Ban Trophy Hunting

1. 2025 marked the 10th anniversary of the shocking killing of Cecil the lion. Yet 10,000 lions have been shot since then – many by British hunters. There are now only 15,000 lions left in the wild.

2. The Wildlife & Conservation Foundation (WCF) has launched a campaign – ‘Ban Trophy Hunting’ - to prohibit hunting trophies from coming into the UK. 3. WCF used the anniversary to launch a major 360 campaign to raise awareness of Britain’s role, the animals targeted, the suffering endured, and the enjoyment hunters speak of in order to secure government legislation. 4. An extensive undercover investigation was conducted into top British hunters and companies to generate content for a) the media, b) policymakers, and c) to mobilise celebrities and the public. 5. Two posters were developed with an agency: one showed endangered animals on the luggage carousel of a British airport; another named and shamed British ‘serial killers’ of animals. 6. A book and documentary were launched in Parliament. 7. A ‘Live Aid’-style video featuring dozens of top celebrities was produced. Many designed t-shirts and signed open letters. 8. A tabloid was handed out at strategic locations Results: ü A ban is now supported by the government and virtually all political parties ü Opinion polls show 9 out of 10 voters back it ü So do newspapers ranging from The Times to the Daily Mirror ü The number of animals shot by British trophy hunters has more than halved.