Prince William remembers late friend, Ian Douglas-Hamilton, who 'left lasting impact'
Douglas-Hamilton is survived by his wife Oria, daughters Saba and Dudu, and six grandchildren
Prince William has shared a deeply emotional tribute following the death of renowned British zoologist and elephant conservation pioneer Iain Douglas-Hamilton, who passed away aged 83 on Monday.
His death was confirmed in a statement from Save the Elephants, the organisation he founded in 1993, a group that now stands as one of the most influential wildlife charities in the world.
The statement hailed Iain as a "pioneering force" whose groundbreaking GPS tracking and aerial survey methods “revolutionised our understanding… through his groundbreaking research.”
The Prince of Wales took to social media to honour his friend, writing: "I am so sad to hear of the passing of Iain Douglas-Hamilton, a man who dedicated his life to conservation, and whose life’s work leaves lasting impact on our appreciation for, and understanding of, elephants."
He continued with a personal reflection on their time together in Africa: "The memories of spending time in Africa with him will remain with me forever."
Offering condolences to Iain’s family, the prince added: "My thoughts go out to Iain’s family, especially his wife Oria and children Saba and Dudu."
He signed the tribute simply: “W”.
Save the Elephants CEO Frank Pope also released a touching tribute, saying: "Whether sitting quietly among elephants, poring over maps of their movements, or circling above a herd in his beloved aircraft, that glint in his eye was there."
He added: "He never lost his lifelong curiosity about what was happening inside the minds of one of our planet’s most intriguing creatures."
Douglas-Hamilton is survived by his wife Oria, daughters Saba and Dudu, and six grandchildren. Together, he and Oria published multiple award-winning books on elephants and reshaped global conservation science.
He was honoured with an OBE in 1992 and later a CBE in 2015 for his extraordinary contributions.
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