Yaya Toure becomes UN Goodwill Ambassador

 
Cote d’ Ivoire’s international football star, Yaya Toure, on Tuesday joined the roster of Goodwill Ambassadors for the UN Environment Programme.
Toure pledged to combat the illegal ivory trade that had seen thousands of African elephants slaughtered each year.

PANA in New York, quoting a UN statement, reports that Toure said poaching threatened the very existence of the African elephant and if no action was taken, the iconic species would be wiped out.
The Ivorian was African Footballer of the Year in 2011 and 2012 and an inspirational figure for Manchester City and his national side, Cote d’Ivoire.
He said, “I became a UNEP Goodwill Ambassador to spread the message that poaching and other forms of wildlife crime are a betrayal of our responsibility to safeguard threatened species.
“It is also a serious threat to the security, political stability, economy, natural resources and cultural heritage of many countries.”
UNEP, on its part, said the extent of the killings now far exceeded the natural population growth rates, putting elephants at risk of extinction, especially in Central and Western Africa.
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said the agency was honoured that Toure had agreed to be a Goodwill Ambassador.