The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to pioneering elephant conservationist Iain Douglas-Hamilton, who died aged 83 at his home in Nairobi on Monday.

Douglas-Hamilton spent his life studying and campaigning to protect African elephants, becoming a world-leading expert on their behaviour in the wild.

His groundbreaking research exposed the devastating effects of poaching - often at great risk to his own safety - and was instrumental in the banning of the international ivory trade.

Prince William praised the zoologist as a man who dedicated his life to conservation and whose life's work leaves lasting impact on our appreciation for, and understanding of, elephants.

The memories of spending time in Africa with him will remain with me forever, added Prince William, who is a royal patron for the African wildlife conservation charity, Tusk, of which Douglas-Hamilton was an ambassador.

The world has lost a true conservation legend today, but his extraordinary legacy will continue, the charity's founder Charles Mayhew said in a statement.

Born in 1942 to an aristocratic British family in Dorset, England, Douglas-Hamilton studied biology and zoology in Scotland and Oxford before moving to Tanzania to research elephant social behaviour.

It was there at Lake Manyara National Park that he began documenting every elephant he encountered, eventually becoming so familiar with the herds he could recognise them by the unique shapes of their ears and wrinkles on their skin.

During his life, Douglas-Hamilton faced significant challenges including life-threatening encounters with elephants and poachers. His impactful campaigns led to the establishment of international agreements aimed at protecting elephants, notably the near-total ban on ivory trade agreed upon in 2015 by the leaders of China and the United States.

In 1993, he founded Save the Elephants, a charity committed to safeguarding these majestic creatures and promoting understanding of their behavior. Douglas-Hamilton's work and advocacy have inspired countless individuals and organizations in the fight against poaching.

He is survived by his wife Oria, children Saba and Dudu, and six grandchildren, leaving behind a formidable legacy in wildlife conservation.