WASHINGTON—Wildlife and conservation advocates from Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund (formerly called Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International and Humane Society Legislative Fund) issued the following statements on the news that the U.S. government has pressed the UK government to abandon its pledge to end trophy hunting imports.
Jennifer Hillman, vice president of U.S. wildlife protection at Humane World for Animals, said: “The approach by the U.S. government is misinformed and malicious. Trophy hunting causes inexcusable animal cruelty for the purpose of human entertainment and bragging rights. At a time when wild animals are already under increasing pressure from habitat loss, climate change, poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, the trophy hunting industry’s reckless and unsustainable exploitation of wildlife undermines ethical conservation and sustainable development opportunities.”
Tracie Letterman, vice president of federal affairs at Humane World Action Fund said: “Efforts by the U.S. to act on behalf of the trophy hunting lobby in matters of global wildlife policy are deeply concerning, particularly the persistent and misleading claim that trophy hunting supports conservation. It is even more troubling to see the U.S., one of the world’s largest importers of hunting trophies, attempting to pressure other countries to adopt similarly flawed policies. The UK’s pledge to ban trophy hunting imports places it on the right side of history, and we strongly encourage the U.S. to adopt the same position in the interests of a genuine conservation agenda.”
Claire Bass, senior campaigns and public affairs director at Humane World for Animals United Kingdom said: “Even though over 80% of British people find the notion of trophy hunting abhorrent, dozens of hunting trophies from animals including lions, elephants, brown bears, leopards, hippos and cheetahs are being shipped to the UK every year. It is highly regrettable to find the U.S. government attempting to wield power over a decision by the UK government that should be informed by science, ethics and British public opinion. We trust our government to stand by its commitment to a ban, which will send a strong global message that killing animals for kicks is utterly unacceptable."
