Jealous Mpofu, Ekwoge Abwe and Fanny Minesi have been named as the recipient’s of this year’s awards.
Founded with Prince William in 2013, the Tusk Conservation Awards, in partnership with Ninety One, honour the heroes of African conservation and help tell their stories to the world. For over a decade, The Tusk Conservation Awards have served as a springboard for Africa’s foremost conservationists. These guardians of biodiversity have since risen to the top of their fields, scaling their work and amplifying conservation impact across the continent. Each of the three winners will now receive significant grant funding to continue their vital work.
The ceremony, held at London’s Savoy were hosted by natural history broadcaster Liz Bonnie and attended by a host of notable Tusk supporters including Ronnie and Sally Wood, Katherine Jenkins OBE, Lawrence Dallaglio, OBE and Jack Savoretti. The awards were presented to the Winners by Tusk’s Royal Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales.
Our 2023 Winners are:
Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa, sponsored by Ninety One – a lifetime achievement award, given to a distinguished individual for their outstanding dedication and exceptional contribution to conservation.
Winner: Ekwoge Abwe, Co-hub leader and program manager at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and President of the Cameroon Biodiversity Association.
From brokering alliances between warring tribes to blocking logging plans in one of the largest intact rainforests in Cameroon, Ekwoge Abwe has given a lifetime’s work to securing a better future for his country’s people and wildlife.
The Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa, sponsored by Defender – this award recognises an individual judged to be an emerging leader in conservation achieving outstanding success in their chosen field.
Winner: Fanny Minesi, General Director at the Amis des Bonobo du Congo (ABC) – Friends of Bonobos of Congo.
A determined advocate for nature and people, Fanny Minesi rescues endangered bonobos from poachers, gives them sanctuary, and rewilds them in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award, sponsored by the Nick Maughan Foundation – this award gives international recognition to the men and women who work in the field protecting wildlife in Africa on a daily basis.
Winner: Jealous Mpofu, Chief Tracker at Painted Dog Conservation.
Jealous has worked with Painted Dog Conservation in Zimbabwe since 1997, and he heads up the team whose daily job it is to track down and monitor five packs of wild dogs with a combined territory of more than 3,000 km2.
Tusk CEO, Charlie Mayhew OBE commented; “Each year we are blown away by the commitment, excellence and passion of our winners. Our 2023 conservation leaders are no exception. Truly exemplary, Ekwoge, Fanny and Jealous are inspirations to their communities and the pure definition of biodiversity defenders. It is an honour to celebrate them.”
