• HFPA

LEONARDO DiCAPRIO PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON TIGER ISSUE

November 25, 2010
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HFPA

Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin welcomes Leonardo DiCaprio to the WWF Tiger Summit in St. Petersburg
It certainly wasn’t the easiest trip for Golden Globe nominee Leonardo DiCaprio.
While en route to St. Petersburg, Russia, to attend a summit on tigers, his Delta flight from JFK New York had to return shortly after take-off after losing one engine.
After switching planes, his second flight required a unexpected stop in Helsinki, Finland, due to heavy turbulence.
“A person with less stable nerves could have decided against coming, could have read it as a sign – that it was not worth going,” according to Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin who welcomed the Titanic star when he finally arrived in St. Petersburg.
Mr. Putin added the actor had “literally tore his way through to Saint Petersburg,” calling him “a real man” for his persistence.
DiCaprio then called himself half-Russian, after disclosing that two of his late grandparents were actually Russian.
“Well, you will get to know St. Petersburg tomorrow and grow proud of your Russian roots,” Mr Putin replied.
Besides attending the summit and bringing the important issue of tiger exploitation into the public spotlight, the actor also personally donated $1 million to the important cause.
If you would like to learn more about the issue or make a donation yourself, just follow the link below. http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/tigers