Trophy hunting
With its permissive laws for trophy imports, Britain is not only complicit in the trophy hunting trade but among the top 12 countries in the world with the most elephant killers.
As the last of Earth’s megafauna face extinction in the wild due to relentless poaching, habitat loss and conflict with humans, trophy hunters are killing them in growing numbers purely for ‘sport’.
The number of animals killed by trophy hunters is staggering: around 1.7 million trophies were legally traded worldwide between 2004 and 2014, around 200,000 of them from threatened species (CITES data). British hunters brought home 2,500 of them, including the heads, feet, tails, hides, tusks and horns from some of the most endangered species, like rhino and elephant.
According to a report by the group Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, British hunters have taken more than 1,089 elephant trophies and over a tonne of ivory back home in that decade.
The ‘sport’ killing of elephants by trophy hunters is having a devastating impact on the continent’s elephant populations.
The campaign group revealed that Zimbabwean hunter Ron Thomson has killed more than 5,000 elephants and 50 hippos in his long career of massacring wildlife. He denies being a trophy hunter, or being motivated by blood lust, instead claiming he was carrying out ‘major population reduction’ for the good of the species.
In another report, the CBTH identified British trophy hunter Malcolm W King as one of the world’s top big game hunters.
Mr King killed 528 animals in his hunting trips across 5 continents, including many from threatened species. A member of Safari Club International (SCI), he has been given dozens of awards for his hunting exploits.
THESE BRUTAL KILLINGS ARE A DRIVER OF EXTINCTION, YET THE UK CONDONES THEM BY ALLOWING HUNTERS TO IMPORT THE ANIMALS’ BODY PARTS
If you want to see an end to the UK’s role in the hunting trophy trade and a ban on all trophy imports, join the march through London on 13 April AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
The event begins at noon at Cavendish Square and will end at Richmond Terrace opposite Downing Street. After short speeches by a stellar cast of conservationists and celebrities, campaigners will deliver a letter to No. 10.
Organised by Action for Elephants, the open letter has been signed by over 100 conservationists, animal welfare groups, celebrities, scientists and religious leaders, plus a cross-party group of over 70 MPs and Lords.
Please sign these petitions calling for bans on trophy hunting imports:
Ban the import of hunting trophies from threatened species
Born Free Foundation petition to end trophy hunting
Petition to CITES to ban trophy hunting of endangered species
Ban lion trophy hunting imports into the UK
Email your MP – Ban Trophy Hunting imports to the UK!
Germany, Stop the Import of Hunting Trophies of Protected Animals