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On World Ranger Day July 31, Prince William presented the inaugural Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award to Kenyan ranger Edward Ndiritu for his efforts against poachers.
In the wake of the death of
Cecil the lion, committed conservationist
Prince William is doing his part to
prevent unnecessary hunting in Africa by awarding a Kenyan ranger for his
efforts against poachers. The royal announced that Edward Ndiritu, Head of the
Anti-Poaching Unit for the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, is the first
winner of the Wildlife Ranger Award on behalf of William's conservation
charity,
Tusk Trust.
Prince William has been a patron of the Tusk Trust since 2005 Photo: Getty Images
"May I take the
opportunity to personally congratulate you on this richly deserved award and to
thank you for the extraordinary contribution you and your team at the Lewa
Wildlife Conservancy have made towards both the protection of wildlife and
increased security for the rural communities of northern Kenya," William
said in a letter released on World Ranger Day, July 31.
The royal has called Africa his "second home" Photo: Getty Images
A proud Edward, who will travel to London in
November to receive the award, posed for a picture with the letter after the
organization said he was chosen for his "outstanding leadership and
commitment in face of the escalating threat from poachers." The 42-year-old
ranger covers a large conservation area of Kenya run by the Lewa Wildlife
Conservancy and the Northern Rangelands Trust where there has been a decline in
the number of rhino and elephants that have been poached in the region.
The cause is one that's close
to William's heart as he's been a patron of the Tusk Trust since 2005 and has a
special personal bond with the continent. The 33-year-old not only proposed to
wife
Kate Middleton there, but also has decorated his son Prince George's
nursery in an African theme. "Africa is my second home," William said in
footage filmed for a Sky1 documentary in 2010. "When I step off the plane I'm like, 'Yes, I'm back.'"
Prince Harry has traveled to Africa with his brother and is currently there volunteering Photo: Getty Images
A love of Africa runs in the
family.
Prince Harry arrived in Namibia last month to help fight against
threats to endangered species, William's sister-in-law PIppa Middleton just ran a marathon in Kenya to support the cause, and both William's father and grandfather have
supported the Tusk Trust.