This week, the government has set out one of the toughest bans on the import of hunting trophies in the world, protecting nearly 7,000 species and supporting long-term conservation – delivering on our manifesto commitment.
The new ban will apply to imports of hunting trophies from endangered and threatened animals into Great Britain, supporting long-term species conservation and protecting some of the world’s most endangered and threatened animals – including the frequently killed ‘Big Five’ (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos).
The Ban will also cover over 1,000 additional species which are considered near-threatened or worse, such as African buffalo, zebra and reindeer – going further than the Government’s initial manifesto commitment to prohibit the import of hunting trophies from endangered species.
The Government consulted on a ban in 2019 and received over 44,000 responses which showed clear public and conservation group support for tighter restrictions with 86% supporting further action.
The Government’s world-leading Ivory Act will also come into force next year and will further support conservation measures by introducing a near total ban on the import export and dealing of items containing elephant ivory in the UK, regardless of their age.
Richard Fuller, MP for North East Bedfordshire said:
More animal species are now threatened with extinction than ever before in human history because of trophy hunting – we need to save these species. That is why in our response to the consultation on hunting trophies, we have set out one of the toughest bans in the world on importing hunting trophies from thousands of endangered and threatened species – including lions, rhinos, elephants, and polar bears.
This will help to protect some of the world’s most endangered animals and support long-term conservation – delivering on our manifesto commitment.
