South Africa gives green light for trophy hunting threatened species
New South African minister has approved quotas for the export of hundreds of hunting trophies from elephants, rhinos and leopards.
On 31st August, South Africa’s new Minister for Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, David Maynier, published the country’s export quotas for hunting trophies from elephants, black rhinos and leopards in the Government Gazette.
The new quotas allow for the export of 300 elephant tusks from 150 elephants per year, and 11 black rhino trophies per year, in each of 2026 and 2027. In addition, 11 leopard trophy exports will be permitted in 2026, with a further 10 in 2027.
South Africa has the regrettable reputation of being among the largest exporters of hunting trophies. In 2024 alone, South Africa reported exports of more than 10,000 hunting trophy items derived from more than 50 species that are protected under international wildlife trade regulations, some of which are Endangered or Critically Endangered. Many more animals from species that don’t fall under those international regulations will have also been targeted by both domestic and foreign hunters in the country.
Commenting on the announcement, Born Free’s Head of Policy Dr Mark Jones said: “The very idea that trophy hunters should be allowed to pay to kill any animal for ‘fun’ is a complete anathema to most people. Born Free opposes the killing of any wild animal for sport or pleasure on ethical grounds. We also provided a detailed response to the public consultation on these hunting quotas back in February, in which we emphasised the damage that allowing hunters to target elephants, leopards and black rhinos could do to the social integrity of these animals, and by extension their populations and the vital roles they play in the ecosystems of which they are a part. Many of our partners and supporters did the same, but it seems this evidence and the widespread calls for compassion have fallen on deaf ears.”
Born Free continues to campaign for an end to trophy hunting in South Africa and beyond, and for the development of humane and ethical solutions to the crisis facing wildlife that benefit wild animals and people alike.
For more information on trophy hunting, click below.
Ban hunting trophies in the UK
If you agree the killing of wild animals for ‘trophies’ is wrong, you can take a stand – send a virtual postcard to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and ask the government to ban the import of hunting trophies into the UK.