Prince of Wales’s charity will fund life insurance for ‘hero’ wildlife rangers

The Prince of Wales has announced his charity will help fund life insurance for ‘hero’ wildlife rangers.

Prince William delivered a powerful speech in Cape Town, South Africa, in which he warned that rangers were “fundamental” in the effort to reverse climate change.

He unveiled a five-year financial package, funded in part by his Royal Foundation, that will provide 10,000 rangers across Africa with subsidised health and life insurance.

Paying tribute to the rangers, the Prince said: “These people do far more than protect wildlife,” he said.

“They are educators. They are community supporters. And they help regulate the sustainable use of natural resources. We cannot protect our planet without them.”

It comes 18 months after the death of Anton Mzimba, 42, an “incorruptible” park ranger who was gunned down by hitmen at his home, just months after briefing Prince William on how organised crime had become heavily involved in rhino poaching in southern Africa.

The Prince was so upset he made a significant private donation to support Mr Mzimba’s family.

“Anton was assassinated in his own home for doing his job….protecting the incredible biodiversity of this country,” he said.

Just hours before he took to the stage, he was informed of the death of Olara Jonathan, a ranger who was shot by poachers while out on patrol in Uganda’s Kidepo Valley Conservation Area on Monday.

His speech, for which he donned a tie made from recycled plastic bottles and a beaded “papa” bracelet made by Princess Charlotte, came ahead of the fourth annual Earthshot Award ceremony which takes place on Wednesday.

He told a United for Wildlife summit it was crucial rangers had access to much-needed life insurance, assuring their families they are protected for the “dangerous” jobs they do.

The Prince described them as “conservation heroes” who, alongside indigenous peoples and local communities, were “the guardians of our planet’s most precious resources”.

He said there were currently fewer than 300,000 rangers are working globally, while estimates suggest five times that number are needed to properly meet conservation commitments.

“Rangers are fundamental if we are to meet our global conservation targets for 2030 and prevent the dangerous tipping points that threaten our planet,” he said.

“It will be led by those who protect nature, for those who protect nature.”

The “ambitious” package, the first of its kind in Africa, will be funded by the Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife programme, founded by the Prince in 2014, together with the Tusk Trust, of which he has been patron since 2005, and the Game Ranger Association of Africa.

The Prince used his speech to warn that the planet was dangerously close to “an irreversible tipping point” driven by climate change.

He said the “significant and complex challenge” was faced by the entire world and demanded “collective responsibility” across borders.

“Without nature and healthy ecosystems… there is no guarantee of food security, no guarantee of clean water, and no guarantee of a prosperous economy,” he added.

The Prince said the illegal wildlife trade was “a key driver of this decline” but that conservation could not succeed without the support of those living alongside wildlife.

“What happens over the next five years, especially in relation to stopping the illegal wildlife trade, is crucial for the future of life on Earth,” he added.

“The urgency is palpable, as entire parts of the species chain are being removed.

“As we look to 2030 and beyond, we have the power – and opportunity – to change the trajectory.”

Chatting to guests at the summit, the Prince was asked about his homelessness project, Homewards, replying: “I’m spinning a lot of plates.”

Earlier, the Prince began his day by taking in the “stunning” view of Cape Town’s Table Mountain after hiking up to a vantage point with rangers and conservationists.

He joked he would try not to “wipe out in front of everybody” as he navigated the rocky climb up Signal Hill alongside Earthshot ambassador Robert Irwin, the son of late conservationist Steve Irwin.

The Prince posed for a photograph with young people involved in the protection of the park.

Dressed in an eco-friendly shirt and jacket by sustainable brands EcoAlf and Rapanui, he chatted to conservationists about efforts to protect the area’s unique biodiversity.

He later held a meeting with Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa’s president, and David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, in which they discussed his new rangers’ package and the death of Mr Mzimba.