Nairobi, April 8 (Swara) – Two of Africa’s leading elephant conservationists, Dr Iain Douglas-Hamilton and Dr Jake Wall, have been awarded the 2025 Esmond B. Martin Royal Geographical Society Prize for their exceptional contributions to wildlife conservation and geographical research.
The Prize, named after the late Esmond Bradley Martin, a geographer, conservationist, Swara magazine editorial board member, and contributor, celebrates individuals whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of the natural world, especially in wildlife and environmental protection.
This year’s award honours two figures whose generations-spanning efforts have transformed how conservationists protect elephants.
A Lifetime of Advocacy and Innovation
Dr Iain Douglas-Hamilton has spent nearly six decades at the forefront of elephant conservation. His landmark 1972 doctoral thesis on elephant behaviour reshaped scientific understanding of elephant societies and helped inform conservation efforts continent-wide.
In 1993, he founded Save the Elephants, introducing GPS tracking to monitor elephant movements and respond more effectively to poaching threats and habitat fragmentation. He also played a key role in raising global awareness of the ivory trade crisis, contributing to the 1989 international ban on ivory sales.
“Esmond’s meticulous and often intrepid cataloguing of ivory markets was highly influential in saving elephants from the trade in their tusks,” said Douglas-Hamilton. “I believe that data and science are vital for elephants to have a voice in their future.”
Through the Elephant Crisis Fund, which he co-founded in 2013, Douglas-Hamilton has helped raise over £30 million to fight poaching, disrupt trafficking networks, and reduce consumer demand for ivory. His leadership has nurtured a growing network of conservationists across Africa, many of whom he mentored.
Technology Meets Conservation
Dr Jake Wall, Director of Research and Conservation at the Mara Elephant Project, has spent two decades developing advanced geospatial tools to aid wildlife conservation in Africa and beyond. His work has helped transform raw tracking data into actionable intelligence for conservation teams on the ground.
At Save the Elephants, Wall developed a real-time system to monitor the movements of GPS-collared elephants. The technology could detect when animals moved unusually fast—indicating potential panic—or stopped moving, a possible sign of poaching.
That system evolved into EarthRanger, a powerful conservation platform used in over 600 protected areas across 74 countries. Wall is currently leading the development of Ecoscope, a companion tool that helps users analyse remote sensing data and generate insights for ecosystem protection.
“I am deeply honoured and humbled to be awarded the Esmond B. Martin Prize,” Wall said. “It is especially an honour to share it with Dr Iain Douglas-Hamilton, who has been a mentor and continues to inspire with his tireless mission to conserve elephants and the landscapes they inhabit.”
Honouring Vision and Commitment
Professor Joe Smith, Director of the Royal Geographical Society, praised the winners for their innovative and dedicated contributions to conservation.
“Iain and Jake represent the best of wildlife conservation,” he said. “Their work epitomises the spirit of the Esmond B. Martin Prize—combining scientific rigour, technological innovation, and a deep commitment to solving the urgent challenges facing wildlife today.”
