Prince William calls for end to rhino poaching
2012-06-19 13:41
In a rare interview with the BBC, Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, has spoken out about the scale of poaching taking place across Africa, calling those who participate "extremely ignorant, selfish and utterly wrong."
He told the BBC that he was lending his voice to the cause, because the conservation world "is a softly-spoken one [that] needs a little bit of help every now and then."
He added that it's an area he's always been particularly interested in and with which he's always wanted to help.
The Duke told BBC's Kate Silverton that elephant and rhino are two of the most widely poached animals on the planet and that "if we don't do something about them, it's going to be a tragic loss for everyone." The interview was conducted at the Port Lympne wildlife park as preparations were being made to relocate three black rhinos to Tanzania.
He emphasised the massive need for education on poaching, particularly regarding rhinos, as they are such vulnerable animals. "Making people aware of how delicate and how fragile these animals are, and how much damage we're doing to them, and to the wildlife and natural eco system around them just by our neglect and ignorance," is what he cited as one of the most important factors in combating the phenomenon.
Prince William is Royal Patron of Tusk Trust, one of the groups involved in the relocation.
Visit BBC's website for the full video interview.
