The Duke of Cambridge has called on the shipping industry to crack down on “bloody, dangerous” illegal ivory trade, as he tell them they are “both a central part of the problem, but also the solution”.
The Duke, who has made wildlife campaigning one of his key charity focuses, said the destruction of animal populations was an “almost unthinkable” travesty which, if it continued at current rates, would see no wild rhinos left on the planet by the time Prince George and Princess Charlotte were grown up.
Speaking at the UK Chamber of Shipping Annual Dinner on Monday, marking its 140th anniversary, the Duke said he was grateful for the “continued support” of the industry in tackling the illegal wildlife trade, and issue “close to my heart”.
But, he urged, shipping had a key part to play in closing down transport routes for ivory smugglers and criminal networks, with “containerised shipping” accounting for nearly three-quarters of the large-scale ivory seizures by weight since 2009.
“Ultimately, I believe that tackling the illegal trade in wildlife is in your interests as an industry,” he told leaders.
“The trade undermines security; it fuels organised crime; and it robs developing countries of a natural resource that will contribute to their future prosperity.”
Setting out the scale of the problem, the Duke outlined research showing record-numbers of large-scale ivory seizures, poaching and trafficking in elephant ivory is at its highest level in 25 years, and the seventh year in a row of increasing rhino poaching across Africa.
“At this rate, we will not have any rhinos left in the wild by the time my children are adults,” he said. “This is a travesty, and almost unthinkable. But it will happen unless we take action.”
Calling poaching “bloody, dangerous stuff”, he said one ranger is killed every week trying to protect animals, while the “big business” of illegal trade continues.
“Unfortunately, for you all in this room, your industry represents both a central part of the problem, but also the solution,” the Duke said.
“Transportation and logistics businesses, including shipping companies and cruise liners, are vulnerable to exploitation by illegal wildlife traffickers.
“With 50,000 merchant ships trading internationally and transporting every kind of cargo imaginable, the challenge posed in trying to stop the transport of illegal wildlife products is immense.”
Urging further collaboration, he said the evidence “highlights not only the importance of your engagement, but the enormous impact you are potentially able to have on this trade.”
“The British shipping industry quite rightly maintains the highest of standards across all your fields of work – environmental, safety, and innovation,” the Duke said in conclusion.
“You fly the Red Ensign with pride because it means something tangible about quality and about leadership.
“It is therefore hugely encouraging to think that you might also take a global lead on the illegal transportation of wildlife products.”