Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport, has joined some of Britain’s best-loved public figures in a campaign to ban imports of hunting trophies.
Joanna Lumley and Downton Abbey star Peter Egan were among those to express their support for this important campaign. British trophy hunters shoot hundreds of endangered animals each year, including lions, elephants, giraffes and polar bears.
Joanna Lumley said:
“Caroline Dinenage MP is representing the 9 in 10 voters who want to see an end to this barbaric, cruel industry. It should have been abolished long ago. What sort of world do we live in where endangered animals can be killed for thrills by British trophy hunters? It is the height of cowardice. Caroline Dinenage MP has my full support for this campaign.”
Peter Egan added:
“I applaud Caroline Dinenage MP’s courageous campaign. The American gun lobby is fighting efforts to ban this evil ‘sport’ because it says hunters’ ‘rights’ should be protected. But what about the innocent, defenceless animals that are killed by British trophy hunters every year just for kicks? Caroline Dinenage MP is absolutely right to stand up to the industry lobbyists and to speak up for voiceless animals.”
The law currently allows British trophy hunters to bring their ‘trophies’ – including animals’ heads and bodies – back into the country to display in their homes. UK-owned firms are hosting trophy hunting ‘holidays’ where people can shoot cheetahs, leopards and rhinos, according to the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting.
Opinion polls show that almost 9 in 10 voters support a ban.
A recent report by a cross-party committee of MPs and Lords says that elephants are the most popular trophy animal shot by British hunters. Many British hunters go to Africa to shoot ‘canned’ lions – animals bred in captivity and shot within fenced enclosures. British trophy hunters also shoot seals, otters and wild cats, according to UN figures.
Commenting Caroline said:
“Our current legislation on imports of hunting trophies is one of toughest in the world, protecting nearly 7,000 species but all the time these loopholes exist there’s more to do and 9 in 10 people support further action. It’s time to end this barbaric practice once and for all”
Eduardo Goncalves of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting said:
“Many people are shocked to learn trophy hunting still goes on. They are even more shocked to learn that British people are involved and that it’s not just Americans who shoot lions for so-called ‘sport’, selfies and souvenirs. Caroline Dinenage MP is absolutely right to be reflecting local people’s views on this issue. Trophy hunting is opposed by the vast majority of local constituents.”
For more information contact [email protected]
Notes
- Key facts and figures on British trophy hunting are available here: https://appgtrophyhunting.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/key-facts-appg.pdf
- ‘Shooting Up’, the new report published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Banning Trophy Hunting, is available here: https://appgtrophyhunting.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/shooting-up-are-britains-trophy-hunting-imports-companies-booming-11-january-2022.pdf
- Details of UK public opinion polls on trophy hunting are available here: https://appgtrophyhunting.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/trophy-hunting-and-public-opinion-appg.pdf
- Photos of British trophy hunters are available here: https://bantrophyhunting.org/action/
- More information on trophy hunting is available from the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting at [email protected]
