Iain Douglas-Hamilton, the groundbreaking elephant conservationist who reshaped global understanding of the species, has died at 83. His pioneering research revealed the emotional depth, intelligence, and social complexity of elephants, influencing conservation practices worldwide.
Tributes poured in from leaders and wildlife advocates. Prince William praised him as a man whose life’s work “leaves a lasting impact,” while Tusk founder Charles Mayhew called him “a true conservation legend.”
Born in Dorset in 1942, Douglas-Hamilton began studying elephants at just 23 in Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National Park. His detailed research on individual elephants helped change how scientists and the public view wildlife, securing his place as one of the most important conservation voices of his generation.
