Abstract
Public policy addressing biodiversity loss is most likely to be effective when it is informed by appropriate evidence and considers potential unintended consequences. We evaluate key evidence relating to the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill that was discussed in the UK Parliament between 2022 and 2024. We characterize the UK’s role in international hunting trophy trade by analyzing CITES trade data for 2000-2021 and 2015-2021. For CITES-listed species imported to/exported from the UK as hunting trophies in these periods we use data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species to determine whether hunting designated as “trophy hunting” is i) likely a major threat contributing to species being of elevated conservation concern, ii) likely or possibly causing localized declines, or iii) not a threat. We then use the Red List to determine whether such hunting provides, or potentially provides, benefits for species and/or people. Finally, we evaluate the UK Government’s impact assessment of the bill. In 2000-2021 an estimated 3494 hunting trophies from 73 CITES-listed species and subspecies were exported to the UK involving an estimated 2549 whole organism equivalents (WOEs), i.e. individual animals. Imports involved 158.86 ± 66.53 (mean ± SD) trophies/year (115.83 ± 32.27 WOEs/year). In 2015-2021, 79% of imports were from countries where populations of the hunted species are stable, increasing, or abundant. Legal hunting for trophies is not a major threat to any of the species or subspecies imported to the UK, but likely or possibly represents a local threat to some populations of nine species. This hunting does, or could potentially, benefit 20 species and subspecies, and people. Among other concerns, the impact assessment failed to adequately consider the costs and benefits to local communities in countries where such hunting occurs. Informed by these analyses we discuss alternative regulatory options.
Competing Interest Statement
DWSC is a member of the IUCN CEESP/SSC Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group (SULi) and the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group. MtSR is a member of the IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group and SULi. AD conducted this work under a Fellowship funded by the Recanati-Kaplan Foundation and Panthera. She has consultancies with the Darwin Expert Committee and Jamma International, but neither funded this work. AD leads WildCRU which has funding from donors with a wide variety of views of trophy hunting. DH receives research funding from Jamma International, WWF Deutschland, and the Luc Hoffmann Institute (now Unearthodox), the Band Foundation, and the John Muir Trust. AH is a member of SULi and has received non-personal funding from Jamma International, although not for this study. MH is employed by ZSL and is a member of the IUCN SSC Afrotheria, Antelope, Bear, and Canid Specialist Groups, and SULi. RM-C is employed as the Chief Ecologist Terrestrial with the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority in Zimbabwe. DR is the Chair of SULi which receives funding from Jamma International and the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency although neither funded this study, and is a member of the UK Advisory Group on Illegal Wildlife Trade and Darwin Expert Committee.
Footnotes
This version incorporates edits to reflect the evolving policymaking processes in the UK and other edits based on a final review of the article by all authors.
↵1 This excludes the Javan langur (Trachypithecus auratus) (2 live animals exported to South Africa in 2002) and the tiger (Panthera tigris) (1 pre-Convention [source code O] skin exported to Mexico in 2019).
