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.
At Lake Manyara National Park, he began documenting every elephant he encountered, eventually becoming familiar enough to recognize them by the unique shapes of their ears and wrinkles on their skin.
Friend and fellow conservationist Jane Goodall noted that he had shown the world that elephants are capable of feeling just like humans. Her sentiments echo the wider impact of Douglas-Hamilton's work, emphasizing the need for understanding and protecting these majestic creatures.
Despite the many challenges he faced, including being charged at by elephants and enduring threats from poachers, Douglas-Hamilton established Save the Elephants in 1993, aiming to safeguard the animals and deepen human understanding of their behaviour.
Iain Douglas-Hamilton is survived by his wife Oria, children Saba and Dudu, and six grandchildren. His legacy will not only be remembered in conservation circles but will resonate with generations to come.
