Cross-party MPs, horrified by footstools made from elephant feet and bear paw slippers, pledge their support for a trophy hunting import ban
Humane World for Animals takes photo exhibition to Parliament to drive momentum for a UK import ban on hunting trophies—a Labour Government manifesto commitment
A group of cross-party MPs and Peers are urging the UK Government to introduce a bill to ban imports of hunting trophies, after viewing an emotive photo exhibition highlighting the brutal reality of the trade by award-winning photojournalist Britta Jaschinski. At an event held by Humane World for Animals (formerly called Humane Society International) and hosted by the Rt. Hon. the Lord Spellar in the House of Commons yesterday, many of the MPs and Peers signed a giant postcard to Environment Secretary Steve Reed stating “trophy hunting has no place in a civilised society” and calling for the Labour manifesto commitment of a ban to be delivered.
Speaking at the event, Lord Spellar said: “It’s frankly absurd that a cause that has approaching 90% support amongst the British public has not yet got onto the statute book.”
Jaschinski’s photographs invited attendees to reflect on the immorality of the gruesome, senseless souvenirs obtained when hunters kill threatened and endangered animals simply for fun and bragging rights, showcasing items such as footstools made from elephant feet, bear paw slippers and stuffed lion heads. The objects in the photos were seized by authorities for various reasons including incorrect paperwork, but currently it is legal for British hunters to travel abroad to kill animals and bring back trophies just like these—a cruel injustice that Humane World for Animals is campaigning to end.
Attendees at the event in Parliament heard from speakers including Britta Jaschinski and founder of Zimbabwe Elephant Foundation, Noma Dube, about why an import ban on hunting trophies is urgently needed.
For images from the exhibition and photographs of the event, please get in touch with the media contact below.
Britta Jaschinski, photojournalism category winner of the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year award in 2024, said: "Caught-trapped-killed-mutilated dead animals to hang on walls and to display as status symbols? It’s deeply concerning that this not only our past but possibly our future too, unless we make the right choices. Please look at these photographs. Is this really how we envision the world around us? Right now we have an opportunity to bring positive change for animals and humans alike. Every species has a role to play in keeping the balance—the equilibrium we humans depend on."
The Labour Government committed to banning imports of hunting trophies in its 2024 manifesto, but so far has not made any progress. A Private Members’ Bill sponsored by David Reed MP, the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill, is scheduled to have its Second Reading in the House of Commons on 13th June but there is highly unlikely to be sufficient time that day for debate. Two previous trophy hunting Bills failed to pass into law due to lack of Parliamentary time, one having been derailed by a handful of pro-hunting peers in the House of Lords.
The latest wildlife trade data from CITES shows that the number of hunting trophies from endangered animals imported to the UK increased significantly in 2023, hitting an alarming post-Brexit high.
Nicola White, senior wildlife campaigns manager at Humane World for Animals UK, said: “In 2023 British hunters shipped dozens of trophies from endangered animals, including lions, elephants, a brown bear, a hippo and a cheetah, to the UK. Every day that the UK Government delays on its manifesto commitment to ban imports of hunting trophies is another day that British hunters are free to turn animals into grotesque souvenirs. Politicians from across the political spectrum were united in disgust at Britta's powerful photographs depicting animal lives extinguished just to be turned into mundane objects like bottle openers, footstools and backpacks. The British public are equally sickened, and can’t believe that such an abhorrent trade is still legal in 2025. We urgently need the Government to act, as promised, to stop Britain's role in this shameful practice."
Hunted animals can experience severe pain, fear and suffering before they die. Many animals hunted for trophies are shot by inexperienced hunters and the industry runs competitions that encourage use of weapons such as crossbows and spears. Hunters target vulnerable and endangered species which are already under increasing pressure from habitat loss, climate change, poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
Humane World for Animals’ “Still Life” exhibition of photographs by Britta Jaschinski was on display at London’s Mall Galleries from 8-12th April 2025, and has also been shown in Rome and Warsaw.
Media contact
Sally Ivens, Humane World for Animals
sivens@humaneworld.org
07590 559299
