MUMBAI: The actor plans to support various animal conservation issues, but will begin his new role with the "Elephants, Never Forget" campaign.

Leonardo DiCaprio has been appointed the global ambassador for the International Fund for Animal Welfare‘s (IFAW) Animal Action campaign ‘Elephants, Never Forget‘.

The campaign has been designed to shut down the slaughter to near extinction of these animals caused by the black market international ivory trade, despite the ivory ban established 1989.

"Authorities in 85 countries have seized almost 400 tons of ivory on the black market since the 1989 ivory trade ban," DiCaprio has ben quoted to have said.

"In the last century, the number of elephants in the wild has declined by 50 percent. Their disappearance could devastate ecosystems and have a lasting impact on the biodiversity of our planet," he added.

The ivory trade also fuels ongoing conflict and strife around the world.

"Elephants are killed by poachers so their tusks can be traded for weapons and drugs by international criminal organizations before becoming trinkets and jewelry for consumers," DiCaprio explained.

The IFAW action is part of the organization‘s annual international education program that strives to reach seven million teachers, students and their families in over 15 countries.