Prince William has paid tribute to British zoologist Iain Douglas-Hamilton, who died at the age of 83 on Monday. His death was confirmed in a statement released by his Save the Elephants group.

Iain, who founded Save the Elephants in 1993, was also among the first to introduce GPS tracking and aerial survey techniques. The statement referred to him as a "pioneering force" in elephant conservation, who "revolutionised our understanding… through his groundbreaking research". In a heartfelt social media message, William wrote: "I am so sad to hear of the passing of Iain Douglas-Hamilton, a man who dedicated his life to conservation, and whose life’s work leaves lasting impact on our appreciation for, and understanding of, elephants."

He added: "The memories of spending time in Africa with him will remain with me forever.

"My thoughts go out to Iain’s family, especially his wife Oria and children Saba and Dudu", before signing off with his initial, "W".

Save the Elephants CEO, Frank Pope, said: "Whether sitting quietly among elephants, poring over maps of their movements, or circling above a herd in his beloved aircraft, that glint in his eye was there.

"He never lost his lifelong curiosity about what was happening inside the minds of one of our planets most intriguing creatures."

He is survived by his wife Oria, their two daughters and six grandchildren.

During his career, Iain and Oria published two award-winning books about elephants.

The expert was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1992 and a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2015.