Black Country MP backs calls to ban on importing hunting trophies

Animal welfare charities across the county have written to chiefs to enforce harsh import and export controls.

It comes after a consultation over the issue closed in February before the coronavirus lockdown hit the following month.

Now they have urged the Government to publish their findings – and set out what action they will take.

John Spellar, MP for Warley, said: "There is massive support in Parliament and in the country for a ban on the importing of hunting trophies.

"There is no excuse for any further delay and the Government should bring in a ban immediately."

Charities have said the move would help reduce the pressure on certain animal species in a letter they wrote to Environment Minister George Eustice.

Archaic

It includes representatives from the RSPCA, Lion Aid, International Wildlife Bond, Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, Four Paws UK and others.

It said: "Recent opinion polls clearly demonstrate that the overwhelming majority of the British public do not support trophy hunting, and would like to see a total ban.

"When asked 76 per cent said a ban on the import and exports of hunting trophies should apply to all animal species and not just those which are threatened or endangered.

"A UK ban will help reduce the pressure on beleaguered animal species, and by doing so will contribute to the “transformative changes” in our relationship with nature called for in last year’s Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, published by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

"It will also end the unnecessary human-induced suffering caused to individual animals by the often archaic killing methods, and will send a clear message to the international community reflecting the fact that the majority of the British public do not support trophy hunting in any form."