The Tusk Awards 2023

Now in its tenth year, the awards arrive at a time when conservation is no longer a distant concern, but a shared global responsibility. Yet, beyond the broader conversation, it is the individuals on the ground — in remote reserves, within local communities, and across fragile ecosystems — who continue to shape the future of Africa’s natural heritage.

For our family, it is a privilege to stand alongside Tusk Trust in recognising these efforts. To be entrusted with the creation of the Tusk Award trophies is an honour that carries deep meaning. Each piece is not simply an object, but a tribute — shaped to reflect the story, the landscape, and the purpose of the person it is awarded to.

Designed and sculpted by Patrick Mavros Jnr, each trophy is individually created to represent the recipient’s field of work. From the species they strive to protect to the environments they defend, every design draws from Africa’s wild places — carrying with it a sense of place, purpose and permanence.

Presented under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince William, the awards continue to bring together voices that speak to both urgency and hope.

As host Liz Bonnin reflected: “One of the most powerful tools we have for creating the change our planet needs is to share the stories of those who lead by example, working tirelessly to protect nature, as we go about our daily lives. I’m excited to be playing a part in celebrating these guardians of biodiversity at the Tusk Conservation Awards – a truly inspirational event and highlight of the conservation calendar.”

Her words speak to something at the heart of the awards — that conservation is not only driven by action, but by storytelling. It is through these stories that awareness grows, and through awareness that change becomes possible.

That sentiment is echoed in the voices of those working on the front lines. As 2023 Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award recipient Jealous Mpofu shared: “If we don’t do something now, these beautiful animals will be lost to humankind, I want to be part of those offering tangible solutions and actions to keep the future of painted dogs secure.”

It is this combination of urgency and resolve that defines the spirit of the Tusk Awards — a recognition not only of achievement, but of responsibility.

To witness these stories brought together is to understand the scale of what has been achieved — and what still lies ahead. Each individual recognised represents not only progress, but the continuation of a much larger effort to protect Africa’s wildlife and the communities that depend on it.

For us, being part of the Tusk Awards is about more than the act of making. It is about contributing to a legacy that has grown over time — one shaped by collaboration, trust and a shared commitment to conservation. Through our partnership with Tusk Trust, we are reminded that creativity, when guided by purpose, can carry meaning far beyond the object itself — becoming part of a story that continues to unfold across the landscapes of Africa.