'When Charlotte turns 25, they will be gone': Prince William urges leaders to crush the illegal wildlife trade that will wipe out African elephants in his children's lifetime 

  • Duke of Cambridge will speak at Time For Change at the Shard in London
  • Event is organised by Tusk; he has been the charity's patron since 2005
  • This weekend CITES conference will vote on shutting down ivory markets
  • William and Harry visited Tusk-supported programmes in Kenya in April 

The Duke of Cambridge made a plea for leaders to stamp out the devastating ivory trade that is set to destroy the African elephant population before his children are even out of their 20s.

Prince William delivered the keynote address at Tusk's Time for Change event at the Shard, London, today, and drew on his own family to illustrate how quickly the animals are being killed for their tusks.

Joining campaigners including Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom, the royal said that when he was born there were one million elephants roaming Africa but by the time his two-year-old daughter Charlotte reaches the age of 25, there will be none.

William has been patron of Tusk since 2005 and is passionate about conservation

William has been patron of Tusk since 2005 and is passionate about conservation

Prince William delivered the keynote speech during the Time for Change event at the Shard

Prince William delivered the keynote speech during the Time for Change event at the Shard

The royal's words were also broadcast to conservationists in Tokyo and Johannesburg

The royal's words were also broadcast to conservationists in Tokyo and Johannesburg

He said: 'Earlier this month the Great Elephant Census was published. And it confirmed what many of us have feared for some time – one of our planet's most treasured species is on course for extinction at the hands of poachers and traffickers.

'When I was born, there were one million elephants roaming Africa. By the time my daughter Charlotte was born last year, the numbers of savannah elephants had crashed to just 350,000. 

'And at the current pace of illegal poaching, when Charlotte turns 25 the African elephant will be gone from the wild.'

In the speech to the audience in the Shard and those who were present in Tokyo and Johannesburg via a live link, he added that: 'The risk is not just to elephants.

'Today is World Rhino Day. A species that, due to demand for its horn, is being killed at a rate of nearly three animals a day. 

Prince William said that when his two-year-old daughter Charlotte is an adult there may be no African elephants left in the wild

Prince William said that when his two-year-old daughter Charlotte is an adult there may be no African elephants left in the wild

Prince William's speech was praised by former environment secretary Owen Paterson as 'clear' and 'strong' - although he thinks nothing less than a 100-year ban will do

Prince William's speech was praised by former environment secretary Owen Paterson as 'clear' and 'strong' - although he thinks nothing less than a 100-year ban will do

'Rhinos face extinction in our lifetimes as we struggle to correct lies about the supposed benefits of using its horn as a drug.

'However, this crisis is not just about animals – this crisis is also about people. It is some of the world's poorest people who will suffer when their natural resources are stripped from them illegally and brutally. 

'It is families in the world's most vulnerable regions who suffer when two rangers are killed every week on the frontline of this fight. It is fragile democratic systems in many nations that are at risk from the scourge of violence and corruption that the illegal wildlife trade fuels.

William said: 'We have the opportunity to end, once and for all, the mixed messages we have sent for too long about the value and desirability of wildlife products'
William's speech comes ahead of a global conference in Johannesburg where conservationists will vote on whether the ivory markets should be shut down

William said: 'We have the opportunity to end, once and for all, the mixed messages we have sent for too long about the value and desirability of wildlife products'

William arrives at The Shard to give the speech about the vulnerability of African wildlife 

William arrives at The Shard to give the speech about the vulnerability of African wildlife 

At the event run by Tusk, a charity that has boasted William as a patron since 2005, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall also called for a crackdown on the ivory trade.

William said: 'I am not prepared to be part of a generation that lets these iconic species disappear from the wild.

'I am not prepared to explain to our children why we lost this battle when we had the tools to win it – and I know that none of you in Tokyo, Johannesburg or here in London want this either. I fear we will not know what we have lost until it has gone.

'But there is hope – we can do something. There is huge momentum building from governments, businesses, conservationists, and the public to take the steps required to stop the killing.' 

In his speech William said, 'I am not prepared to be part of a generation that lets these iconic species disappear from the wild'

In his speech William said, 'I am not prepared to be part of a generation that lets these iconic species disappear from the wild'

Campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall says that all ivory that can't be verified as antique should be banned 

Campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall says that all ivory that can't be verified as antique should be banned 

He reminded conservationists how he spoke ahead of the last Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) conference when he urged conservationists and leaders to redouble their efforts to tackle illegal wildlife trade. 

He pointed out that thanks to the London Conference in 2014 the recovery of Giant panda numbers in China has shown how action can deliver results.  

The prince pointed out how last week the overwhelming vote at the IUCN World Conservation Congress called on all countries to close their domestic ivory markets.

'These are all significant steps, but progress is fragile and we cannot be complacent,' he said.

He continued: 'As leaders gather for CITES, and later at the third Illegal Wildlife Trade conference in Vietnam in November which I will be attending, we have the chance to seize a huge opportunity. 

William arrives at the Tusk event to deliver an emotive speech urging leaders and communities to stamp out the illegal ivory trade for good
He said he, 'wasn't prepared to  explain to our children why we lost this battle when we had the tools to win it'

The father-of-two, pictured arriving at the Time For Change event at The Shard, said he 'wasn't prepared to explain to our children why we lost this battle when we had the tools to win it'

'We have the opportunity to end, once and for all, the mixed messages we have sent for too long about the value and desirability of wildlife products.

