Prince Appeals To Chinese To End Illegal Wildlife Trade VIDEO

As the Chinese president began a four-day visit to Britain, Prince William has made an impassioned call on China to stop the trafficking and trade in endangered wildlife products and become leaders in conservation.

In a three-minute speech broadcast on Chinese television, the prince said poaching was killing off animals in such unprecedented numbers, he said, that 70 percent of Africa’s elephant population had been killed in his 33 years. At the present rate, there would be no elephants or rhino left on the planet by the time his daughter Charlotte was 25.

Watch the full video of the prince’s speech

He painted a stark picture of the trafficking going on, how besides killing off species it was cutting off the livelihood in poorer people in countries who relied on tourism and killing rangers trying to protect the animals, but he said their was good news too.

It is known where the endangered species are, as well as the routes and ports used by the traffickers. Governments are starting to act together against traffickers and the illegal trade. Also, the prince said, some Chinese doctors and medical practitioners are speaking out publicly about how “all credible evidence and scientific research shows”, for example, that rhino horn does not cure cancer.

The spotlight now falls on consumers to do something, the prince said. He urged people to work within their communities to act against poachers and traffickers, and to talk about the environment around the dinner tables and with their families.

“We have to accept the truth that consumers are driving the demand for animal body parts, for art for trinkets or for medicine. Only we as consumers can put the wildlife traffickers out of business by ending our demand for their products. i know we can do this.

“I do not think that any of us would stand and watch an elephant or rhino being killed or a ranger being gunned down because we wanted a bracelet or an ornament to impress someone else as a gift. but that is what the demand for wildlife products means in practice.

Prince William’s speech comes at a time when China has taken certain steps against ivory trafficking. Last month President Ji Xinping announced steps that China will take to halt the domestic trade in ivory, adding to the ban on imports of carved ivory he announced in February. Chinese forestry police also recently made a seizure of illegal ivory and other animal products.

“I am absolutely convinced that China can become a global leader in the protection of wildlife,” Prince William said. “Your influence in the world means you can change the face of conservation in this century.”

He added: “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.”