Born Free USA, an internationally recognized leader in animal welfare and compassionate conservation, has launched a six week-long campaign that began this month and is running through August. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the global impact of trophy hunting by revealing the brutal facts behind common myths supporting the continuation of this cruel and outdated practice.
“The international trade in trophies requires two willing stakeholders. The seller of the trophy animal and the buyer of the trophy. However, there is a third factor. The buyer’s country of residence must issue a permit allowing the trophy to be legally imported. Deny the import permit, the trade withers and dies. The UK is already considering such legislation. What about the United States? I am convinced that the majority of American citizens find the idea of killing wild animals for ‘fun’ repugnant. It’s time for policy to reflect Born Free’s values of compassionate conservation,” Will Travers, President of Born Free Foundation told WAN.
“The trophy hunting industry has unfortunately been able to persuade a segment of the public that it is helping to save endangered species like lions, tigers, elephants, and rhinos by killing them for so-called sport,” Angela Grimes, CEO of Born Free USA, said in a statement. “Hunting these threatened animals as recreation and then showing off their heads or other body parts doesn’t do anything to help vulnerable populations, and this is a chance to set the record straight.”
The facts about trophy hunting tell a different story than the one presented by hunting advocates:
Myth: Trophy hunting helps maintain wildlife populations.
Fact: Trophy hunting weakens wildlife populations by killing off the strongest and healthiest animals, which are considered better “trophies.” Hunters frequently target endangered species and contribute to the global wildlife trade that threatens biodiversity and wilderness habitats.
Myth: Trophy hunting provides economic support for local communities and conservation efforts.
Fact: The trophy hunting industry benefits a small group of outfitters, sponsors, and government agencies. Very little of the money it generates is invested in local economies, creates jobs, or is distributed to conservation organizations. Animal-friendly eco-tourism, meanwhile, offers an efficient, sustainable, and cruelty-free economic opportunity.
Myth: Trophy hunting is a “sport.”
Fact: Trophy hunting guides lure animals with bait, they target animals in and around protected areas that are accustomed to humans, and even shoot them from helicopters. In canned hunting operations, people pay thousands of dollars to kill animals that have been raised in captivity, and shoot them in an enclosed area from which they cannot escape. That is not a sport.
