Bill Oddie backs Ben Lake MP’s call for urgent ban on trophy hunting imports

Bill Oddie backs Ben Lake MP’s call for urgent ban on trophy hunting imports

New figures released this week show that nearly 400 hunting trophies from endangered animals have been imported into Britain in recent years, as well as almost 1 ton of elephant tusks.

Ben Lake MP is now calling on the government to ban the import of hunting trophies. He said:

“Trophy hunting is having a direct impact on the conservation status of some of the world’s most endangered wildlife. The vast majority of constituents regard trophy hunting to be cruel, archaic and immoral. The UK should show global leadership in helping to stop trophy hunting. A ban on trophy imports is an important step to bringing trophy hunting to an end.”

Conservationist and broadcaster Bill Oddie has backed the MP’s move, saying that trophy hunting is putting pressure on vulnerable wildlife:

“Elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs and rhinos are all fighting for their lives. We could see all of them go extinct within a generation. When you’ve got a scattered, dwindling population, the loss of a handful of animals doesn’t just cause a ripple effect – it can be like a tsunami wave.

“Trophy hunting has always been senseless cruelty. Letting people kill them because they think it’s entertaining is just insane, especially when you’re talking about wildlife with such a vulnerable status”.

Eduardo Goncalves from the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting also praised Ben Lake MP’s stand:

“British trophy hunters are targeting endangered animals. They have killed literally hundreds of elephants, hippos, leopards and lions – and then brought back their body parts for show. Ben Lake is right to speak up for his constituents who clearly want to see an end to this.

“Australia, France and the Netherlands have introduced import bans. We hope the U.K. government takes action before it is too late.”