Mark Jenkins was a good friend of Prince William
(Picture: AP / Frankfurt Zoological Society)Prince William has led tributes to his friend Mark Jenkins who died along with his son Peter in a plane crash.
The pilot went down over Tsavo National Park, a conservation area in Kenya, while conducting a patrol of the area.
The wildlife specialist was a personal friend of the Prince of Wales, who wrote on his website: “Yesterday, I lost a friend, who dedicated his life to protecting wildlife in some of East Africa’s most renowned national parks.
“Mark Jenkins, and his son Peter, were tragically killed when flying over Tsavo National Park while conducting an aerial patrol.
“Tonight, I’m thinking about Mark’s wife, family and colleagues who’ve sadly lost a man we all loved and admired. W.”
Yesterday, we received the tragic news that our friend and former employee, Mark Jenkins, and his son Peter, passed away when the plane they were flying crashed in Tsavo National Park, Kenya, while conducting an aerial patrol for the @SheldrickTrust https://t.co/mXWbqzpYOB
— Frankfurt Zoological Society 🍃 (@FZS_Frankfurt) December 9, 2022
Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park combine to form one of the biggest national parks in the world at 22,000 square kilometres.
Mr Jenkins leaves behind a wife as well as another son. He worked for Frankfurt Zoological Society, who also paid tribute.
A message on their website read: “Passionate, principled, and strong-willed, Mark was never afraid to speak his mind and stand for what he believed in. He was a commanding presence and made an indelible impression wherever he went.
“Those of us who worked alongside him remember him for his determination, thoughtfulness, his energy, his mischievous smile, and his deep love of wildlife and wild places. We will miss his warmth, his hilarious stories, and his sometimes rather irreverent comments which always made us smile.”
