Prince William has helped announce the winners of this year’s virtual Tusk Conservation Awards alongside famous faces, such as presenter Ben Fogle and singer Katherine Jenkins.
The Duke of Cambridge, 38, spoke via a video call from Kensington Palace in a clip shared to Instagram this evening, where he revealed the victor of the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa.
He was ‘delighted’ to present the lifetime achievement prize – given to an individual for their outstanding dedication to wildlife conservation – to Hipólito Lima, a rangers supervisor, from São Tomé and Príncipe, who has dedicated 26 years of his life to helping sea turtles survive.
Launched with Prince William in 2013, the annual ceremony celebrates the achievements of extraordinary people, whose work protecting Africa’s natural heritage might otherwise go unnoticed outside their fields.
The Duke of Cambridge (pictured), 38, spoke via a video call from Kensington Palace in a clip shared to Instagram this evening, where he revealed the victor of the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa
The Duke of Cambridge joined famous faces including host Kate Silverton, Emma Weymouth, Katherine Jenkins, Levison Wood, Liz Bonnin, Tristan Phipps, Deborah Meaden, Bear Grylls and Ben Fogle to reveal this year’s winners.
During an earlier video call with Charlie Mayhew, CEO of Tusk, The Duke of Cambridge said of this year’s nominees and winners: ‘A lot of these people go under the radar. I hope that the Tusk Awards highlight and showcase their wonderful talent and hard work across the globe.
‘I hope their stories go far and wide, that people feel inspired and young people look to these role models and say “I can do the same, I want to be involved and I care as much as they do too.”’
Prince William helped announce the winners of this year’s virtual Tusk Conservation Awards alongside famous faces, such as presenter Ben Fogle (pictured)
Singing sensation Katherine Jenkins (pictured) also virtually appeared at the online Tusk Conservation Awards this evening
Deborah Meaden (pictured left) and Bear Grylls (pictured right) appearing at the online Tusk Conservation Awards
Award-winner Hipólito Lima has dedicated 26 years of his life to sea turtle conservation, protecting sea turtle females and their nests, monitoring the nesting beaches, training local rangers, and empowering local communities into sea turtle guardians and conservation leaders.
His leadership has been crucial in lobbying the government for the establishment of legislation that would provide protection for sea turtles in the archipelago.
This new legislation declares a complete ban on the capture, possession, and sale of all sea turtle species and their by-products as well as disturbance of nesting habitats.
The winner of the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa receives a grant of £100,000 towards their work.
Hipolito Lima, winner of the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa, speaking to the charity’s Royal Patron, the Duke of Cambridge at the online Tusk Conservation Awards
William previously met finalists George Owoyesigire from Uganda, Ian Stevenson of Zambia, and John Kamanga from Kenya, and congratulated them on their dedication and exceptional contribution to African wildlife protection
The two other category winners were John Kamanga, a grassroots conservation leader from Kenya, who won the The Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa, and Amos Gwema, a Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Principal Intelligence Officer, who was given the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award.
Speaking about the three category winners, Charlie Mayhew, CEO of Tusk said: ‘As the future of the natural world is brought into even sharper focus, it is fantastic that the recipients of our awards can continue their vital work thanks to this much needed boost to grant funding.
‘I am very pleased today to award three exceptional leaders within their fields.’ The three winners have each received a trophy specially crafted by Patrick Mavros.