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"The Vampire Diaries" star Ian Somerhalder feels passionate about caring for animals and preserving the environment, and this is why he recently partnered with the organization called WildAid for its Year of the Elephant campaign.
The campaign seeks to stop the killing of innocent elephants for their tusks and to stop the proliferation of the ivory trade.
Somerhalder's passion to protect elephants all started when he visited Africa several years back.
"I was staying in Zimbabwe in the bush at this incredible conservation institute. Every morning I got to wake up and have my coffee with a young, orphaned elephant named Dojiwae. Both of her parents were killed by poachers unfortunately," he told CNN.
"If people had the ability to make that connection, the physical connection of this beautiful intelligent animal... I think people would really feel differently about when they think about taking this tusk and what it means to kill these beautiful animals," he continued.
Data obtained by WildAid revealed that approximately 33,000 elephants are killed every year for their ivory. If nothing is done to stop this, then elephants might become extinct within seven years.
"It's WildAid's goal. It's all of our goal to make this the year of the elephant, where more elephants are born than killed by poachers," said Somerhalder.
The more people know about the campaign, the more Somerhalder is certain that people will stop buying ivory.
"They don't realize that that little piece of ivory in their bracelet or their necklace, that it came from an elephant. So, it's about starting to question everything. Question where these things come from, why they're even there and join the conversation," Somerhalder said. "When the buying stops, the killing will stop."
Somerhalder is married to fellow actress Nikki Reed, who also shares his desire to help animals and protect the environment.
Earlier, Somerhalder gushed about the happiness he feels being married to Reed. "Every single day. Look who I get to wake up with," he told PEOPLE. "We're under kitties and dogs, and it's just pure bliss."
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Source: http://www.fashionnstyle.com/articles/82892/20160331/the-vampire-diaries-star-ian-somerhalder-on-a-mission-to-save-wild-african-elephants.htm
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