Prince Harry: Saving endangered animals is God's test for humanity

Prince Harry has said that saving endangered animals is "God's test" for humanity.

The royal said that if we cannot save elephants from extinction then humanity may be in danger too.

He called for an international body to regulate anyone who owns or manages wildlife in his strongest comments on conservation so far.

Harry also revealed he is "more myself than anywhere in the world" when he is in Africa.

The Prince said that he feels an "intense sense of complete relaxation and normality" in the continent that he doesn't get elsewhere.

Harry was speaking in the latest edition of Town and Country, a US magazine, which made him the cover star under the headline "Bachelors of the year".

The cover photo showed him posing in dark green shirt and looking into the distance as if he were a model.
Harry's comments suggest that the fifth in line to the throne, who has yet to decide on a career for himself, could follow his father and devote himself to conservation full time.

The 32-year-old is currently dating US actress Meghan Markle, 35.

Harry and his brother, Prince William, were taken to Africa by their father Prince Charles after the death of their mother, Princess Diana, in 1997.

Recalling the episode, Harry said: "My dad told my brother and me to pack our bags – we were going to Africa to get away from it all. My brother and I were brought up outdoors. We appreciate nature and everything about it. But it became more...'

At this point Harry became more serious.

He said: "This is where I feel more like myself than anywhere else in the world. I wish I could have spent more time in Africa. I have this intense sense of complete relaxation and normality here.

"To not get recognised, to lose myself in the bush with what I would call the most down to earth people on the planet, people (dedicated to conservation) with no ulterior motives, no agendas, who would sacrifice everything for the betterment of nature...

"I talk to them about their jobs and learn so much. (And then) I go home and bang the drum. So that we can all try and make a difference."

Harry was interviewed during the three weeks he spent at the 500 Elephants project in Malawi run by an NGO called African Parks.

The aim to transport the animals from an overstocked region to one with less human conflict and more food.

During his time there Harry helped to catch anaesthetised elephants and load them on trucks which moved them 200 miles from Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve to the Nkhotakota reserve, where the elephants can thrive.

Among his duties was to drive out to get elephants that had been shot with a tranquiliser from a helicopter.Harry said he was not scared of the animal hurting him if it wasn't completely out because "I'm fatalistic. If something is going to happen to you, it will happen... I have such respect for the animals that it's a privilege to work around them. Plus the army taught me teamwork".