Prince William at the United for Wildlife Global Showcase in Cape Town, Nov. 2024.Photo:Chris Jackson/Getty
Chris Jackson/Getty
Prince Williamis hailing an “unprecedented feat” in thwarting a huge illegal transport of endangered and vulnerable wildlife destined for the pet trade and returning them to their original habitat.
The successful global operation saw hundreds of tortoises and lemurs returned to Madagascar and arrests made for trafficking the wildlife.
The animals were seized as part of an international law enforcement operation while being smuggled through Thailand for possible sale into the international illegal pet trade.
Prince William at the Tusk Conservation Awards in London Nov. 27, 2024.JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty
JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty
He added, “ We must look to this collaborative model for future operations to ensure we are acting swiftly and safely to remove animals from the hands of criminals and return them to their natural habitats.”
United for Wildlife then convened and mobilized members of its Transport Taskforce – in particular Qatar Airways Cargo and Airlink – who provided free transport to return the animals to Madagascar.
It is one of the largest seizures and repatriations the world has seen and the final shipment of animals arrived in Madagascar on December 12th. The animals – including ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), common brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus), Spider tortoise (Pyxis arachnoids), and radiated tortoises (Astrochelys radiata – will then be assessed before being returned to their natural habitats, William’s organization reports.
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In Madagascar, the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Max Andonirina Fontaine, praised it as a “resounding victory of virtuous forces over criminal networks and marks one of the largest seizures and repatriations we have ever seen.”
Prince William on his visit to Cape Town where he highlighted the work of his United for Wildlife and his environmental Earthshot Prize, in Nov. 2024.Aaron Chown - Pool/Getty
Aaron Chown - Pool/Getty
Edward Grace, Assistant Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement added,“The repatriation of Madagascar’s protected wildlife resources demonstrates the power of global cooperation in dismantling illegal wildlife trade networks and protecting our planet’s biodiversity. This landmark operation, involving the seizure of critically endangered tortoises and lemurs, highlights the importance of international coordination in combating transnational environmental crimes and safeguarding some of the world’s most threatened species.
source: people.com
