Namibian model; Victoria’s Secret Angel; mom to two-year-old Dusty and 11-month old Gio; and Mrs. Adam (Maroon frontman) Levine, Behati Prinsloo covers the January 2019 issue of Porter Edit. Morgan Pilcher styles Behati in earth-color, utilitarian luxury outerwear and casual looks for ‘The Wild One’, lensed by Alexandra Nataf. Behati shares her thoughts and experiences in her own words.

Born and raised in Namibia, Behati Prinsloo left her country to pursue modeling at age 15. While she hasn’t looked back, Behati has always maintained her ties to her home continent and country, influenced now by her friend Doutzen Kroes to join the animal conservation movement. Doutzen is well-known for her work with elephant charities, and she put Prinsloo in touch with Save The Rhino Trust in Namibia.

If our generation doesn’t try to end poaching, the rhinos simply won’t be there one day. I am so close to this land, it’s where I’m from. I’m going to do a film with the rhino trackers to try and shed light on the situation. If I only save one rhino it will still be worth it.

AOC and GlamTribal Design are well-versed on big game conservation, and while Prinsloo’s comments are spot on, the reality of the situation around poaching is so much more complicated.

The conflict between humans and animals is also increasingly with the growth of human populations in Africa, leaving many wild animals dead.

My point is that the Western view that if only we would stop trophy hunting, the animals would be safe is a white saviour’s attitude deeply resented in Africa. A new study estimates the actual cost of maintaining the wildlife in Africa to be $1 billion a year, and the real question is are we willing to pay that ongoing cost, because most African countries cannot.

The luxury hotel sector also needs to step up and play a significant piece of underwriting this ongoing cost of saving African wildlife. ~ Anne