Perverse 'pay-to-slay' clause will allow sick trophy hunters to import slain animals

Hunters will still be able to import slain lions, rhinos, elephants and even polar bears under a new law’s perverse “pay-to-slay” clause.

A ban outlawing the importing of the sick souvenirs was unveiled in the Queen’s Speech last Tuesday:

Banning the import of hunting trophies from endangered animals abroad and ending the advertising for sale here of low welfare experiences abroad through an Animals Abroad Bill.

Implementing the Ivory Act to ban dealing in elephant ivory and consider further steps to limit the trade and sale of foie gras.

Yet a loophole allows wealthy collectors to bring in tusks, skins and stuffed carcasses by paying tens of thousands for a “conservation exemption” to obtain special permits for hunts and imports.

The cash is supposed to be used for conservation and community developments projects, mostly in Africa.

But critics have slammed it as a cop-out and blasted hunters who pose with their kills as “beaming morons”.

Claire Bass, director of the Humane Society International, said: “Allowing hunting trophies to be imported under a fig leaf of supposed conservation benefit would undermine the Government’s goal of having the strongest hunting trophy ban in the world.

“To truly protect wildlife we need a loophole-free ban, not a pay-to-slay.” The campaign group Ban Hunting Trophies has demanded evidence to show where the conservation of wildlife has benefited from a version of the scheme in the US.

Founder Eduardo Goncalves said: “Trophy hunting groups have brought pressure to make the law meaningless. The ‘blood money’ loophole allows the wealthy to kill and collect the world’s most endangered animals for kicks by arguing they are funding conservation.

US trophy hunter Chris D. Peyerk with the body of a rare black rhino he reportedly paid $400,000 to shoot in Namibia

“Trophy hunters will be rubbing their hands in glee. It is the cruellest of bloodsports, a shameful relic of colonialism and a dark stain on society.

“Populations of lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs and polar bears have collapsed. Yet these beaming morons are still charging around the world on a wild killing spree.

“There are just 3,142 black rhinos left. It is over 10 years since a black rhino trophy entered Britain, yet this appalling blood money loophole will positively encourage wealthy hunters to shoot some of the last of these great animals.”

Explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes said: “If hunters really want to conserve wildlife, why don’t they just put down their guns and give the thousands they’d have spent on shooting defenceless animals to conservation projects instead?”

Ricky Gervais has urged for the loophole to be closed (Image: Getty)

Comedian Ricky Gervais added: “This loophole would be a serious flaw in a good law, allowing the richest hunters to continue under the nonsense cover of conservation. It is vital this does not get through.”

And TV’s Carol Vorderman said: “This is not a rehearsal. So many species are under threat and only action right now, with no exceptions, no exemptions, no loopholes, will suffice.”

In America, permits have been issued to hunt and import black rhino. Texan billionaire Lacy James Harber was famously pictured with one slain beast he had planned to take back to the US.

And Michigan tycoon Chris D. Peyerk reportedly paid $400,000 to kill a rhino he intended to take home.

UK opponents include Carrie Symonds, fiancée of PM Boris Johnson. She is head of communications for wildlife charity the Aspinall Foundation and tweeted a campaigning Mirror front page when the law was announced – before the loophole was exposed.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “The argument this loophole is good for conservation is completely bogus.”

Shadow Environment Secretary Luke Pollard said: “We need to ban trophy imports. That means closing loopholes”

The SNP ’s Lisa Cameron said: “Who seriously believes these perverted thrill-seekers have conservation in mind?”

A Whitehall spokesman said: “The Government takes the conservation of endangered species very seriously, which is why we have committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from endangered species. We will be setting out our detailed plans soon.”

What’s your opinion on trophy hunting and the people who do it? Tell us in the comments below

This article was first published by The Mirror on 8 May 2021. Lead Image: Texan Lacy James Harber, centre, with grisly trophy.

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