The UK government is moving closer to implementing a law against importing hunting trophies, resulting in protests in Botswana, while Zimbabwe is preparing to send a delegation to the UK to discuss the matter.
The Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto promised a ban on killing wild animals and importing them to the UK for home display. A small group of pro-hunting lords blocked the Bill in September last year, however, a ban will be proposed again in the House of Commons on March 22.
“The myth that is often peddled is that this ‘sport’ benefits conservation efforts but in reality it’s just a money-making business for its operators,” said Sonul Badiana-Hamment, Country Director at Four Paws, a UK charity with a focus on animal welfare.
SADC countries have voiced their apprehension that the Bill could have a detrimental effect on the region – both economically and environmentally. They fear it could trigger an increase in poaching, a grim scenario observed in the past.
“The ban (if the Bill is passed) on the importation will literally leave a huge dent in the potential clients that come here and also sends a negative signal to the world around sustainable utilisation of our resources,” said Dumezweni Mthinkhulu, Botswana’s Tourism Minister, to a briefing with journalists from Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa and Botswana.
“We have fast-growing populations and we know that hunting is an insignificant component of the population. We still have serious challenges managing our overpopulation, especially of big animals such as elephants. We are not sure what the rationale is around this proposed ban and we are not too sure whether they do not appreciate the contribution of sustainable utilisation to conservation,” he added.
South Africa is the most popular destination for tourists from the UK to collect hunting trophies.
