NAIROBI, Kenya — Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton, the celebrated Scottish zoologist, pioneering elephant researcher, and founder of Save the Elephants, died in Nairobi at the age of 83.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern wildlife conservation, Douglas-Hamilton devoted more than six decades to studying and safeguarding African elephants.
His pioneering research and tireless advocacy helped fundamentally reshape the global understanding of elephant behavior and protection and drove international action to curb ivory poaching.
Born into a British aristocratic family in Dorset, England, Douglas-Hamilton’s professional life took root in Africa.
At the age of 23, he embarked on the first scientific study of wild elephant social structures, work that laid the indispensable foundation for contemporary elephant behavioral science.
As poaching intensified in the decades that followed, he evolved from academic researcher to outspoken protector.
He meticulously documented the crisis, revealing the horrifying scale of the slaughter: more than half of Africa’s elephant population was killed within ten years.
His rigorous, science-based findings were instrumental in persuading the 1989 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference to enact a global ban on the international ivory trade.
Founding Save the Elephants and global advocacy
In 1993, he founded Save the Elephants (STE), a conservation organization dedicated to securing a future for African elephants.
The organization’s mission involved protecting elephant habitats, fostering coexistence with local communities, and deepening global appreciation for the species’ intelligence and social complexity.
His early adoption of GPS tracking and aerial survey methods revolutionized elephant monitoring and set new standards for wildlife protection worldwide.
Douglas-Hamilton again emerged as a leading global voice during the 2010–2012 poaching surge, which tragically claimed an estimated 100,000 elephants.
He testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in 2012, advocating for stronger international action.
His sustained campaign contributed crucially to the closure of major domestic ivory markets worldwide, most notably China’s in 2018.
In 2013, he co-founded the Elephant Crisis Fund (ECF) with the Wildlife Conservation Network to support frontline conservation initiatives.
By 2025, the Fund had supported more than 120 organizations in 44 countries, directing over $40 million to more than 500 projects aimed at combating the ivory trade and improving human-elephant coexistence.
Literary, film, and honors
Douglas-Hamilton’s influence extended beyond the field into books and film. With his wife, Oria, he co-authored the acclaimed works Among the Elephants (1975) and Battle for the Elephants (1992).
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His research and conservation efforts were featured in numerous documentaries, including The Secret Life of Elephants (BBC, 2008) and A Life Among Elephants (Maramedia, 2024).
He received numerous honors throughout his life, including:
- Order of the Golden Ark (1988)
- OBE (1992)
- Indianapolis Prize (2010)
- CBE (2015)
- Esmond B. Martin Royal Geographical Society Prize (2025)
Personal legacy
Friends and colleagues widely remember him as a mentor who took joy in sitting with young scientists, carefully examining elephant tracks, and engaging in deep speculation about the creatures’ complex minds. Frank Pope, CEO of Save the Elephants and Douglas-Hamilton’s son-in-law, offered this powerful, comprehensive tribute:
“Iain changed the future not just for elephants, but for huge numbers of people across the globe. His courage, determination and rigour inspired everyone he met. 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 always there. He never lost his lifelong curiosity about the minds of one of our planet’s most intriguing creatures.”
His enduring legacy lives on through his daughters, Saba and Dudu, who continue their own work in nature conservation, and his six grandchildren, who are inspired to follow his remarkable example.
