Prince Harry is announced as patron of a rhino conservation charity in his 'second home' Botswana where he's been visiting endangered species for more than 20 years

  • Harry, 32, is the new royal patron for Rhino Conservation Botswana (RCB) 
  • Royal calls the country his 'second home' and has been visiting for 20 years 
  • Harry joined an RCB operation to help save rhinos in Botswana in September

By Unity Blott For Mailonline

Published: 11:32 EST, 19 January 2017 | Updated: 12:48 EST, 19 January 2017

Prince Harry is to champion a campaign to help protect endangered rhinos in Botswana.

Harry, 32, welcomed the chance become the royal patron of Rhino Conservation Botswana (RCB) after seeing first-hand the cruelty they face from poachers.

The royal said: 'I've been lucky enough to visit Botswana for more than 20 years and am incredibly fortunate to be able to call it my second home.

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Prince Harry and the director of Rhino Conservation Botswana (RCB), Martin Ives, discuss the prospects of a large black rhino that has been fitted with a new tracking device in 2015

'Being patron of RCB is an opportunity to give something back to a country that has given so much to me.

'It's about time we start celebrating and supporting the countries that are taking the lead in conservation.'

Rhinos, described by Harry as 'one of Africa's most iconic species', are hunted for their horns. Poaching could make them extinct in 10 years, the RCB said.

Harry joined an RCB operation to fit electronic tracking devices to critically endangered black rhinos in Botswana in September.

Prince Harry is to champion athe RCB'scampaign to help protect endangered rhinos in Botswana. As the sedative takes effect, a female black rhino wedges herself into a sickle bush

Harry helps out during his 2015 trip. Rhinos, described by Harry as 'one of Africa's most iconic species', are hunted for their horns. Poaching could make them extinct in 10 years

Harry helped to clear thorn bushes from around sedated rhinos so that tracking devices could be fitted, monitored the animals' breathing and heart rate, administered oxygen, covered rhinos' eyes to protect them and helped to keep the animals cool with water.

It is all part of the work needed to protect rhinos and maintain biodiversity that they depend on to survive in the wilderness.

Despite their size, rhinos have no defences against bullets and high-powered weapons.

RCB director Martin 'Map' Ives said: 'Prince Harry has seen at first-hand the cruel and senseless damage inflicted on these endangered animals by poachers.

Harry helps rangers during his 2015 Botswana trip. The vet needs access to the black rhino as soon as it succumbs to the sedative in order to start monitoring its vital signs

'I know that His Royal Highness's support for our work will make a real difference to rhino conservation. We are hugely grateful for the work and support Prince Harry has already extended to RCB, and look forward to working with him in the future as our patron.

'Across Africa, rhinos are being poached for their horns at a rate that could make them extinct in the wild within 10 years.

'It's a senseless trade; rhino horn has no proven medicinal value. Even so, demand is increasing. Today rhino horn is worth more than gold.'

RCB was set up in 2014 to monitor and protect black and white rhinos it helps rescue from poaching hotspots across southern Africa and move to Botswana. 

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