Ten years since the death of Cecil the lion sparked global outrage, we find ourselves mourning the loss of another stunning wild animal.
Blondie, a majestic lion studied by Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, just like Cecil, was lured out of the same protected area in Zimbabwe and killed by a trophy hunter. He leaves behind 10 vulnerable cubs.
Meanwhile, the number of lion trophies imported into the UK has skyrocketed from just two in 2022 to 28 in 2023: lions are now the most targeted species by UK trophy hunters.
It has been more than five years since the UK government promised to ban the import of hunting trophies, and one year since the Government came to power on the manifesto commitment to deliver that ban, and yet we are still waiting. Animals are dying; we must not allow more time to pass without action to ban the import of hunting trophies into the UK.
The British public opinion is clear: over 85% believe it should be illegal to import animal body parts as hunting trophies. We must come together to prevent more deaths like Cecil and Blondie. Let’s be their voice and make 2025 the year we finally end this cruelty.
Please use our template email to write to Rt Hon Steve Reed and urge him to bring forward the long-promised legislation to ban hunting trophy imports now.
