This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Ban imports of hunting trophies of endangered animals
The Government made a manifesto commitment to ban imports of hunting trophies from endangered animals but has so far failed to deliver and legislation was not announced in the recent King’s Speech.
More details
The Government must introduce a Government Bill to keep its promise to voters and protect wildlife.
Trophy hunters target animals already under increasing pressure from habitat loss, climate change, poaching and illegal wildlife trade. Trophies from leopards, elephants and even polar bears have been imported to the UK. Some hunting clubs reward the use of weapons that can cause enormous suffering, such as bows and arrows. One poll showed that 80% of the British public support a ban.
A Bill to stop imports of hunting trophies was recently blocked in the House of Lords. The Government must seek to ensure a ban becomes law.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 9 January 2024
We will continue working to deliver our manifesto commitment to ban the import of hunting trophies from endangered animals, which has overwhelming support from MPs and the public.
We made a manifesto commitment to ban the import of hunting trophies from endangered animals.
We recognise that this is an issue that the public feel very strongly about, and over 85% of responses to our consultation supported further action.
In the previous Parliamentary session, the Government fully supported the Hunting Trophies Bill during its passage through Parliament. The Bill passed the House of Commons in March 2023, with strong support from MPs, but did not progress through Committee stage in the House of Lords.
We will continue working to deliver this important manifesto commitment.
The UK is a world leader on animal welfare and we are fully committed to maintaining and enhancing our strong track record through the delivery of our manifesto commitments and other welfare measures.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Related activity
MPs debate the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill
MPs debated the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill on Friday 22 March in the main chamber of the House of Commons. This was a Second Reading debate, where MPs debated the general principles of the Bill.
The Bill includes provisions to ban the import of hunting trophies from certain animals.
What is a Second Reading debate?
Second Reading is the first opportunity for MPs to debate the main principles of a Bill.
At the end of the debate, the Commons decide whether the Bill should be given its Second Reading, meaning it can proceed to the next stage. If there isn't consensus that a Bill should proceed to its next stage, MPs will vote on this.
Find out more about how Second Reading works.
What happens next?
Having passed Second Reading, MPs will now consider the Bill in detail, and can suggest amendments (proposals for change) to the Bill.
Read more about the bill and keep up to date with its progress.
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