Lucrative blood sport loved by Americans

EACH year thousands of Americans pay millions of dollars to fulfil their bloodlust on the plains of Africa.

The lure of killing everything from a lion to a leopard, an elephant to a buffalo is a huge attraction. Africa Safari Hunting Consultants offer a 10-day lion trip including the fee for hunting, baiting and trackers for £37,450 and a 10-day elephant kill for £15,700. The hunts are conducted by Zimbabwe Hunting Safaris who show pictures of the kills on their website.

Americans generate revenue of an estimated £262million a year in Africa through the hunts.

Trophy hunters imported nearly 32,500 lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, and leopards between 2005 and 2014 according the US and international Humane Societies.