Charities mark 10th anniversary of Cecil the lion’s death to demand a UK ban on trophy imports

Award-winning wildlife photographer Britta Jaschinski with Born Free’s Head of Policy, Dr Mark Jones

In July 2015, Cecil, a male lion who was leader of two prides and the subject of a long-term conservation research project, was lured away from his home in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and shot with a bow and arrow by an American trophy hunter. Mortally wounded, the lion crawled away and was only finally killed some hours later. 

The incident sparked global outrage and demands for an end to the barbaric, cruel and destructive so-called ‘sport’ of trophy hunting.

On the evening of 2nd July 2025, ten years to the day since Cecil died, Born Free joined with colleagues at Humane World for Animals and Four Paws UK to co-sponsor an event in Parliament in an effort to persuade the UK government to finally make good on its longstanding promise to ban the import of hunting trophies.

The Born Free team show their support

The event was well attended by around 80 parliamentarians, campaigners and supporters of an import ban.

The evening began with a welcome from its host Ruth Jones MP, a longstanding animal protection advocate, followed by the screening of a poignant video narrated by actor Peter Egan, depicting the huge media and public response to Cecil’s death, which ended with emotive footage of Cecil roaring in his prime.

The audience was then captivated by a speech from seven -year-old Nia Datta, representing the Sir David Amess Children’s Parliament, who emphasised that her generation doesn’t want to grow up in a world where wild animals are just targets for someone’s entertainment.

Hector Bateman at the event

Nia was followed by renowned naturalist, conservationist and wildlife campaigner Ian Redmond OBE who delivered a poignant and emotive speech reflecting on the decision a century ago which led to the abandonment of the trophy hunting of gorillas and the protection across large parts of their remaining African homelands through the creation of a national park, where their conservation is now supported by responsible photographic ecotourism, and how a UK ban on trophy imports could help extend this approach to other species currently affected by trophy hunting.

A further short film gave voice to people from Africa and the Americas. Memorably, Oaitse Nawa, from the Elephants Protection Society in Botswana, pleaded to “make Africa a paradise, not a battle ground”.

Rula Lenska, India Camm and Gary Hodges

Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael, who chairs the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, and Conservative MP and shadow Minister Dr Neil Hudson, both spoke passionately in favour of a ban on trophy imports, emphasising the strong cross-party support.

Baroness Sue Hayman, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, spoke on behalf of the government and emphasised her determination to fulfil the current government’s commitment to introduce a ban.

Born Free was strongly represented by its Head of Policy Dr Mark Jones, who introduced two of the speakers; Senior Education Officer Charlie Smith, Communications and PR Manager India Camm; Corporate Partnerships Manager Molly Rutherford and British Wildlife Advocate Dominic Dyer.

We were also delighted to be joined by our longstanding patron, actress Rula Lenska, leading wildlife artist Gary Hodges, and our youth ambassador Hector Bateman, among others. The evening proved to be a roaring success, and those who attended went away with renewed hope.

Going forward, Born Free will continue to encourage government to #GetTheBanDone without further delay.