At a recent gala hosted by the Tusk Trust, Prince William -- who's already had two children with wife Kate Middleton, mind you -- claimed that the world's overpopulation by humans is contributing to negative effects on the planet and its wildlife.
During his remarks at The Roundhouse in London where the Tusk Trust event was being held, William stated:
"In my lifetime we have seen global wildlife populations decline by over half. Africa's rapidly growing human population is predicted to more than double by 2050 — a staggering increase of three and a half million people per month. There is no question that this increase puts wildlife and habitat under enormous pressure. Urbanisation, infrastructure development, cultivation — all good things in themselves, but they will have a terrible impact unless we begin to plan and to take measures now.
On human populations alone, over-grazing and poor water supplies could have a catastrophic effect unless we start to think about how to mitigate these challenges.
We are going to have to work much harder, and think much deeper, if we are to ensure that human beings and the other species of animal with which we share this planet can continue to co-exist."
William went on to praise global efforts to restrict ivory sales and animal poaching, something the UK government has recently contributed to when it passed a ban on the ivory trade earlier this month. According to an Environmental Investigation Agency report, there were more than 36,000 items exported from the UK between 2010 and 2015, three times that of the United States' trade.
The prince's statements echoed remarks by his grandfather, Prince Phillip, who had discussed overpopulation in the past. During an interview in a documentary with Sir Trevor McDonald, Phillip had said, The food prices are going up – everyone thinks it's to do with not enough food, but it's really that demand is too great, too many people."
He continued, adding that "It's a little embarrassing for everybody, no one quite knows how to handle it. Nobody wants their family life to be interfered with by the government."
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(Cover Photo: Flickr/tsaiproject)