Prince and Princess of Wales highlight global effort against wildlife crime
Prince William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, marked World Wildlife Day 2026 by spotlighting the global fight against wildlife trafficking.
Through their official Instagram account, the royal couple shared a message drawing attention to a successful international conservation effort. Their post reshared a story from the organisation United for Wildlife, accompanied by the caption: “World Wildlife Day 2026.”
The post told the story of “a transnational journey home,” focusing on six jewelled geckos that were returned to their native habitat in New Zealand after being discovered in Europe during a major wildlife trafficking investigation.
According to the details shared, the rare reptiles had never been legally exported from New Zealand. Authorities believe they were smuggled from the wild before being uncovered during Operation Thunder, a large international crackdown targeting wildlife crime networks.
Following the discovery, enforcement agencies, conservation groups, airline partners and United for Wildlife worked together across several countries to ensure the safe return of the animals to New Zealand.
United for Wildlife was founded by William in 2014 through The Royal Foundation. The initiative works with governments, law enforcement agencies and financial institutions worldwide to disrupt wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species.
World Wildlife Day is observed globally to celebrate the collective efforts of people and organisations working to protect animals and return them safely to their natural homes.
