• Prince William spoke with Anton Mzimba, a South African park ranger, last year.
• He was “deeply saddened” to learn of his death.
• Prince William shared a personal message on his Twitter account about the murder.

When Prince William found out that a South African park ranger he had spoken to the previous year; had been murdered, he was “very upset.”

The Duke of Cambridge expressed his sorrow at the passing of Anton Mzimba; the chief ranger of the Timbavati Nature Reserve, in a personal message published on Wednesday; to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s official Twitter account.

William commented, “I’m terribly grieved to read of the death of Anton Mzimba who I spoke to in November. “Rangers like Anton, who are dedicated and courageous; are essential to preserving Africa’s wonderful wildlife. The perpetrators must be immediately brought to account. I’m thinking of his family.” He added a “W” to the note’s signature to signify; that he was the one who wrote it.

The Helping Rhinos group published a picture of Mzimba; who they claimed was shot and murdered on Tuesday outside of his house.

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I’m deeply saddened to learn of the killing of Anton Mzimba who I spoke to in November. Committed and brave, rangers like Anton are central to the conservation of Africa’s fantastic wildlife. Those responsible must swiftly be brought to justice. My thoughts are with his family. W

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) July 27, 2022

The group stated on Twitter that the incident “follows previous death threats; and shows the everyday threat confronting Rangers.”

On social media, Timbavati Nature Reserve also lamented Mzimba’s passing and wrote: “Anton, you have left us with a legacy; that we will always remember and hold up high in your honour.

Mr. Anton Mzimba, Head of Ranger Services, who devoted 25 years of his life to the Timbavati; passed away, and we grieve his passing. A genuine account of a nature fighter.”

When Prince William visited Microsoft’s offices in Reading last autumn to hear about a new tool; to combat ivory smuggling, he chatted with Mzimba via video chat.

Prince William works with several groups that support the abolition of illicit wildlife trafficking; and the preservation of endangered species in Africa; a continent to which the royal family has deep links.