Trophy Hunting: A Cruel and Outdated Practice that Continues to Claim Lives

A devastating exhibition titled 'Still Life' is set to expose the gruesome reality of trophy hunting, showcasing 35 powerful photographs of hunting trophies seized by authorities in the UK and USA. The exhibition, organized by the Mirror and Humane World for Animals, aims to highlight the need for a UK import ban on hunting trophies, a Labour Government manifesto commitment. The exhibition will be presented to MPs later this month, with senior wildlife campaigns manager Nicola White stating that the photographs "illustrate the tragic waste of animals' lives in this cruel, outdated and damaging industry."

Key Takeaways:

• The number of hunting trophies from endangered animals imported to the UK increased significantly in 2023, with dozens of trophies from lions, elephants, a brown bear, a leopard, a hippo, and a cheetah shipped to the UK.
• The Labour Government committed to banning imports of hunting trophies in its 2024 manifesto, but so far, no progress has been made.
• A Private Members' Bill sponsored by David Reed MP, the Hunting Trophies Import Prohibition Bill, is due its Second Reading in the House of Commons on 13th June.
• The latest wildlife trade data from CITES shows that the number of hunting trophies from endangered animals imported to the UK reached an alarming post-Brexit high in 2023.
• The exhibition 'Still Life' features 35 powerful photographs of hunting trophies seized by authorities in the UK and USA, highlighting the cruel and outdated practice of trophy hunting.
• British trophy hunters have created macabre products from hunting trophies, including elephant feet made into magazine racks and slippers made from bear paws.
• Eduardo Goncalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, stated that trophy hunters collect the trunks, ears, and tails of elephants, the penises of bears and seals, bear paws, and worse.

Statistics:

• 39 hunting trophies from endangered animals, including lions, elephants, a brown bear, a leopard, a hippo, and a cheetah, were shipped to the UK in 2023.
• The number of hunting trophies from endangered animals imported to the UK increased significantly in 2023, hitting an alarming post-Brexit high.
• 2023 marks 10 years since Cecil the lion suffered for over 10 hours following his wounding by crossbow in 2015, before finally being put out of his misery.

Sources:

• "Mirror" newspaper article, undated
• Humane World for Animals, undated
• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) wildlife trade data, 2023
• Private Members' Bill sponsored by David Reed MP, Hunting Trophies Import Prohibition Bill, undated