Six African Nations Criticise Hunting Trophy Ban and Plan for ‘Beggar-Like Dependency’

Hunting trophies import prohibition bill to be debated in House of Lords

Adri Kitshoff, chief executive officer of Professional Hunters' Association of South Africa, by an antelope she hunted at the Iwamanzi Game Reserve in Koster, South Afrika, on June 6, 2015. Stefan Heunis/AFP/Getty Images

Six African countries have written an open letter criticising the government’s plans to ban the import of hunting trophies and urging them to listen to scientists and experts on conservation.

In March, the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill was given a third reading, without a vote, in the House of Commons and is likely to become law, if approved by the House of Lords, who will debate it on Friday.

But the high commissioners of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Tanzania and the Zimbabwean ambassador have written a letter to The Times of London in which they call on the government to amend Conservative MP Henry Smith’s private member’s bill to remove the ban on importing hunting trophies.

During the House of Commons debate in March, Tory MP Jerry Wiggin said the bill was a “classic case of virtue signalling at the expense of African wildlife and the conservation efforts of African people.”

African Nations: Bill ‘Will Undermine Revenue Model’

In the letter, the six African ambassadors wrote: “The government is supporting the bill on the basis that it will protect endangered species in southern Africa. However, far from saving animals by discouraging hunting, in its present form, the bill will undermine a revenue model that gives incentives to local communities in our own countries to maintain wildlife habitats and protect animals from the far bigger threat posed by illegal poaching.”

They went on to say: “The British government has proposed that southern African countries that do lose hunting revenue should apply for UK grant money and aid funding. However, promoting a beggar-like dependency on aid is a 19th century solution to a 21st century problem.”

MPs and campaigners against big game hunting, including explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes (3rd from R) actress Vicki Michelle (5th from R) and former ski jumper Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards (far R) in the Houses of Westminster, England, on March 15, 2023. PA Media

Supporters of the new legislation say it would stop the import into Britain of body parts from thousands of species including lions, rhinos, and elephants killed abroad.

In March, Trudy Harrison, a junior minister in the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, said: “I do recognise that some of the income from trophy hunting has contributed towards the protection of habitat and the prevention of poaching. But to bring the body part of endangered species in is not the way forward. This government recognises this, the country recognises that and I am absolutely clear that it is time for change. It is absolutely what the public expects.”

Alex Sobel, the shadow environment minister, said: “We can say that it’s wrong for British people to kill animals for pleasure and momentoes. We can set an example … We human beings have a responsibility to look after this planet and its animals. We need to put trophy hunting in the dustbin of history along with the slave trade, female infanticide, and witch-hunting.”

In May, the leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt said the government was “pleased to support” Smith’s private member’s bill.

‘Listen to the Scientists’

But the high commissioners’ letter urges Rishi Sunak’s government to, “listen to the advice of scientists, conservation experts and its partners in Africa” and amend the bill to, “acknowledge that regulated trophy hunting can support the conservation outcomes it seeks, while supporting the economies of our countries and rural livelihoods.”

Thebeyakgosi Horatius, a former head of human-wildlife conflict for Botswana’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks, told National Public Radio “because [the elephants] are feeling comfortable, they are not feeling disturbed by shootings, they come through the villages. They are free to go wherever they want to go.”

The letter in The Times of London was signed by Jeremiah Nyamane Mamabolo, South Africa’s representative in London, Godfrey Engliton, acting high commissioner for Botswana, Linda Scott, Namibia’s high commissioner, Asha-Rose Migiro, Tanzanian high commissioner, Lubu Shamwinga Chibwe Nxumalo, acting high Commissioner for Zambia and Christian Katsande, the Zimbabwean ambassador.

All six countries are former British colonies and all, with the exception of Zimbabwe, are members of the Commonwealth.

Zimbabwe’s former leader Robert Mugabe withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2003.