London (CNN) -- Britain's Prince Charles made a heartfelt appeal Thursday for the world to come together to end the "appalling trade" annihilating threatened wildlife such as elephants and tigers in Africa and Asia. His speech at the London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade called for high-level action by world leaders to be matched by action on the ground to stop the demand for illegal products and punish those involved in the trade. The conference was the culmination of a week of events aimed at galvanizing efforts to halt the slaughter of endangered animals for their bones, hides or tusks -- much in demand in parts of Asia.
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NEW: Leaders agree to global steps to combat illegal wildlife trade at London summit
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NEW: They promise tougher penalties and destruction of stockpiles of ivory, wildlife products
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Study: 65% of forest elephants in Central Africa were lost to poaching from 2002 to 2013
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Researcher: By the time you eat breakfast, another elephant has been slaughtered for trinkets
Charles said he had been approached a little over a year ago by a group of presidents from @placeholder who made an impassioned plea for help.