MPs TELL BORIS TO KEEP HUNT TROPHY PLEDGE

No10 hears Cecil roar in film plea

The roar of Cecil the lion will rock Downing Street as Boris Johnson is urged to keep his pledge to ban the import of hunting trophies.

MPs and peers calling for action “without delay” have sent Mr Johnson a video message, with footage of Cecil.

It marks five years since the lion was killed in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park – and amid fears of a Government backtrack on trophy imports.

Almost 70 MPs have written to the PM demanding he keep a promise to introduce a total ban, before a new summer surge in hunting.

A Song for Cecil backs the call and actors Dame Judi Dench and Peter Egan, comedian Ricky Gervais and Polar explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes appear in a video appeal.

Egan, who played the Marquess of Flintshire in Downton Abbey, said: “I am fully behind this effort to get something done.”

Sir Ranulph said: “Every day lost to delay is another day that innocent animals are murdered by twisted people who think killing is entertaining. Song for Cecil is a powerful anthem to bring this disgusting industry to an end.”

Mr Johnson promised to tackle “barbaric” trophy hunting last year.

The cross-party group of politicians tell the PM: “You’ve given a commitment to banning these imports. But there have been reports the Government intends only to ban the importation of animal parts from endangered species. British people want a complete ban on all trophy imports.”

Limiting a ban to endangered species would leave lions, cheetahs and elephants still at risk.

Eduardo Gonçalves, head of the Campaign To Ban Trophy Hunting, wrote and performs the song. It starts: “White man came by plane, Gleaming bow in hand, Darkness in his heart, Trophies here to land... Lured you from your home, Waited till you came, Shot you as you ate, That man he had no shame.”

Eduardo said: “All we hear are reports that it will not be a total ban. We fear it might fall short of the promise for the toughest restrictions in the world.”

Cecil was shot dead in 2015 by US dentist Walter Palmer, 61. He still travels the world hunting.

vow PM’s tweet shows Walter Palmer, left, after slaying Cecil MAjestiC Proud Cecil was slain by trophy ghoul

sAve oUr speCies Dame Judi and Ricky with campaign T-shirts