Trophy hunters bring bodies of lions and bears to the UK – despite repeated pledges to ban imports

British trophy hunters have imported the corpses or body parts of 1,800 endangered animals since the killing of Cecil the lion more than a decade ago, despite promises from successive governments to ban the practice.

Hunters brought home the corpses of lions and bears, the ears, feet and tails of elephants and giraffes, as well as elephant tusks and leopard bones.

Permits have also been issued for trophy hunting of critically endangered black rhinos and cheetahs, Africa’s most endangered big cat.

In total, parts or entire bodies of more than 50 species classified as endangered have been legally brought back to Britain.

The latest import permits were granted despite Labor promising to ban hunting trophy imports in its election manifesto. However, ministers did not impose a ban on the King’s speech this month.

Campaigners and MPs have described the delays in banning hunting trophies as a “shameful betrayal”.

The report, called The Decade of Treason by the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, showed that 28 special import permits have been issued since Labor came to power in 2024.

SNP MP Seamus Logan wrote to environment minister Emma Reynolds after reading the report, saying granting the permit was “counterintuitive”.

Hunters in the UK pay thousands of pounds to legally shoot animals abroad and bring back their corpses or body parts as souvenirs.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has issued permits for 263 elephant hunting trophies in ten years, including 44 tusks, 29 ears, 8 feet and 4 tails. Also allowed was 256 kilos of teeth and 3 kilos of ears.

After elephants, hunters’ top 10 most popular animals include bears, hippos, lions, baboons, giraffes, zebras, crocodiles, antelopes and leopards.

Responding to Greens MP Adrian Ramsay’s parliamentary question, ministers admitted they had issued 28 special import permits under the Labor Party.

The Conservatives broke their promise to enforce the ban. As environment ministers, Liz Truss and Rory Stewart repeatedly vowed turmoil over the killing of Cecil the lion in 2015.

Boris Johnson, as prime minister, also accepted the ban. The Lords have twice blocked separate Bills to introduce a ban.

Labor MP Mary Glindon said she was concerned that the ban was a low priority when issuing import licenses.

“We must lead the world in protecting endangered species and stopping a practice that most people find disgusting. The government must act urgently and ensure this ban is brought forward without further delay,” he said.

Eduardo Gonçalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, accused successive governments of “cowardice and broken promises”.

He said: “The public overwhelmingly supports this ban, MPs from all major parties support it and the government still refuses to act while endangered animals continue to be shot for bizarre wall hangings and bragging rights.

“It is a national disgrace that the UK continues to be involved in this incident.”

He claimed Ms Reynolds had refused to meet him and had not responded to correspondence, and that the government could immediately impose a moratorium on the granting of permits without new legislation if it wanted to.

Animal Welfare Minister Baroness Sue Hayman met with the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting and similar organizations last month.

In consultations in 2019-20, 44,000 people responded, 86 per cent of whom supported the ban.

Senior Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale said it was deeply disturbing not to appear in the King’s Speech. “This is not a party political issue, but a matter of basic decency and moral responsibility. We must honor our previous commitments and put forward the legislation necessary to put an end to this practice once and for all,” he said.

Green MP Adrian Ramsay said the imports went against “the very essence of British values ​​of compassion”, adding: “This is wrong and immoral.”

Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse accused the government of treason. “This is a sad moment for wildlife conservation, animal welfare and animal rights,” he said.

A spokesman for Defra said: “We have a strong track record on animal welfare and remain committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from protected species. We will bring forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time permits.”

The report uses statistics from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.