Prince William meets Vietnamese pupils learning about endangered rhino

The Duke of Cambridge met Vietnamese primary school children who are being encouraged to protect endangered rhinos with the help of a story book.

Prince William visited the Hanoi primary school as part of his two-day official tour of the Asian country to highlight the damaging effects the illegal trade in wildlife has on rhinos and elephants.

At Hong Ha primary school, pupils are reading I'm A Little Rhino, one of a series of books produced to educate children about endangered animals and why they are threatened.

The book tells the story of a young white rhino growing up in Africa, who describes their way of life and how they are targeted by poachers because some people wrongly believe their horns have healing properties.

It ends with a strong plea not to buy the animal parts.

The book's author and wildlife director for the Humane Society International, Teresa Telecky said: "We are thrilled that Prince William is helping to bring attention to the plight of rhinos and the dire poaching crisis they face, which is decimating their wild populations in Africa and Asia.

"Driving the crisis is the demand for rhino horn for its use in traditional medicines and health tonics despite the horn having no medicinal value.

"Our I'm A Little Rhino book educates children about rhinos and the threats to their survival and encourages them to ask adults in their lives not to buy or consume rhino horn."

Before leaving the school, Prince William found the time to play a quick game of football with some of the children.

He later toured the old quarter of Hanoi, visiting medicine shops and a cafe as part of his efforts to encourage the work of Vietnamese people to stop the use of things like rhino horn in traditional medicine.

While its use is reported to be declining, traditional medicine is still a strong part of Vietnamese culture.