Remember Cecil the lion, shot by a trophy hunter in 2015?

Cecil (c) P French

On this day 11 years ago, Cecil the lion was callously targeted by Walter Palmer, an American dentist and avid trophy hunter. The magnificent dominant male, leader of two prides, died in agony several hours later – after Palmer had mortally wounded him using a bow and arrow. 

Cecil’s death generated an unprecedented global public outcry. Calls came from every corner for the unethical and damaging practice of trophy hunting – the killing of animals for fun, to display their body parts – to be brought to an end. 

“Yet 11 years on, the brutal killing of wild animals in their prime of life continues unabated at the hands of trophy hunters,” said Born Free’s Head of Policy, Dr Mark Jones. “Since Cecil’s death, over a quarter of a million trophy items from internationally protected species have been exported by more than 100 countries. 

“It should be noted these figures are only for trophies derived from species threatened with extinction, the international trade in which is governed by the UN’s Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, known as CITES. Shockingly, the total numbers of animals who have been targeted by trophy hunters will be much, much higher.” 

Following Cecil’s death in 2015, successive UK governments committed to ban the import of hunting trophies, including the current Labour government when it came to power two years ago. Such a ban carries consistently high public and parliamentary support. However, to date it remains elusive, with government ministers claiming there is insufficient parliamentary time to introduce the necessary legislation.  

Since Labour came to power, the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has confirmed that 33 CITES import permits for hunting trophies from African elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes and others have been issued. All of these species are threatened with extinction. 

“If the global public response to Cecil’s death is to mean anything, action must be taken to bring the gruesome practice of trophy hunting to a permanent end,” Dr Mark Jones continued. “While the UK government can’t dictate how other countries manage their wildlife, it can regulate what British hunters can and can’t bring home with them from trips overseas. 

“A UK-wide ban on trophy imports is long overdue, and the time for excuses is surely over. The government must simply find time to introduce the necessary legislation without delay. By doing so, it can send a clear message that the UK wants nothing more to do with this heinous activity.”