The British Royal Prince William will be traveling on a three country tour of Africa will see him make stop overs at Namibia, Tanzania and Kenya.
The trip will see the Duke of Cambridge seek to scale the fight against poaching in order to save endangered wildlife species, according to reports in British newspapers.
In his first speech as patron of the Royal African Society (RAS) during a reception in the UK, Prince William announced his intended tour of Africa that will take place later in October.
The Prince, who is second in line to the British throne, said he was devastated at the effects poaching was having on wildlife.
He said, “I am deeply saddened by the numbers of elephant, rhino and pangolin who have been illegally slaughtered for their tusks, horns and scales.”
Prince William added that the illegal wildlife trade also had a devastating human impact. “Too many brave rangers are tragically killed each year by poachers. Communities see their tourist livelihoods threatened. And the proceeds of the illegal wildlife trade fund broader criminal networks and threaten security.”
In February of this year, the Daily Mail reported that in 1997 after the death of their mother Princess Diana, Prince William and his brother Prince Harry travelled to Africa on orders from their father Prince Charles so as to “get away from it all.”
This established a love for the continent which became a precious santuary for the two princes. Additionally, the British royals began engaging in wildlife conservancy.
“You can’t exaggerate their importance in Africa’s conservation wars,” Charlie Mayhew, chief executive of Tusk Trust told the Daily Mail.
Prince William’s trips to Kenya have seen him frequent the Lewa Conservancy on many occasions, including some time spent their during his gap year in university. The Duke of Cambridge has such a strong relationship with the Conservancy that even includes close ties with the family of the wildlife sanctuary’s landowner Ian Craig.
It was while on one of his trips to Kenya, in October 2010, that Prince William told the future Duchess of Cambridge that he wanted to marry her.
Prince William to Fight ‘Global, Senseless Crime’ of Poaching on Upcoming Africa Trip https://t.co/YpWXPGvc8e
— People (@people) September 13, 2018
Prince William to fight poaching on African trip https://t.co/1NlHF9c5gx pic.twitter.com/YpjFfvTtl7
— Eyewitness News (@ewnupdates) September 14, 2018