On March 17th, a government bill known as Sally’s Law will be voted on by MPs in the UK, with the aim of implementing a ban on trophy hunting. The proposed legislation, which has

cross-party support, would prevent British trophy hunters from bringing home the bodies of endangered animals they have killed for sport. The bill is named in honor of Sally, a tiger cub rescued from being slaughtered.

A number of high-profile celebrities, including Dame Judi Dench, Ricky Gervais, Liam Gallagher, Kate Moss and Ed Sheeran, have publicly endorsed the campaign. Sir David Attenborough has also added his support, stating that it is unacceptable for species such as elephants and rhinos to be threatened with extinction due to human interference.

A recent poll revealed that 9 out of 10 British citizens are in favor of the trophy hunting ban, with many urging their MPs to cancel their constituency plans and attend parliament to vote on the bill. If passed, the legislation would be the toughest of its kind in the world and would send shock waves throughout the trophy hunting industry.

The Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting was established in 2018 and has garnered support from a variety of sources, including former WWF International Director Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud, explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and actor and animal advocate Peter Egan. Other high-profile supporters include Dame Joanna Lumley and Ricky Gervais.

British hunters have brought home approximately 5,000 trophies of endangered animals over the past four decades, according to CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Despite this, many British companies still offer trophy hunting ‘holidays’ in Africa, with Take Aim Safaris being one of the most well-known.

The proposed ban has been welcomed by many who see trophy hunting as an outdated and cruel practice that serves no purpose other than to satisfy the egos of those who participate. Those in favor of the ban argue that it is time for the UK to take a strong stance against the exploitation and destruction of endangered species, and that the proposed legislation would be an important step in that direction.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Ambassador for Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, has urged the public to sign the campaign and to demand that their MPs attend parliament to vote in favor of the ban. Fiennes has called trophy hunting “vile” and stated that it is carried out by “cowards who bring shame upon our nation.”

With the support of both government and opposition parties, as well as the backing of the majority of voters, the proposed ban on trophy hunting is expected to pass. If successful, it will be a significant victory for animal rights advocates and a strong signal to the trophy hunting industry that their practices will no longer be tolerated. Photo by Ayush Baheti, Wikimedia commons.