We need to take stand against stomach-churning souvenirs

out to fulfil their African dreams.” Mr Goncalves said: “No wonder our wildlife is in the terrible situation that it’s in. There needs to be an immediate moratorium on the sport-hunting of all threatened animals.

“The Government should ban imports of hunting trophies and call on other countries to join it. It’s the only way to end this evil trade.”

Latest estimates put the remaining population of zebras at 34,979 – less than one-tenth t he number of African elephants.

And the zebra’s popularity among British trophy hunters is making the picture worse, according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Between 1998-2007 UK hunters brought in 111 zebra trophies. In the following decade, 2008-2017, the number jumped to 159 zebra trophies, up 43 per cent.

Zebra are legal to hunt in South Africa and hunt organisers charge cheaper fees for them. By contrast it costs tens of thousands of pounds to hunt lions

and elephants. Another firm attracting Brits is Huntershill in South Africa. Pete Livesey is pictured on the Huntershill site next to a slaughtered ered zebra with his boast about how much fun he is having with his pants on.

Explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes nes has said: “Zebras are being killed d in their hundreds for their skins and to turn into rugs. This is a crime against nature. It’s about time it was a crime in law too. Our r government needs to o ban hunters from bringing ing home these stomach-churnhurning souvenirs of dead animals.”

Actor and animal activist Peter Egan said: “These docile, defenceless creatures are seen as nothing more than just another target by despicable trophy hunters. People will be horrified at the scale of the slaughter, slaught and the fact that so many British trophy hunters are callously shooting shoo them just for entertainment. It is i utterly sick and monstrous.”

This week Andy Denson told us: u “I promote my deep- sea fishing business in South Africa through Thaba Thala Safaris.

“I do not hunt endangered animals a and never will.”

He has since deleted his website w and removed all hunting images im from his Facebook page. Thaba Thab Thala, Umilio and Huntershill Safaris did not comment.