http://www.theguardian.com/env...f-lion-hunt-trophies



France bans imports of lion hunt trophies

Officials told to stop issuing import permits for lion heads, paws and skins, while country considers stricter controls on other species

Adam Vaughan
@adamvaughan_uk
Thursday 19 November 2015 07.17 EST Last modified on Thursday 19 November 2015 17.07 EST


France has banned the import of lion heads, paws and skins as hunters’ trophies, nearly four months after the killing of Zimbabwe’s most famous lion by an American trophy hunter sparked international outrage.

In a letter to the actor and animals rights activist Brigitte Bardot, France’s environment minister, Ségolène Royal, said that she had instructed officials to stop issuing permits for lion trophies and was considering stricter controls on trophies from other species.

“Following your letter and recent visits in Africa in preparation of the climate summit in Paris, I want to let you know I have given orders to my services to stop delivering certificates for importing lion trophies,” Royal wrote in the letter dated 12 November.

“Concerning other species trophies, I am in favour of a much stronger control for hunting trophies and this issue will be discussed with all the countries concerned and with the EU.”

In July, conservationists and MEPs called for an EU-wide ban on the import of lion trophies following the death of Cecil the lion at the hands of a Minnesotan dentist near one of Zimbabwe’s national parks. France is the first EU state to implement such a ban. In March, Australia also banned their import.

Between 2010 and the 2013, the last year for which data is available, more than 100 such lion trophies were imported to France.

Lionaid, a UK-based charity that is calling for the UK to follow suit with a ban on lion trophy imports, said it was “overjoyed” by the move.

A spokeswoman said: “Within the EU, France was a major importer of such trophies and we expect that wild lions will now find themselves safer without the presence of French trophy hunters.

“We trust that France’s decision will create a domino effect within the EU and that we will soon hear about other member states joining together to say no [to trophies].”

Catherine Bearder, a Liberal Democrat MEP who led calls for a ban in the summer, said was “delighted” by France’s decision and the UK should follow its lead.

The EU’s scientific review group, which decides whether or not to blacklist trophy imports based on the sustainability of species, met in September and approved the continued import of lion trophies from Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique.

Last month, scientists warned that lion numbers in central and western Africa are likely to halve in the next two decades due to loss of habitat and prey.

Maybe they are worried terrorists are hiding inside.

My understanding is that there are no border controls in Europe any longer. So I wonder if hunter (or his agent) cannot import trophies into Spain or Italy and then drive them across border in trunk of car or van or whatever.

Brigitte Bardot? Give me a break.

They should ban the import of daesh!

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
They should ban the import of daesh!

Daesh was last weeks news. Now they have more important things to deal with.

quote:

Originally posted by AilsaWheels:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
They should ban the import of daesh!

Daesh was last weeks news. Now they have more important things to deal with.

Agreed.

quote:

The EU’s scientific review group, which decides whether or not to blacklist trophy imports based on the sustainability of species, met in September and approved the continued import of lion trophies from Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique.

So scientists give their "green light" but politicians listen to fanatical activists and use thier unilateral power to make baseless decisions?

BIG lesson to learn here guys!

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:

A spokeswoman said: “Within the EU, France was a major importer of such trophies and we expect that wild lions will now find themselves safer without the presence of French trophy hunters.

-- idiot.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanamich:

quote:

The EU’s scientific review group, which decides whether or not to blacklist trophy imports based on the sustainability of species, met in September and approved the continued import of lion trophies from Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique.

So scientists give their "green light" but politicians listen to fanatical activists and use thier unilateral power to make baseless decisions?

BIG lesson to learn here guys!

The same thing has been going on with USF&W for years.

Dan Ashe > Sally Jewel > obama! Everyone knows obama...but Google those other 2 if hunters want an eye opener!

I mean this very seriously...if hunters want to take the teeth away from USF&WS...

...they will give serious consideration to Don Trump for POTUS!

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
I mean this very seriously...if hunters want to take the teeth away from USF&WS...

...they will give serious consideration to Don Trump for POTUS!

Lane,
This is not the first time I have seen you pushing Trump as the answer for hunters.

IIRC, when Trump's sons hit the news for their hunting Donald Trump made every effort to distance himself from hunting. He was in a position to speak positively about hunting/conservation but he selfishly took a position that would serve his own interests and not those of animals, hunters, or his own sons.

Sure, maybe he would be a great boon for hunters.... But I could just as easily see him being swayed by the star power of the antis.

I just can't see anyone expecting anything out of this self absorbed weasel.

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
I mean this very seriously...if hunters want to take the teeth away from USF&WS...

...they will give serious consideration to Don Trump for POTUS!

Lane,
This is not the first time I have seen you pushing Trump as the answer for hunters.

IIRC, when Trump's sons hit the news for their hunting Donald Trump made every effort to distance himself from hunting. He was in a position to speak positively about hunting/conservation but he selfishly took a position that would serve his own interests and not those of animals, hunters, or his own sons.

Sure, maybe he would be a great boon for hunters.... But I could just as easily see him being swayed by the star power of the antis.

I just can't see anyone expecting anything out of this self absorbed weasel.

Actually...I personally saw "a" interview of him speaking about his sons. What you say is entirely incorrect. He said: "while I am not a hunter, my sons enjoy it very much. They are great marksmen as well and are members of the NRA. He went on to joke a bit about that he played golf and they hunted."

It definitely cannot hurt that his sons are avid hunters and riflemen.

I don't share your views of the man...but that is just me. I know some of the people who hunted Eric...they had nothing but good to say about him.

Just my $0.02...but if somebody doesn't jerk a kink in USF&WS's tail soon...its gonna be too far gone.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
if somebody doesn't jerk a kink in USF&WS's tail soon...its gonna be too far gone.

I can sure as heck agree with you on that!