https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-64988108



Ban on imports of animal hunting trophies set to become law

Published
1 hour ago


By Becky Morton
Political reporter


Plans to ban imports of animal hunting trophies to Great Britain are set to become law.

The government has backed legislation which would stop hunters bringing back body parts of thousands of species, including lions, rhinos, elephants and polar bears, killed abroad.

Tory MP Henry Smith, who proposed the bill, said it would help conserve the world's most endangered species.

It was approved by MPs and will now face further scrutiny in the Lords.



As it has the support of the government, the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill is likely to become law.

Every year, hunters from the UK travel abroad, often to southern Africa, and pay thousands of pounds to legally shoot animals, such as lions and elephants.

Under current rules, with the right paperwork, they can then bring trophies, such as stuffed heads or horns, back to the UK.


Campaigners backing the bill had feared it could be blocked after more than 30 amendments were tabled by two Conservative MPs, Sir Christopher Chope and Sir Bill Wiggin.

However, after the government accepted two of their proposals - to establish an advisory board on hunting trophies and to limit the power of the secretary of state to add new species to the list the ban would apply to - the pair dropped their other demands for further changes to the bill.

Critics of the plans have argued that profits from hunting are used to pay for conservation projects in African countries and can ultimately help to protect endangered species.

Sir Bill, the Tory MP for North Herefordshire, told the Commons there were concerns that removing the revenue supplied by trophy hunters could "open the floodgate to poachers, who will cause far more cruelty and pain to the animals and will pose a far greater threat to endangered species".

However, animal welfare charities have rejected this, arguing that hardly any of the revenues from trophy hunting ever reach local communities.

Environment Minister Trudy Harrison told MPs: "I do recognise that some of the income from trophy hunting has contributed towards the protection of habitat and the prevention of poaching.

"But to bring [back] the body parts of endangered species… is not the way forward."


Sir Bill also suggested the legislation was a "a neo-colonial attempt to control conservation management programmes of African democratic countries".

This was denied by Mr Smith, who insisted: "This is about the values that we in Britain have, that we do not want to be part of a trade in endangered species' body parts.

"We are not telling other countries how to run their trade, or their conservation or hunting policies."

Some MPs, including the Democratic Unionist Party's Sammy Wilson, also raised concerns Northern Ireland could become a "back door" for hunting imports as the law would not apply there.

Ms Harrison said the government would do "everything we possibly can" to ensure Northern Ireland was not a "stepping stone for imports to Great Britain".

Explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, singer Ed Sheeran and actress Dame Judi Dench are among the celebrities who have backed the proposed legislation.

Animal charities welcomed the progress of the bill, with Born Free saying it sent "a clear signal that, with wildlife in crisis, allowing rich people to kill wild animals for kicks has no place in the modern world".

Humane Society International said it was "relieved" only two amendments to the bill were accepted, although the charity added that it was disappointed one removed the power of the environment secretary to add other species in need of protection to the legislation.

Small wonder the sun set long ago on the British Empire. It’s become nation of idiots.

Still, a long way to go on this and Africa has objected

This takes feet on the ground talking to the members in parliament going over how the will result in an undue burden to the different African counties.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
Small wonder the sun set long ago on the British Empire. It’s become nation of idiots.

Now known as the country that used to be Great Britain.

That the bill was proposed by someone from the Conservative Party makes it even worse.

This was supported by both the ruling Tories as well as the liberals. Done deal I’m afraid.

Ir any of our friends from across the pond need to send their trophies to the US, we can help with that.

Just watched Eduardo Gonzalves on BBC News - likened elephant hunting to a heroin high, as told to him by a "repentant" trophy hunter.

I'm at a loss for words.

quote:

Originally posted by Neil-PH:
Just watched Eduardo Gonzalves on BBC News - likened elephant hunting to a heroin high, as told to him by a "repentant" trophy hunter.

I'm at a loss for words.

l'm bet a £ to a pinch of shite, that he can't name him!! The man is a proven liar!!

It passed the Parliament yesterday and will likely end up the law shortly.

The govt in the UK is alway trying to prove they are more stupid than ours in the US.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
Small wonder the sun set long ago on the British Empire. It’s become nation of idiots.

Steady on, we are not all idiots

This will not stop my clients in the UK from heading to Africa to hunt. Plus it certainly won't stop me, I'll be back out there as soon as I can.

Are UK hunters allowed to keep body parts of animals hunted in the UK? If yes, then this is neo-colonialism and racist as well.