10:28AM BST 24 Apr 2014
Mark Shand lived an inconspicuous life, despite his royal connections, mainly devoted to saving his beloved elephants.
He grew up in East Sussex, alongside his siblings Camilla and Annabel. His father, Major Bruce Shand won the military cross twice for bravery in the Second World War, and his mother, the Hon. Rosalind Maud Cubitt, was a member of the wealthy Cubitt family.
As children: Camilla Parker Bowles with brother Mark and sister Annabel (Rex)
As children: Camilla Parker Bowles with brother Mark and sister Annabel (Rex)
His youth was somewhat rebellious, he was expelled from Milton Abbey School in Dorset for smoking cannabis and enjoyed frequenting nightclubs.
Following his expulsion, Mr Shand was sent by his father to Australia, but stopped off in India instead where he discovered elephants.
His career choices had been eclectic; he had stints as a rally driver and bobsleigh competitor and also dealt with art deco jewellery.
In eastern India Mr Shand bought Tara the elephant and rode her for 800 miles across the country, which he said confirmed his "absolute love" for elephants. The book he wrote as a result was called Travels on my Elephant.
The Duchess of Cornwall at the Elephant Parade exhibition with Mark Shand in 2010 (Getty)
The Duchess of Cornwall at the Elephant Parade exhibition with Mark Shand in 2010 (Getty)
He subsequently wrote numerous books about elephants, Hinduism and Indian culture. His book Queen of the Elephants, about the first female elephant guide in recent times, went on to win the Prix Litteraire d'Amis and was made into a BBC documentary.
In 2002 Mr Shand set up his own charity called Elephant Family which aims to save the endangered Asian elephant from extinction in the wild.
On the night of his death he was celebrating the success of a charity auction that had raised nearly £1 million, some of it for his charity.
Ian Walkden, chief executive of the Elephant Family, said "Mark Shand was a true force for conservation. He was a legend and inspiration and above all our great friend. We will miss him always.”
Elephant Family is making a real difference to the fate of the endangered Asian elephant.
By working where we are most needed and forming trusted partnerships, we are saving one the world’s most magnificent and threatened creatures.
Success highlights:
- Saving Habitat: The fourth settlement of one of the world’s most important wildlife corridors has been secured, leaving just one more before the whole 2,200 acre corridor is protected. This corridor links two large forest areas, which are home to the 6,500 Asian elephants. The largest population on the planet.
- Raising Awareness: Elephant Parade London raised awareness for the plight of the Asian elephant in a way it never has been before. Their endangered status was communicated to an audience of 25 million people and attracted international media coverage.
- Preventing Conflict: The spread of palm oil plantations in Indonesia is having a devastating effect on the 2,000 – 2,500 Sumatran elephants who list there. Conflict with the human population is rife with regular violent confrontations. Now a training and education centre is teaching local people how to avoid conflict using peaceful, practical methods to turn this volatile situation around.
- Fundraising: So far we’ve invested over £6m for the endangered Asian elephant – making us the UK’s biggest funder for their conservation in the wild.
Elephant Family is the UK's biggest funder for the endangered Asian elephant.
Massive habitat loss has caused their numbers to plummet by 90% in the past 100 years, earning them an unwanted place on the IUCN red list.
Elephant Family exists to save this iconic animal from extinction in the wild, along with tigers, orangutans and all the other animals who share their habitat. Working with local people and partner NGOs, we currently fund 20 projects across Asia and invest where we are needed most: to protect habitat, prevent conflict and reconnect the forest homes of the endangered Asian elephant.
We would love to hear from you, so feel free to email us, pick up the phone – or even drop in and see us at elephant HQ.
17-18 Hayward's Place
London, EC1R 0EQ
London, EC1R 0EQ
(Closest tube: Farringdon)
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