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UK's Hague, Prince Charles warn of wildlife crisis

  • Britain's Prince Charles, center, with his sons Prince William, right, and Prince Harry stops for the media outside Lancaster House as they arrive to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
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    Britain's Prince Charles, center, with his sons Prince William, right, and Prince Harry stops for the media outside Lancaster House as they arrive to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
  • The President of Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba arrives at Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London,Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
    2/8

    The President of Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba arrives at Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London,Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
  • The President of Chad Idriss Deby arrives at Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London,Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
    3/8

    The President of Chad Idriss Deby arrives at Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London,Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
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    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • The President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete arrives at Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London,Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
    4/8

    The President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete arrives at Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London,Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
  • The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird arrives at Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London,Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
    5/8

    The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird arrives at Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London,Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
  • Britain's Prince Charles, center, with his sons Prince William, right, and Prince Harry walk to Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
    6/8

    Britain's Prince Charles, center, with his sons Prince William, right, and Prince Harry walk to Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • Britain's Prince Charles, left, with his sons Prince William, right, and Prince Harry, behind him, walks to Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
    7/8

    Britain's Prince Charles, left, with his sons Prince William, right, and Prince Harry, behind him, walks to Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
  • Prince William, Duke of Cambridge meets actor Jackie Chan as he arrives at an evening reception for the Illegal Wildlife Trade conference at Natural History Museum in London, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, Pool)
    8/8

    Prince William, Duke of Cambridge meets actor Jackie Chan as he arrives at an evening reception for the Illegal Wildlife Trade conference at Natural History Museum in London, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, Pool)
Britain's Prince Charles, center, with his sons Prince William, right, and Prince Harry stops for the media outside Lancaster House as they arrive to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
The President of Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba arrives at Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London,Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
The President of Chad Idriss Deby arrives at Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London,Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
The President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete arrives at Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London,Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird arrives at Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London,Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
Britain's Prince Charles, center, with his sons Prince William, right, and Prince Harry walk to Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
Britain's Prince Charles, left, with his sons Prince William, right, and Prince Harry, behind him, walks to Lancaster House to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge meets actor Jackie Chan as he arrives at an evening reception for the Illegal Wildlife Trade conference at Natural History Museum in London, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, Pool)
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — British Foreign Secretary William Hague says the illegal wildlife trade has become a global criminal industry that ranks with drugs and arms and people trafficking.

Hague, speaking Thursday at the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference, said tens of thousands of elephants were killed last year along with more than 1,000 rhinos taken by an illegal trade that also threatens tigers and many other species.

Prince Charles, joined by his sons Prince William and Prince Harry, made similar warnings at the opening of the one-day conference, hosted by the British government.

Prince William, soccer star David Beckham and basketball stalwart Yao Ming also released a video message supporting anti-poaching efforts.