GEORGE NEWS - SaveWild invites the public to an interesting talk on the topic, 'Prehistoric footprints in the Southern Cape', presented by Dr Charles Helm from Canada.
The talk will be held on Tuesday 18 February at Fairy Knowe Hotel in Wilderness, starting at 17:30 for 18:00.
Helm will share information on some fascinating fossils found along South Africa's coast, followed by a question and answer session.
The South African born Helm is a researcher, geologist, and medical doctor known for his diverse contributions to palaeontology, geology, and community healthcare.
In 2016 Helm was part of a group that found 40 hominin tracks on the ceiling and side walls of a cave at Brenton-on-Sea. In subsequent years they found more hominin tracksites on the Cape coast, including the oldest Homo sapiens footprint in the Garden Route National Park - it dates back about 153 000 years.
He has had an exemplary career as physician. After earning his medical degree in South Africa he emigrated to Canada in 1986 and has lived and worked as a family physician in the Tumbler Ridge rural community since 1991. He has won various awards, among which the award for the BC Rural Family Physician of the Year in 2016.
He is an avid runner and has created running trails in the Tumbler Ridge region's rugged mountains, starting a half-marathon trail run, The Emperor’s Challenge, that now annually attracts international participants.
Helm and his 8-year-old son in 2002 discovered a trackway of dinosaur footprints embedded in the rock beside the nearby Flatbed Creek.
This led to a fascination with palaeontology, both in Tumbler Ridge and in South Africa, and Helm has made numerous palaeontology finds in BC and South Africa, authored nine books, and obtained his PhD in palaeontology in addition to his medical credentials.
People interested to attend the talk on 18 February, must please RSVP by 14 February to info@savewild.co.za.
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