Prince Williamis marking a royal first while supporting a longstanding cause.
Speaking at the event for United for Wildlife, which he created as part of the Royal Foundation in 2014, William remembered his late grandparentsQueen ElizabethandPrince Philipas well as fatherKing Charlesfor their part in shaping his passion for conservation.
“Our natural world is one of our greatest assets,” the Prince of Wales said. “It is a lesson I learnt from a young age, from my father and grandfather, both committed naturalists in their own right, and also from my much-missed grandmother, who cared so much for the natural world.”
He added, “In times of loss, it is a comfort to honor those we miss through the work we do. I take great comfort then from the progress we are making to end the illegal wildlife trade.”
Prince William.PAUL GROVER/POOL/AFP via Getty
The illegal wildlife trade is worth up to $20 billion annually, andPrince Williamwants to bring the “sinister” criminal operations “out of the shadows” so they can be combated. The royal, 40, has been at the forefront of an initiative to bring together transport, banking and port authorities to unite against the criminal gangs who poach ivory and other products and then ship them around the world.
In the six years since the organization created its international transport and financial task forces, it has involved 250 organizations in its network, leading to 450 law enforcement cases, 250 arrests and almost 200 seizures of wildlife products. It has also trained around 100,000 people in enforcement.
Prince Williamsaid that while their work is having a “demonstrable impact,” they have much more to do.
“While we do not have the luxury of time, clearly we do have a proven roadmap to success and the motivation to put it into action,” he said. “I hope you all leave here today energized and motivated to intensify this work. Because there are still too many criminals who believe they can act with impunity, too many lives being destroyed and too many species on the brink of extinction due to this heinous crime.”
Prince William.Paul Grover - Pool/Getty
The United for Wildlife Global Summit at London’s Science Museum brought 300 delegates from the private sector, conservation organizations and law enforcement together to underline the global strength and cooperation against illegal wildlife crime.
They had recent success as United for Wildlife members were a crucial part of a collaboration thatsaw a man convicted and sentenced to more than five years in prisonfor conspiring to traffic more than $7 million worth of rhino horn and elephant ivory. Around 135 animals had been killed in the process.
He added the outcome serves as “further proof that we have the tools to combat this insidious crime and is a testament to the power of international collaboration.”
Chairman of the Royal Foundation Lord Hague said, “The depletion of our most precious wildlife continues. That makes the illegal wildlife trade an intolerable offense. But its association with violent crime, corruption, people trafficking and even terrorist financing makes it of the utmost seriousness.”
“Our response, therefore, needs to be similarly organized, similarly global in scope, and just as serious as the crime we are fighting,” Lord Hauge added. “It is the breadth and diversity of the collaboration that makes the United for Wildlife network unique in its work to defeat illegal wildlife crime.”
Prince William.Alastair Grant/AP/Shutterstock
Mzimba’s colleague and fellow ranger Altin Gysman from Southern Africa Wildlife College spoke movingly about him and their work. Gysman paid tribute saying he was a “husband, father, brother, comrade and coach.”
“He was a dedicated ranger but also a selfless individual who cared for others in his department,” Gysman added. “He epitomized what it takes to be a true ranger, but was also a husband, father, a brother, a son, a mentor, a manager, a coach and a true leader.”
John Jurko, director of a film called Rhino Man that centered on Mzimba’s work, called the man he’d become close to as “a warrior ready to stand in front of a bullet to protect a rhino.”
But saying it was up to people to inspire children to care for the herds of today and the future, he adds, “It’s not too late, there’s still hope.”
John Jurko, the director ofRhino Man— the movie about the work and life of Mzimba and other rangers — tells PEOPLE, “My main focus was working with the rangers and seeing what they face on the frontline. Anton used to say, ‘We’re the last line of defense.’ But unless there’s something happening outside the reserve, a collaborative effort, they’re fighting a losing battle over time.”
“What United for Wildlife is doing is bringing all these partners from all these different industries together. Between regions and internationally there is no way the rangers can tackle this on their own, so it’s super-important to be getting these people together in a room to collaborate. This forum is amazing and hopefully facilitates those connections and will hopefully get the people at the top who are fueling all of this.”
He saysPrince Williamis “definitely in this for the long haul. He started this organization. He was talking with the rangers' trainer, and you can just tell he’s very invested in what the frontline workers are doing as well, he sees the human side of it and the impact it has on the people working in the field. That connection and desire to help on that side fuels his passion to bring people together. I feel pretty confident he’s in it for the long haul.”
Altin Gysman, from Southern Africa Wildlife College, knew Mzimba well. He tells PEOPLE that he spoke with William at a reception.
“He said to us ‘he wants the work to continue.’ We need to look into the future for future generations to be able to see the animals and species that are in our parks and reserves. If we don’t combat wildlife crime future generations won’t be able to see the animals,” Gysman says. “The prince’s participation within this and being an ambassador for the wildlife is very, very good. To see someone of his high profile status supporting it is something incredible. He is very well-connected to nature conservation and protecting natural resources. He is here to stay, and he can make a very big difference in the future.”
“Meeting the prince was a very big opportunity for me and an honor. The prince asked me how long I knew Anton. When I was coaching him on a project, and the prince had an interview with Anton [his was when they spoke] and with him being close to Anton and giving Anton that support, the death of Anton was something that he couldn’t believe it. They shared a passion that Anton to do something. Like all of us, the prince lost him too.”
The father of four, who is based in the Kruger National Parkin South Africa, adds, “Even though it has been quite hard talking about [Anton] today, it was also good to tell the world what he was doing in his working environment and it’s also one ting other people to see what frontline officials do on the ground.”
Prince William.Samir Hussein/WireImage
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Both Prince William and his wife,Kate Middleton, are figuring out how their royal work will change as Prince and Princess of Wales. It’s very much business as usual so far, as they forge on with their long-running projects and close interests. On Wednesday, Prince William will focus on sport, while the Princess of Wales continues to highlight supporting children in the early years of life.
Next month,Prince Williamwill likely attend the 10th Tusk awards in London, celebrating those making a difference for the wildlife of Africa.
source: people.com
