Brangelina met British royalty for tea on Friday, June 26. Hollywood A-List celebrity couple Angelina Jolie Pitt and Brad Pitt joined Prince William and Princess Kate at Kensington Palace in London, England. The two married couples discussed the topic of illegal wildlife trade and ways to raise awareness of the worldwide poaching crisis.
Prince William is the President of United for Wildlife, an organization that unites wildlife charities worldwide. United for Wildlife campaigns for animals to be protected from poachers and from extinction. Ambassadors for the organization are renowned athletes and sports figures David Beckham, Andy Murray, and Lewis Hamilton.
“I believe passionately that we have a duty to prevent critically endangered species from being wiped out. If we get together, everywhere, we can preserve these animals so that they share our world with future generations. That’s what United for Wildlife is all about, and why I’m proud to be involved,” said William.
The organization is a fusion of seven conservation organizations run by The Royal Foundation. According to its official website, they are committed to providing better protection for wildlife, reduce demand for illegal products made from animals, improve law enforcement, reduce trafficking, and to engage the younger generation about the wildlife conservation efforts.
“Whole species are being hunted to extinction, as part of an illegal trade that benefits organized criminals and armed gangs,” states the website.
Illegal wildlife trade is ranked fourth on a list of the world’s most lucrative trades after drugs, humans, and illegal arms. While animals are harmed by the business, at least two human rangers die each week. In the past four decades, 95% of the world’s rhinos died. Recent efforts made by China confiscated and destroyed 662 kilograms of ivory in Beijing on May 29, 2015. China’s State Forestry Administration created ten new laws to combat the illegal wildlife trade.
