At last... hunters face total ban on bringing home ‘vile’ trophy kills

HUNTERS will finally be banned from bringing sick trophies of their kills back to Britain, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Ministers will this week announce a total ban on the import of the trophies from endangered species to stop what Boris Johnson has described as a ‘vile trade’.

The news comes as British trophy hunters are exposed by sickening images in which they grin while posing with recently slaughtered lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras and monkeys.

Since the Tories pledged to ban imports in 2019, more than 300 trophies of endangered animals killed on safaris have been shipped to the UK. Critics have accused the Government of dragging its heels but a Whitehall source said last night: ‘This week, we will set out our next

‘This notorious trade has to stop – it’s a disgrace that shames Britain’

steps. They will be comprehensive, robust and effective and deliver the change promised to help protect thousands of species.’

Dame Judi Dench, a supporter of the Campaign To Ban Trophy Hunting, said: ‘Having built up expectations, the Government now need to see it through. It’s a policy that has tremendous support.’ To heap pressure on MPs, the campaign will send out a book shaming 75 British hunters, some of whom boast of killing hundreds of animals. Their names – along with an album of grisly photographs – were found on the website for Umlilo Safaris, a South African firm that offers more than 50 species for hunters to shoot.

Among them are Kenny Macleod and his sons Kenny Jr and Greig, who run a building firm in Lochgilphead, Argyll. Greig is posed with a dead zebra, while his brother and father are seen with impalas. None responded to a request to comment. Graeme Blundell owns property in Kinross but no longer lives in Scotland. He and son Greg are pictured with a dead zebra. Graeme insisted hunting was about animal management, saying: ‘We were culling animals that had to be shot, the animals they wanted removed.’ David and Julie Tart, from Dungeness in Kent, have shot at least 15 species of animal with Umlilo, including baboons, wildebeest, and impalas. Mr Tart said: ‘We had a good time. If MPs want to ban it, I suggest they speak to the people in Africa whose livelihood it is.’

The website of Umlilo – which charges £9,175 for a ‘combo package’ to kill a lion and lioness and £18,750 for an elephant – also features pictures of Charlie Reynolds, 64, a transport consultant from Somerset, with a slain giraffe. He did not respond to a request for comment.

Campaigner Eduardo Goncalves said: ‘Some of the most notorious trophy hunters are British and were last year happily shooting lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, leopards, zebras and even baboons.

‘The Government continued to issue import permits so they could bring home their bodies, skins, skulls and tusks. This has to stop. It’s an utter disgrace and shames Britain.’