'We have the chance to say that ivory is a symbol of destruction, not of luxury and not something that anyone needs to buy or sell.

 We have the chance to say that ivory is a symbol of destruction, not of luxury and not something that anyone needs to buy or sell

'We have the chance to say that rhino horn does not cure anything and does not need a legal market.

'Now is the chance to send an unambiguous message to the world that it is no longer acceptable to buy and sell ivory, rhino horn or other illegal wildlife products. 

'Indeed I would challenge anyone who knows the truth of how these wildlife products are obtained, to justify desiring them. Materialistic greed cannot be allowed to win against our moral duty to protect threatened species and vulnerable communities.

The Duke spoke to pupils from Sexey's School in Bruton, Somerset, who were there to see his speech referencing his generation's responsibility to the next

The Duke spoke to pupils from Sexey's School in Bruton, Somerset, who were there to see his speech referencing his generation's responsibility to the next

The father-of-two spoke to the Sexey's School pupils after his words of warning about the future of both rhinos and elephants in Africa

The father-of-two spoke to the Sexey's School pupils after his words of warning about the future of both rhinos and elephants in Africa

The royal shook hands with the schoolchildren who joined the global address at The Shard

The royal shook hands with the schoolchildren who joined the global address at The Shard

'This is not just an issue for people on the other side of the world – the British Government announced yesterday that it is looking closely at this issue in respect of our own domestic trade.'

This year's CITES conference takes place this weekend and William urged 'parties' to 'unite around an unmistakable message to the world about the crisis in which we find ourselves – in my personal opinion, a tightening and not a loosening of the rules around the international trade in ivory and rhino horn. 

'Mixed messages about the viability of trade in elephant or rhino parts would surely serve only to confuse would-be consumers at this crucial time.

We cannot undo the mistakes of the past. But we can and must take moral responsibility for the decisions we make today. Please let us not lose momentum or focus. If we are to succeed, we must do more; we must do it faster; and we must do it better. But most importantly, we must do it together.' 

Ben Fogle attended the Time for Change event in which Prince William said leaders had a moral duty to crush the illegal wildlife change once and for all

Ben Fogle attended the Time for Change event in which Prince William said leaders had a moral duty to crush the illegal wildlife change once and for all

Secretary-General of Cites John Scanlon and the Japanese philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa will also took part via satellite link from Johannesburg and Tokyo.

Tusk, which has boasted William as their patron since 2005, has raised more than £30million for projects in Africa since it was established 26 years ago.

The royal conducted a tour of the charity's projects in Botswana in 2010 with Prince Harry, and this April he visited Tusk-supported programmes in the north of Kenya.

Organisers hope the event will draw global attention to the continuing threat to many of the world's species from the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT).

William, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and William Hague talked after the event

William, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and William Hague talked after the event

The Duke of Cambridge (left) spoke to Yue Lei from Sanpower Group Corporation at Time For Change

The Duke of Cambridge (left) spoke to Yue Lei from Sanpower Group Corporation at Time For Change

The IWT is now recognised as the fourth largest transnational crime by value, after drugs, arms and human trafficking.

It is estimated to be worth up to $20billion (£15billion) each year and is responsible for decimating populations of elephant, rhino and many other lesser known species.

Currently, one African elephant is killed every 15 minutes - which means the species could become extinct within 10 years. 

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom was also at the event, the day after she announced a UK ban on modern ivory sales.

The ban will cover the sale of items dated since 1947 but the trade in 'worked' items made before then will still be allowed.

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom discussed the issues of the illegal trade with the royal and Conservative peer William Hague who tweeted about the 'excellent' Tusk event

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom discussed the issues of the illegal trade with the royal and Conservative peer William Hague who tweeted about the 'excellent' Tusk event

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom was among the audience of conservationists in London, Tokyo and Johannesburg listening to the Prince's message

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom was among the audience of conservationists in London, Tokyo and Johannesburg listening to the Prince's message

She said: 'What we're trying to do is to send a huge signal to the world that the illegal trade and poaching of elephants is not acceptable and that's what's going on today, every day.

'So it's a start on our manifesto commitment and we're trying to send a very strong message at what is a very important time.'

 Rhinos face extinction in our lifetimes as we struggle to correct lies about the supposed benefits of using its horn as a drug.

She said it was 'absolutely crucial' to have a plan to 'discourage' those who would benefit from the 'appalling, violent, illegal trafficking (that is) destroying communities and really importantly destroying these iconic beasts - it's a total global tragedy'.

The MP said the ban on modern day ivory sales is the 'first step' to tackle the 'difficult, international global issue' of poaching.

But former environment secretary Owen Paterson, who was also present, said the plans did not go far enough and thought that a 100-year ban would be stronger.

The MP for North Shropshire said: 'It's a start but it's not enough. If you could farm your way out of this and have huge rhinoceros farms and elephant farms... but this isn't chickens, this isn't beef. You could never, ever, ever farm enough of these animals to satisfy demand so you have to stop using this material.'

He praised the Duke's 'strong, clear speech' in which he said 'we must do more, we must do it faster, and we must do it better'. 

 

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