Prince William has made yet another emotionally-charged speech in his campaign to target the illegal wildlife trade and poaching industries.
The Prince took to the stage for a segment for Chinese TV station, CCTV1, and spoke candidly about his desire to eradicate poaching from Africa to build a better world for his children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
William, 33, thanked the crowd in Mandarin before going on to speak about why the conversation about wildlife conservation is more important than ever.
“In the 33 years since I was born we have lost around 70 percent of Africa’s elephant population. Of those that are left, 20,000 are being killed every year – that is 54 elephants killed every single day,” says a somber Prince William.
“At this rate, children born this year – like my daughter Charlotte – will see the last wild elephants and rhinos die before their 25th birthdays,” says William.
“Until 100 years ago my ancestors were among those who had little concern about acquiring ivory, without the knowledge of the threats of extinction, corruption, and violence that the ivory trade would lead to,” says William.“My rejection of ivory today is not a judgement of past generations. It is an acceptance of the world as I find it today and the world I want my children, George and Charlotte, to inherit.”
Crick in your neck, Your Highness? 7″5 Yao Ming towers over 6″2 Prince William.
“The greatest inheritance we can pass on to the next generation is a safe and sustainable environment: the priceless endowment of nature.”
“Let us not tell our children the sad tale of how we watched as the last elephants, rhinos and tigers died out, but the inspiring story of how we turned the tide and preserved them for all humanity.”
Prince William, and his wife, Duchess Catherine, will attend a state banquet tonight as part of the China visit.
