Prince Harry Issues Call to Action, Shares Personal Photos in Africa

— -- Prince Harry shared personal photos and video of his work on the front lines of anti-poaching efforts in Africa this summer to coincide with his visit to Kruger National Park today.

The fifth-in-line to the British throne is meeting the people of South Africa on behalf of the Queen, raising awareness on issues close to his heart.

The 31-year-old was left shocked and visibly moved as rangers today showed him a slaughtered rhino and her baby. Harry examined what was left of the carcass and was told by the head of the ranger team that the mother was probably killed first by poachers because the baby will always return to the mother.

In one photo released by Kensington Palace of his trip this summer, Harry lay across the belly of a sedated African elephant, writing, "After a very long day in Kruger National Park with five rhinos sent to new homes and three elephants freed from their collars - like this sedated female - I decided to take a moment. I know how lucky I am to have these experiences, but hearing stories from people on the ground about how bad the situation really is, upset and frustrated me."

Prince Harry spent the summer in Bostwana, Namibia, Tanzania and South Africa alongside rangers and veterinarians seeking to halt poaching and help elephants and rhinos who had survived horrendous attacks to remove their horns and tusks.

He made an impassioned speech today about how much Africa means to him.

"My love of Africa has never been any secret, it’s just been a huge part of my private life," the prince said.

It's no secret that Prince Harry spent considerable time on the continent with his first love, Zimbabwean Chelsy Davy, and has spoken of the tranquility he feels at one with nature and in the African bush.

"I’ve always wanted to keep it like that until I had the experience of age to give something back to a place that has given me and so many others the freedom and space we all crave," Harry said. "This continent has given me thousands of happy memories since 1997 and for that I am indebted to it."

Prince Harry was first introduced to the country with his father, Prince Charles, as a young boy in 1997.

In another video shared on Kensington Palace's Twitter account, Harry approaches a nearly sedated rhino in Botswana and strokes its horn, later feeding a baby with bottled milk.

Today, Harry was on a different mission, to draw attention to the senseless slaughter of helpless animals that continues on the continent all because of the lucrative poaching trade.

"In recent years Kruger has also become a major killing field. The numbers of rhinos poached in South Africa has grown by nearly 500 percent in just five years," Harry reminded those at a graduation ceremony at the Southern Africa Wildlife College.

"My brother, William, is working at a global level to encourage countries like America and China to lead the way in ending demand for ivory and rhino horn and to help African nations with the resources they need to beat the traffickers," Harry said.

"Next week in London, he will host a global task force of transportation firms, government agencies and wildlife experts to agree on an ambitious plan to shutdown global trafficking routes," Prince Harry continued. "I am incredibly proud of what he is achieving and will do whatever I can to support him."

"This is a test for all humanity and we cannot afford to fail. Nature needs us to fight her battles and in this case, protect her animals, some of which have been on this planet for tens of thousands of years," Prince Harry concluded in a call to action everywhere.