In his first speech since King Charles III gave him his new title last month, the Prince of Wales said the illegal wildlife trade can be defeated after a man was jailed for conspiring to traffic millions of dollars' worth of rhinoceros horns and elephant ivory.
Prince William called US district judge Gregory H Woods's sentencing of Moazu Kromah to more than five years in prison a “significant victory”.
Kromah was convicted of conspiring to traffic rhino horns and elephant ivory in a crime that involved the deaths of about 135 animals.
In July, Prince William paid tribute to the “committed and brave” ranger Anton Mzimba who was reportedly shot and killed outside his home in South Africa.
The prince called for those responsible for the conservationist's death to be “swiftly brought to justice”.
“There's a front line and that's the worrying thing,” the prince said. “There's a war going on and everyone doesn't really see it.”
Prince William added that the most recent statistic he had heard was that, in the past 10 years, more than 1,000 rangers have been killed in Africa protecting local wildlife and communities.
“It's terrifying,” he said. “It really is.”
Before his speech, he met Altin Gysman of the Southern African Wildlife College, who was a friend and colleague of Mzimba. The prince called Mzimba's death a “shocking moment” and praised rangers for their work protecting endangered animals.
The heir to the British throne was speaking at the United for Wildlife global conference at the Science Museum in London.
United for Wildlife was created by Prince William and The Royal Foundation charity in 2014 to protect endangered species from the illegal wildlife trade.
Its stated mission is “to foster cross-sector collaboration to make it impossible for traffickers to transport, finance or profit from illegal wildlife products”.
The prince has long campaigned against the illegal wildlife trade, previously calling for a commitment to end the “abhorrent crime”.
This week's conference is being hosted by Royal Foundation chairman Lord Hague and will bring together more than 300 global leaders from law enforcement agencies, conservation organisations and private sector companies that are part of United for Wildlife.
The event will include speakers announcing policies and unveiling partnerships in a bid to end the illegal wildlife trade, which is worth up to $20 billion per year and is associated with violent crime, corruption and other forms of trafficking.
Prince William through the years — in pictures
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
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- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Five expert hiking tips
- Always check the weather forecast before setting off
- Make sure you have plenty of water
- Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
- Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
- Take your litter home with you
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills