A next generation of conservationists met with the Duke of Cambridge, HRH Prince William at the top of the Shard to discuss the plight of endangered species in light of the illegal trade in ivory. Prince William is the Royal Patron of the charity Tusk which campaigns for the ban in ivory trade and he made his global address with live satellite links to Tokyo and Johannesburg, on the eve of the CITES conference (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) in South Africa. Tusk promotes education, supports communities and helps protect wildlife such as elephants and rhinos through its tireless conservation work and sustainability projects throughout Africa.

Prince William said: ‘I am not prepared to be part of a generation that lets these iconic species disappear from the wild. I fear we will not know what we have lost until it had gone.’

The ivory trade is estimated to be worth up to £15 billion each year and is responsible for decimating populations of elephant, rhino and many other lesser known species.

Currently, one African elephant is killed every 15 minutes, which means the species could become extinct in as little as 10 years.

Youtube footage of the event (featuring our Sexeians at 12 mins 41 seconds) can be viewed here.