Leonardo DiCaprio launches new animal rights campaign

Actor LEONARDO DiCAPRIO has asked his fans to sign a petition urging officials in Thailand to crack down on ivory trading.

The Titanic star has teamed up with conservation organization the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to launch a new animal rights campaign, called Hands Off My Parts.

The initiative aims to highlight the number of rhinos, tigers and elephants that are being killed for their skins, bones, tusks and horns.

DiCaprio wants the public to back the cause by adding their names to a petition, which calls on Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to take action on illicit ivory trading in the country.

He says, "Illegal wildlife trade is the most urgent threat facing species like tigers, rhinos and elephants. These animals are being killed every day to feed an escalating demand for their body parts.

"Whole populations are at risk of being wiped out if we don't take immediate action to shut down this illicit trade. As a key step, I am joining WWF and others calling on Thailand's government to show leadership on elephant conservation by shutting down its ivory market before the country hosts a meeting of 177 nations on wildlife trade in March 2013."