MPs have voted to support a ban on importing hunting trophies from thousands of species into the UK, preventing British hunters from bringing the body parts of lions, elephants and giraffes into the country.
A private member’s bill put forward by the Conservative MP Henry Smith and backed by the government received the support of parliament after years of divisive debate on the issue. MPs from across the political spectrum spoke in favour of the legislation before it passed.
The government says the law, which will now move for debate in the Lords, will strengthen the conservation of endangered species and has widespread support from the British public. The ban was part of the 2019 Conservative election manifesto and comes after a high-profile anti-trophy hunting campaign backed by celebrities including Ricky Gervais, Brian May, Ed Sheeran and Joanna Lumley.
Amid strong views on both sides and accusations of misinformation from pro-hunting groups and anti-trophy hunting campaigners, MPs backed an amendment from Sir Christopher Chope to create an expert advisory board on the import ban. The ban will cover about 6,000 species and include some of the most endangered and charismatic animals, including hippos, leopards and polar bears.
British hunters are not a large part of the trophy hunting industry and the ban is considered largely symbolic by conservationists. In 2015, the killing of Cecil the lion by a trophy hunter in Zimbabwe provoked global outrage and revulsion at the industry, where hunters pay tens of thousands of pounds to shoot and pose with the bodies of wild animals.The actor Peter Egan, a prominent anti-trophy hunting campaigner, said the vote was “sensational” news.
Claire Bass, a senior director of campaigns and public affairs at Humane Society International-UK, also welcomed the vote. “We’re delighted that this extremely popular bill has passed its report stage and third reading, with dozens of cross-party MPs taking the floor in today’s debate to share their strong support for legislation to stop hunters bringing their sick souvenirs back to the UK. We … look to the House of Lords to ensure swift passage of this vital law,” she said.
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This should never have been the case to begin with..
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Great news 👏💯
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Dear Professor Aniebiet Inyang Ntui Thank you for getting your climate love to level 2! We have reached out to UK Parliament and requested a response. I will keep you updated on any progress! /Adam We Don't Have Time
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I'm glad that MPs have voted to support a ban on importing hunting trophies from thousands of species into the UK. This is a step in the right direction for animal welfare and conservation, and I hope it will help to protect some of the world's most vulnerable species.
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This is great, animals too matter
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Great intervention.
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It is a time to take action now
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Good example to be followed by other countries
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amazing,animals should be treated with love since they make up the ecosystem
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Great move to save wild animals, this will strike a balance in the ecosystem
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Sounds like something that should have happened in 1923 but good!
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This is a practice that should have ended decades ago It is a great move.
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Wow. Animals have triumphed. All other countries should follow suit.
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Wild animals are part of our ecosystem and should be treated as such.