition to find the fabled yeti. After few results were found of the yeti, in 1960 Slick brought Peter to northern California and the Pacific Northwest USA to track Bigfoot. That search unfortunately ended with Slick’s sudden death in an airplane crash in 1962.

 

Thereafter, Peter conducted two other, long and well-funded northern Oregon Bigfoot projects. Again, with no physical evidence of Bigfoot, those projects ended in the late 1990s. Peter then moved to Los Angeles, but after never really feeling at home in the overcrowded city, he retired to a home on the banks of the Nestucca River in Pacific City, Oregon.

 

In Pacific City, Peter continued to write the remainder of his 20 books. He also wandered the mountains of the Coastal Range with friends in his continuing quest for sightings of Bigfoot.

 

Peter Cyril Byrne passed away peacefully on July 28, 2023 in Tillamook, Oregon. He is survived by his daughter Rara Byrne now living in Perth, Australia, his sister Beryl Greene of Maidenhead, England, and his life partner of more than 25 years - Cathy Griffin is now living in Pacific City, Oregon in the cabin they shared.

 

Remembrances: A journalism scholarship is being established in Peter’s honor.  For information on the fund, and a celebration of life for Peter, please see the website at peterCbyrne.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 31, 2023 by joebeelart

[Wolfjewel]

Thanks. This bio is fascinating. Maybe I’ll get a book about his life.

 

[bipedalist]

RIP to surviving family and friends.  Made it to his 90th bday party in Pacific City, fond remembrances of a stalwart conservationist and researcher always. 

Wonder if he ever did a BFRO trip or an @joebeelart tailgate research night?

[BobbyO]

RIP

[Madison5716]

RIP and what a fascinating bio! 

[wiiawiwb]

Coincidentally, I stumbled across a rerun of a bigfoot show on TV last night hosted by Leonard Nimoy. Not sure if it was one of the "In Search Of" episodes. 

 

Peter Bryne was interviewed several times in it. Very interesting and articulate man.  RIP.