VICTORY IN OUR SIGHTS
Ban on vile hunting trophies moves step closer to reality
ANIMAL rights campaigners are celebrating a massive win in the Sunday People’s fight to put an end to the import of hunting trophies.
Ministers have promised the toughest laws in the world to ban the vile practice, including up to seven years in jail for those caught smuggling skins, heads and other body part “souvenirs” to Britain.
The pledge from Environment Minister George Eustice follows years of pressure from anti-hunting groups, backed by the People.
Now campaigners are demanding the Government put a date on when new laws will come in.
Every day of delay will mean more lives of vulnerable and threatened species lost, they warn.
The pledge follows a series of exposures by the People of the sick boasts of hunters who kill lions, cheetahs, elephants, hippos and other animals for socalled sport.
The ban on importing hunting trophies will cover 6,000 animals deemed under threat from international trade, including the frequently killed “big five” – lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo.
It has also been widened to include 1,000 other species considered to be near-threatened, including zebra and reindeer.
In another win, the threat of loopholes for hunters donating “blood money” to conservation schemes has been ruled out.
Mr Eustice said: “This will be one of the toughest bans in the world.
“It goes beyond our manifesto commitment and means Britain will be leading the way in protecting endangered animals.”
Campaigners hailed the victory, but urged the Government to ensure the proposals soon become reality.
Eduardo Goncalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy
Hunting, said: “This is what we’ve been calling for. Once implemented this looks set to be the strongest ban in the world.
“I urge the Government to bring in the legislation as soon as possible.”
Mark Jones, of charity Born Free, said: “This ban will send a clear signal that the UK does not condone the brutal killing of threatened wild animals for this so-called sport.
“We urge the Government to introduce and implement it as quickly as possible.”
Claire Bass, of Humane Society International, said: “Ministers must expedite this to make going on holiday to kill endangered animals and bringing home their body parts as legally indefensible as it is socially unacceptable.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed two years ago to “end this vile trade” but campaigners feared Whitehall was back-pedaling on the pledge.
Labour MP John Spellar had proposed a private Bill calling for the ban, which was blocked by Government whips on Friday after failing to win time for debate.
While welcoming the subsequent proposals, Mr Spellar slammed the failure to provide a timetable for a law and pledged to press on with his own Bill.
He accused ministers of having “no sense of direction” over the the plan to end animal cruelty.
Mr Goncalves is to press ministers to adopt Mr Spellar’s Bill as the basis for legislation in order to fasttrack the ban.
The promise of action follows a Whitehall survey which found 86% of people supported a ban.
Lorraine Platt, of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, said: “Allowing these imports is simply not compatible with our nation’s respect and love for animals.
“Future generations will look back in disbelief that we allowed this for so long.”