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It used to be that the USA was the biggest importer of African (and other regions’) hunting trophies. But then came a change. The US Fish and Wildlife Service – who issues import permits – decided to impose a new rule. The imports had to satisfy an “enhancement” rule – in other words that the trophy hunt actually enhanced the survival of the species involved. This new rule basically killed off all the US trophy hunts of captive bred lions in South Africa as a consequence. The USA has meanwhile had a long-term ban on importing trophies of cheetahs.

However, EU nations have not followed suit. Looking at official CITES import permits for trophies, I came up with the following by just three nations, from west to east from 2019 to 2022 (when reliable CITES data ends):

1. Denmark stands out. A small nation with a population of about 6 million, allowed import of 12 cheetah trophies, 47 leopards, 15 white rhinos, 97 zebras, 43 elephants, 16 lions and 59 giraffes. Outside Africa, Denmark hunters seem to have an affection for bears. 180 black bears, 42 brown bears and 5 polar bears. 

2. Germany (population 85 million) allowed imports of 31 cheetahs, 108 leopards, 26 rhinos, 116 zebras, 95 elephants, 30 lions, and 134 giraffes. Bears? 138 black bears, 106 brown bears and 3 polar bears. 

3. Hungary (population 9.6 million) allowed imports of 33 cheetahs, 12 rhinos, 172 zebras, 67 elephants, 12 lions, and 52 giraffes. Bears? 5 black bears and 30 brown bears.   Hungary is also home to the Conseil Internationale pour la Chasse, though their HQ seems to be in Austria?

And that’s just three EU nations and only in the “trophy” category. CITES records are confusing in this regard, as trophies can be imported as “skulls”, “skins”, “bodies” etc. 

But the trend is clear. EU nations are rampaging across Africa and seem to have a penchant for bear trophies. 

And relies on the African nations to set their hunting quotas. No mention of “enhancement”. It is time for the EU authorities to place conservation restrictions on what their member nations are importing via trophy hunters. As has been demonstrated time and again, there are no “real” community benefits. It is only greedy governments and their hunting operating companies that make the profits from an ever declining wildlife resource. I read now that Namibia plans to cull zebras, wildebeest, elands and elephants to feed their “starving” population. No doubt trophy hunters will become involved in this “culling”. Take profit while they can?

But returning to the EU -they need better advice apart from what is being spoon-fed to them by their hunting organizations. Some EU nations have done well – the Netherlands has banned imports of trophies from many dozens of species, France has banned lion imports, Belgium is considering measures to ban trophy imports of many species. But the rest, like Spain, Portugal, etc seem to be able to import without restrictions like at least the US “enhancement” requirement. And CITES just keeps issuing permits….

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