Holidays to hunt endangered leopards are being marketed online for staggering sums, with one package priced at £116,000. As interest in trophy hunting remains vibrant, a promised UK ban on the imports of hunting trophies remains stagnant, raising serious concerns among animal welfare advocates and conservationists alike.

Big-game hunting companies are publicly offering holiday packages, some even featuring auctions for the right to kill exotic animals like leopards, whose populations have been dwindling across Africa. Several firms provide an extensive line-up of hunting trips, featuring “extras” for affluent clients, which include the opportunity to hunt elephants, lions, and cheetahs alongside leopards. A troubling report from the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting exposes the brutal methods employed, such as using live bait to lure leopards and deliberately setting fires to drive them from their hiding spots.

The current state of leopard populations remains alarming. Although exact numbers are elusive, estimates suggest that they could have declined by as much as 90% over the past half-century, with zoonotic pressures leaving populations at roughly 50,000 worldwide. In 2023 alone, 709 leopards' body parts, including skins and skulls, were exported from Africa. Alarmingly, four of these trophies entered the UK, underscoring the persistent allure of trophy hunting for some, despite rising concerns about its impact on conservation.

The UK has seen increasing political will to ban trophy hunting imports, with both Conservative and Labour parties pledging to take action. A public consultation conducted in 2020 yielded overwhelming support for such a ban, with 84% of respondents endorsing the initiative. However, progress has been frustratingly slow. Notably, the proposed Animals Abroad Bill, aimed at enforcing a ban, was abandoned by Boris Johnson's government in 2022. Most recently, a private member's bill from Conservative MP David Reed is poised for a second reading next month, and anticipation is mounting about whether the government will lend its support.

Prominent figures within the animal welfare movement, including Joanna Lumley and Chris Packham, have voiced strong opposition to trophy hunting, advocating for swift governmental action. Lumley has publicly stated the urgency of prioritising a ban, arguing that British leadership is required to halt this violent practice. The Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting's founder, Eduardo Gonçalves, passionately points out, "Leopards are shy, intelligent, and iconic animals... yet they’re being massacred for bragging rights." Such sentiments resonate with a public increasingly disillusioned by the delay in enacting meaningful legislation.

Internationally, the situation remains complex. The US was the largest importer of leopard trophies last year, with 356 recorded exports, followed closely by South Africa and Hungary. The ongoing trade in hunting takes a different perspective; for instance, Zimbabwe's wildlife authorities announced plans to pivot toward markets in Eastern countries in response to European bans on trophy imports. This move highlights the difficulties many African nations face in balancing economic benefits against conservation efforts.

Despite assurances from the UK government that a ban will eventually materialise—from a mandate to the expressed intent to follow through—the path forward is fraught with obstacles. Competing arguments have emerged, such as those from the Institute of Economic Affairs, which asserts that the ban could inadvertently harm conservation efforts by removing funding generated by regulated trophy hunting.

With public sentiment firmly against trophy hunting and the growing recognition of leopards as vulnerable under international law, the call for a ban has never held more weight. As negotiations and legislation continue to unfold, the question remains whether the UK government will act in a timely manner to fulfil its commitments to protect endangered species. The momentum for change is palpable, yet until decisive action is taken, the future of leopards hangs in the balance, overshadowed by the shadow of trophy hunting.

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Source: Noah Wire Services