In brief
The world mourns the loss of Iain Douglas-Hamilton, an influential figure in wildlife conservation. His dedication to studying and protecting African elephants shed light on the devastating impacts of poaching, leading to significant changes in international wildlife policies. Friends and colleagues remember him as a heroic figure in conservation, with his life's work continuing to inspire future generations in protecting these majestic creatures.
The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to pioneering elephant conservationist Iain Douglas-Hamilton, who died aged 83 at his home in Nairobi on Monday.
Douglas-Hamilton spent his life studying and campaigning to protect African elephants, becoming a world-leading expert on their behaviour in the wild.
His groundbreaking research exposed the devastating effects of poaching - often at great risk to his own safety - and was instrumental in the banning of the international ivory trade.
Prince William praised the zoologist as a man who dedicated his life to conservation and whose life's work leaves lasting impact on our appreciation for, and understanding of, elephants.
The memories of spending time in Africa with him will remain with me forever, added Prince William, who is a royal patron for the African wildlife conservation charity, Tusk, of which Douglas-Hamilton was an ambassador.
The world has lost a true conservation legend today, but his extraordinary legacy will continue, the charity's founder Charles Mayhew said in a statement.
Born in 1942 to an aristocratic British family in Dorset, England, Douglas-Hamilton studied biology and zoology in Scotland and Oxford before moving to Tanzania to research elephant social behaviour.
He documented every elephant he encountered at Lake Manyara National Park, eventually becoming familiar enough with the herds to recognize them by the unique shapes of their ears and skin wrinkles.
Douglas-Hamilton faced numerous threats to his life during his research, from charging elephants to being shot at by poachers. However, his resolve to raise awareness about the ivory poaching crisis never wavered.
In 1993, Douglas-Hamilton established Save the Elephants, a charity dedicated to safeguarding elephants and enhancing human understanding of their behaviour.
His efforts have contributed significantly to international bans against the ivory trade, with notable bans announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping and former US President Barack Obama in 2015.
Douglas-Hamilton's legacy will undoubtedly inspire future conservation efforts worldwide. He is survived by his wife Oria, children Saba and Dudu, and six grandchildren.
