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In the News

Yao Ming joins fight against poaching

The former NBA star teamed up with the wildlife protection group WildAid to help publicize the loss of African elephants and rhinoceroses to poachers.

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Yao Ming stands in the open top of a safari vehicle to observe African elephants in the Samburu National Reserve. The former NBA star is making his first visit to Africa on behalf of WildAid, a nonprofit organization that fights the illegal trade in wildlife.

Kristian Schmidt for WildAid / WildAid

Yao Ming is followed by Kinango, a 2-week-old orphaned elephant whose mother was poached for her ivory, at Daphne Sheldrick's orphanage.

Yao Ming is followed by Kinango, a 2-week-old orphaned elephant whose mother was poached for her ivory, at Daphne Sheldrick's orphanage.

Kristian Schmidt for WildAid / WildAid

Yao Ming is presented with an eight-foot spear and is asked to become an honorary Samburu warrior. He is given the name Lenasakalai, after a legendary warrior who protected the Samburu people.

Yao Ming is presented with an eight-foot spear and is asked to become an honorary Samburu warrior. He is given the name Lenasakalai, after a legendary warrior who protected the Samburu people.

Kristian Schmidt for WildAid / WildAid

Yao Ming meets one of the world’s remaining seven northern white rhinoceroses, four of which are located at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Their transfer from the wild was aimed at providing the rhinos with the most favorable breeding conditions in an attempt to pull the species back from the verge of extinction.

Yao Ming meets one of the world’s remaining seven northern white rhinoceroses, four of which are located at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Their transfer from the wild was aimed at providing the rhinos with the most favorable breeding conditions in an attempt to pull the species back from the verge of extinction.

Kristian Schmidt for WildAid / WildAid

Yao Ming inspects the corpse of a poached elephant in Namunyak, northern Kenya. 'I saw five poached elephants in close proximity to each other while in Kenya -- an indication of the seriousness of the poaching crisis,' he wrote in a blog post.

Yao Ming inspects the corpse of a poached elephant in Namunyak, northern Kenya. "I saw five poached elephants in close proximity to each other while in Kenya -- an indication of the seriousness of the poaching crisis," he wrote in a blog post.

Kristian Schmidt for WildAid / WildAid

Yao Ming inspects the corpse of a poached elephant in Namunyak, northern Kenya.

Yao Ming inspects the corpse of a poached elephant in Namunyak, northern Kenya.

Kristian Schmidt for WildAid / WildAid

Yao Ming visits with Samburu village elders.

Yao Ming visits with Samburu village elders.

Kristian Schmidt for WildAid / WildAid

Yao Ming meets Najin and Suni, two of the world’s remaining seven northern white rhinos, four of which are located at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

Yao Ming meets Najin and Suni, two of the world’s remaining seven northern white rhinos, four of which are located at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

Kristian Schmidt for WildAid / WildAid

Yao Ming with Kenya police reservists. There are 32 KPRs at Ol Pejeta and they patrol mostly at night, which is when poaching usually takes place.

Yao Ming with Kenya police reservists. There are 32 KPRs at Ol Pejeta and they patrol mostly at night, which is when poaching usually takes place.

Kristian Schmidt for WildAid / WildAid

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