Prince William becomes Patron of the Tusk Trust

Prince William is to become Patron of an African conservation charity based in the UK.

The Tusk Trust, founded in 1990 and based in Dorset, supports twenty five conservation projects in twelve different countries across Africa. With the ultimate aim of securing a peaceful coexistence for Africa’s wildlife and its people, the charity’s work includes rural development projects, education programmes and sustainable tourism, as well as animal conservation.

Prince William said today:

“I am very keen to support Tusk as it does amazing work across Africa to foster and protect the delicate balance between healthy community life and the natural environment on which it depends. I have seen some of the work at first hand in Kenya, and I have been impressed by the difference Tusk can make. I have already helped to fundraise at a couple of events and I hope I can do more in the future.” Charlie Mayhew, who founded the Tusk Trust said: “To gain such a commitment from Prince William is not just invaluable for the work of Tusk, but will also ensure that interest in Africa remains firmly on the radar screen. We are very much looking forward to working with him.”

Tusk is the second charity which Prince William has agreed to support as Patron; the first was the homelessness charity Centrepoint, which was announced in September.

Prince William explained: “Although I am pursuing a career as an officer in the Army, I wanted to lend my support to a couple of charities, one at home and one abroad, which reflect issues I particularly care about.” Prince William’s new charitable commitments will be fitted around the requirements for his military training, which begins at Sandhurst on 8th January.