Prince William honours three African conservationists at Tusk Awards in London
Three conservationists working to protect Africa’s wildlife have received this year’s Tusk Conservation Awards, presented by the Prince of Wales at a ceremony in London.
Dr Colleen Begg, founder and director of the Niassa Carnivore Project in Mozambique, received the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa. Raabia Hawa, who leads Kenya’s Ulinzi Africa Foundation, won the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa, while Daniel Yiankere, security manager at Loisaba Conservancy in Kenya, received the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award.
The ceremony took place at Raffles London at The OWO on 11 November. The Prince of Wales, Tusk’s Royal Patron, presented the awards and spoke about the importance of supporting conservationists working in communities already affected by climate change.
“We cannot forget that those who are among the most impacted by our changing climate are also at the forefront of protecting it,” he said. “May their achievements inspire us all to build on this momentum and go further.”
Hosted by natural history broadcaster Liz Bonnin, the awards have been held annually since 2013, in partnership with investment manager Ninety One. Each winner received a trophy by jeweller and sculptor Patrick Mavros, alongside grant funding for their work.
Prince William, John Bishop, Mathieu Flamini, and Tusk President and CEO Charlie Mayhew. Photo by Tusk Concervation Awards
Two previous winners also returned to the ceremony. Wildlife ranger Amos Gwema and conservationist John Kamanga, both recognised in 2020, had been unable to attend that year’s event because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Guests included Zara and Mike Tindall, Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer, comedian John Bishop and former Arsenal footballer Mathieu Flamini. Tusk ambassadors Rory Bremner, Deborah Meaden and the Marquess and Marchioness of Bath were also there.
You can learn more about Tusk Concervation Awards on their website
Elena Leo is the Culture & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
