The 51-year-old was one of three top African conservationists honoured by Prince William at the Tusk Conservation Awards ceremony held at The Savoy Hotel in London, the United Kingdom (UK), on the night of Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

The Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award, sponsored by the Nick Maughan Family Foundation, gives international recognition to the dedication and commitment of individuals who work in the field to protect Africa’s wildlife.

51-year-old Claver Ntoyinkima was born near the Nyungwe National Park which he now protects.

Born near the Nyungwe forest he now protects, Ntoyinkima combines his deep ecological knowledge of the park’s bird population with a passion for educating and inspiring others.

As a ranger, he has played a vital role in primate habituation and anti-poaching patrols, while also guiding scientific research and bird conservation efforts across Rwanda.

The father of four is also keen to extend his legacy to the next generation through conservation clubs he founded for local youth, promoting a lasting commitment to Rwanda’s natural heritage.

Claver Ntoyinkima chats with Prince William during the Tusk Conservation Awards ceremony in London on the night of Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

He expressed his joy at winning the international award, saying: “I am truly grateful to be a finalist for the 2024 Tusk Conservation Awards; there are no words to describe how proud I am to win this award. The acknowledgement of my dedication and efforts to give back to the community is truly inspiring. I am very grateful for this historical support and recognition of the conservation efforts made by field-based actors like me.”

The 2024 Tusk Conservation Awards also recognized two other exceptional African conservationists: Nomba Ganamé from Mali, who was awarded the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa for his groundbreaking work in protecting desert elephants, and Edward Aruna from Sierra Leone, who received the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa for his efforts in marine turtle conservation.

Claver Ntoyinkima poses for a photo with Prince William and two other finalists at the awarding ceremony in London.

Prince William commended the winners for their relentless dedication and contributions to the preservation of nature, highlighting their pivotal roles in safeguarding Africa’s wildlife and ecosystems.

“Now is the time to support those globally who work to prevent future generations from becoming disconnected from nature. We live in a world in which incredible wildlife exists, and I want that for the generations that follow. I want my children to live in a world where swallows still migrate, gorillas still live in the cloud forests of Uganda, and rhinos still roam the arid rangelands of Namibia.

"It will be thanks to extraordinary leaders - such as those that we are celebrating today - that this will happen. They remind us of the importance of living at peace with nature; they should guide and inspire us all to drive change," the Prince of Wales stated.

Renowned British actor Idris Elba was among high ranking dignitaries who attended the awarding ceremony.

Nick Bubb, CEO of Tusk, emphasized the critical role of conservationists in protecting Africa’s biodiversity.

“Africa is still rich in animal, plant, and marine biodiversity. Tusk’s vision is a future where the continent’s wildlife and human communities not only coexist peacefully, but positively thrive. Tonight we once again celebrate the remarkable, courageous, and committed individuals on the ground who safeguard Africa’s natural heritage day and night, and who demonstrate to us all the power of understanding, respecting, and protecting the natural world," the CEO remarked.

Hendrik du Toit, Founder and Chief Executive of Ninety One, also spoke about the urgent need for continued conservation efforts, stressing the precarious state of the natural world.

“The endless degradation of the natural world is pushing our planet dangerously close to a series of tipping points that will lead to a less hospitable Earth for people and wildlife.

"Congratulations to all of those who have been recognized at the Tusk Awards. Their dedication to conservation plays a vital role in preserving Africa’s endangered environments and species, and it is essential that we continue to support their unwavering commitment to this task.”

The Rwandan ranger was one of three top African conservationists honoured by Prince William at the Tusk Conservation Awards ceremony held at The Savoy Hotel in London on the night of Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

The 12th edition of the awards, organized in partnership with Ninety One, an Anglo-South African asset management firm, was hosted for the second year running by wildlife biologist and presenter Liz Bonnin.

Previous winners of the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award include Jealous Mpofu from Zimbabwe (2023), Neddy Mulimo from Zambia (2022), Suleiman Saidu from Nigeria (2021), Amos Gwema from Zimbabwe (2020), Benson Kanyembo from Zambia (2019), Julius Obwona from Uganda (2018), Solomon Chidunuka from Zambia and Lucky Ndlovu from South Africa(2017), Manuel Sacaia from Angola (2016) and Edward Ndiritu from Kenya (2015).

A devoted steward of Nyungwe National Park, Claver Ntoyinkima won the 2024 Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award for his exceptional dedication to primate and bird conservation in Rwanda.

Claver Ntoyinkima chats with Prince William during the Tusk Conservation Awards ceremony in London on the night of Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

Claver Ntoyinkima has been honoured for exceptional dedication to primate and bird conservation in Rwanda.

As a ranger, Claver Ntoyinkima has played a vital role in primate habituation and anti-poaching patrols, while also guiding scientific research and bird conservation efforts across Rwanda.