The “Ticket to the Wild” program was held on April 12th in Ho Chi Minh city with the presentation of Maggie Q, a Hollywood star and global ambassador of WildAid organization, in order to honor the efforts of partners and ambassadors contributing to it.

Artists at the event (Photo: vea.gov.vn)

The event not only updated main information on the rhino crisis today, but also set to inspire guests to discuss and give more ideas to celebrities, diplomats, the business community and the public to cooperate in 2015 to resolve this crisis.

In 2014, the number of rhinos killed in Africa for consumption in Asian countries, particularly Vietnam and China reached 1,215.

The “Stop using rhino horn” campaign will be expanded in both scale and influence during 2015. Famous Vietnamese artists such as singer and composer Thanh Bui, singer Thu Minh, composer Quoc Trung, actress Hong Anh and many others have contributed time and effort to the campaign: appearing in messages on TV channels, advertising in public places, communicating with millions of viewers on social media channels, participating on stage in schools reaching over 10,000 students, teachers and parents, and delivering speeches on talk shows on TV and other events of the business community.

"I am very impressed with the presence of artists and business leaders today supporting the campaign. I am very sad to hear about the number of rhinos killed for their horns sold in Vietnam. I believe that Vietnam could become a leading country in stopping the rhino horn trafficking. In cooperation with each others, we can stop the brutal and ridiculous killing of the wonderful rhino," Maggie Q said at the event.

"Protecting rhinos and endangered wild animals is not only the responsibility of the government or non-governmental organizations but the responsibility of everyone in society, in which enterprises play a very important role. On the one hand, entrepreneurs are those who can afford to buy rhino horn, but on the other hand, they can bring great changes in society thanks to their words. I myself commit to act firmly and actively to protect endangered species like rhino. I'll convince my friends and partners to make the same action," said Mr. Hoang Khai, a businessman and an ambassador of WildAid Organization.

Previously, ambassadors of the organization and celebrities supported the campaign by drawing nails to save rhinos, emphasising the fact that rhino horn is made up of keratin, like human fingernails.

They also launched a signature campaign on the Internet to call on the public to save the rhino. After seven days, 5,216 had signed up.

“Ticket to the Wild” campaign is part of the worldwide program of WildAid Organization named “No buyer, No killer”./.

( Compiled by VNF )