Prince William in Kenya, backs conservation efforts

Britain royal Prince William on Thursday pledged to support Kenya’s efforts to stop poaching.

He made the promise while on a four-day visit to Africa ahead of the world’s biggest burning of ivory.

Kenya is set to set fire to the vast majority of its ivory and rhino horn stockpile. The 120 tonnes of ivory is eight times the size of any ivory stockpile destroyed so far as well as 1.5 tonnes of rhino horn.

The highly publicised public display will be led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and attended by a number of celebrities, conservationists and heads of state.

“We are determined to conserve our wildlife for posterity and welcome all the support we can get in this endeavour,” Kenyatta said after meeting William in Nairobi.

“If there is anything I can do to raise the profile in your efforts to conserve wildlife, I will do it,” William said, according to the statement.

William, the second-in-line to the British throne, has repeatedly condemned illegal wildlife trafficking.

He is in Kenya to attend the wedding of his former girlfriend Jecca Craig, the daughter of Kenyan conservationist Ian Craig.

More than 30,000 elephants are killed every year in Africa to satisfy demand in Asia where raw tusks sell for around $1,100 a kilogram.

AFP