Theodore Roosevelt IV Recounts the Late Ted Turner’s Unusual Reaction After Encountering Endangered Species on His Ranch
Theodore Roosevelt IV Recounts the Late Ted Turner’s Unusual Reaction After Encountering Endangered Species on His Ranch
Virginia Chamlee, Genevieve UzamereThu, October 1, 2026 at 4:37 PM UTC
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Teddy Roosevelt IV and Ted TurnerCredit: Leigh Vogel/Getty; Prince Williams/WireImage -
Roosevelt IV called Turner an unparalleled advocate for conservation and endangered species
Turner welcomed Mexican wolves, rare falcons and tortoises onto his western ranches
Turner was honored posthumously alongside the late Oscar de la Renta and Veronica Berti Bocelli at the 14th Annual Official First Ladies Luncheon during the United Nations General Assembly
One of Ted Turner’s oldest friends is remembering the late media mogul and philanthropist’s passion for environmental conservation.
Speaking on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the 14th Annual Official First Ladies Luncheon in New York City, organized by Fashion 4 Development during the United Nations General Assembly, Roosevelt IV remembered: “Ted was the most thoughtful and kind person I ever knew in my life.”
He went on to describe how Turner was “an unbelievable conservationist and environmentalist.”
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Ted Turner and Jane FondaCredit: Jerry Fitzgerald/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
While many ranch owners in the west would get rid of endangered species that came on to their land, Roosevelt IV said Turner was the opposite.
“He rejoiced in having endangered species on his ranch and he had a lot of them,” Roosevelt IV remembered. “He had a Mexican wolf on one ranch, he had a Northern Aplomado falcon, he had two different kinds of tortoises, and once when I was on his ranch, I said, ‘Do you have any wolves here?’ and he said, ‘Yes, I talk to them,’ and with that, he let out this amazing, ‘ooooo-oww,’ and sure enough, ten seconds later, a wolf answered him. He did talk to them.”
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Roosevelt IV added: “No private citizen has ever done more for conservation or endangered species in this country. Now, we need Ted more than ever.”
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Turner was honored posthumously at the event alongside others including the late designer Oscar de la Renta and Andrea Bocelli’s wife, Veronica Berti Bocelli.
Roosevelt IV has his own ties to animals and is thee great-grandson of the 26th U.S. President, Theodore Roosevelt (“Teddy” for short). Per the National Parks Service, the teddy bear is named for the former president who, on a hunting trip, refused to shoot a bear his assistants had tied to a tree for him, arguing it was unsportsmanlike.
Turner, the founder of a slew of major television networks, from CNN to TNT and Cartoon Network, transformed his media fortune into a sprawling conservation effort, managing some two million acres of land across six states prior to his death in May 2026.
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