T

he late Edward Avery McIlhenny, a pioneer in the state’s conservation efforts, has been recognized by the Crocodile Specialist Group, the Species Survival Commission and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The descendants of McIlhenny, who died in 1949, three years after suffering a stroke, on Thursday received a formal letter by the chairman of the nonprofit CSG, the chair of the SSC and the director general of the IUCN. The McIlhenny family was represented at the presentation by John E. Simmons, senior manager of the McIlhenny Co.

The Teche Area, heck, all of Louisiana, should be proud of McIlhenny, who coordinated the donation of three large tracts of property deeded to Louisiana to be held in perpetuity as wildlife refuges, including State Wildlife Refuge, Marsh Island Wildlife Refuge and Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, all of which are administered by the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

McIlhenny, son of Tabasco brand pepper sauce tycoon Edmund McIlhenny, was a highly respected businessman, explorer, bird bander and conservationist. What has been the impact of his conservation efforts for succeeding generations in the Sportsman’s Paradise? 

Numerous species, including waterfowl, furbearers, alligators and fish, have made these refuges their home. The arboretum and gardens established by the McIlhenny family draw visitors from around the world     to the region. In-ternational scientists and graduate students have conducted their studies on these refuges and knowledge gained has led to preservation and wise utilization of wildlife species of global importance.

The three refuges were acquired and donated to Louisiana between 1911 and 1919. Together, they encompassed nearly 175,000 acres at the time of the donation.

State Wildlife Refuge, located on the southwestern shore of Vermilion Bay, was the first wildlife refuge in the country privately donated for the public good. According to LDWF, McIlhenny and Charles Ward donated this tract of marshland habitat to the state in 1911 for public use.

LDWF Secretary Jack Montoucet called McIlhenny’s actions “unparalleled conservation efforts.”

“The selfless dedication of Mr. McIlhenny and the McIlhenny family to natural resource conservation are an inspiration. The wetlands preserved have been and will continue to be enjoyed by future generations. It is nearly incomprehensible that a family might make or secure such generous financial donations for the benefit of Louisiana’s wildlife,” Montoucet said.

The IUCN has 1,200 members, all nonprofit organizations and state bodies. The SSC is a network of approximately 10,000 international science-based conservationists. The CSG has 622 members in 64 countries, all volunteers. 

IUCN is the world’s largest international conservation organization and the SSC is the knowledge-based driver of species conservation and management within IUCN.

According to a prepared statement from the state agency, those world-renowned conservation organizations recognize the utmost importance of McIlhenny’s contributions and are hopeful other philanthropists might consider similar such generous donations in support of wildlife resources.

The Sportsman’s Paradise and the wildlife species residing in its many varied habitats have benefitted from the generosity of the McIlhenny family.

Pioneering American alligator research, which led to similar endeavors on crocodilians worldwide, many of which are critically endangered, was conducted on these sites.

In 1898, Edward’s older brother, John, enlisted in the U.S. Army and eventually joined the Rough Riders. Edward took over the McIlhenny’s Son Corp., which produced Tabasco, a hot pepper sauce invented by his father approximately 30 years earlier. 

He renamed the firm McIlhenny Co., then expanded, modernized and standardized hot sauce production and found new avenues of promoting the world-famous product, such as advertising on radio. He also designed the diamond logo trademark similar to the version used today.

The E. A. McIlhenny Collection of natural history books at Louisiana State University is named in his honor.

 

DON SHOOPMAN is outdoors editor of The Daily Iberian.