LionAid Campaigns

Following our successful debate in the UK Parliament last November, join LionAid's campaign to ban the import of lion trophies into the UK/EU.

TAKE ACTION NOW AS THE MPs AND MEPs JOIN THIS INITIATIVE!

LionAid together with Andrew Turner MP (Isle of Wight) was able to bring a debate on lion trophy hunting to the UK Parliament on November 17, 2010, entitled “Government policy on Lion trophies and the protection of Lions”. The reason for the debate was to urge the UK Government and other EU governments to review carefully the significant impact trophy hunting contributes to the decline of Africa’s lion populations.
The Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Richard Benyon, received the debate and gave a very positive response, saying  “The Government has set out to be the greenest ever, and we carry that ethos into our international dealings”.

 The transcript of the 17 November debate can be found here:

And Minister Benyon’s subsequent support for the initiative can be found here 

Write to YOUR MP and ask him/her to support the campaign on your behalf.  Click here for a template letter to send.
 
To date the following Members of Parliament have either expressed their support for the issue and/or are following the debate closely:
 
Richard Benyon -  The Minister taking the Debate forward
Andrew Turner – who introduced the Private Members’ Debate
 
James Arbuthnot, Henry Bellingham, David Blunkett, Ronnie Campbell, Nick Clegg, Damian Collins, Oliver Colville, Mike Crockart, Caroline Dinenage, Charlie Elphicke, Graham Evans, Roger Gale, David Hanson, Margot James, Mark Lancaster, Pauline Latham, Oliver Letwin, Caroline Lucas, Edward Miliband, Robert Neill, Fiona O’Donnell, Bob Russell, Laura Sandys, Keith Taylor (MEP), Keith Vaz.
 
The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg had this to say in reply to a constituent:

 “ I can assure you that my colleagues and I do take this matter very seriously…..the Government will raise questions with the exporting countries we have concerns with and support tighter controls on trophy hunting.”   

And The Rt. Hon Edward Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, responded in equal support to one of his constituents as follows:

“I am writing to thank you for your recent letter regarding the charity LionAid and their campaign to ban the import of lion trophies, the contents of which I have carefully noted…. I can well understand your concerns on this issue, and this is a matter which will receive cross party support. I will pass your interest and support for extending action to the European commission’s Wildlife Trade Regulation onto Linda McAvan MEP for Yorkshire, and seek her observations on this issue for you.”

We should all be doing everything we can to protect the African Lion now in its hour of need and we believe this is an issue that will have overwhelming support from people everywhere. Lion trophy hunting is an anathema that benefits few and impacts highly negatively on lion populations. We ask you now if we can count on your backing for this very important LionAid initiative that is very much in line with resolutions formulated and accepted by the UK at the recent Convention on Biodiversity in Nagoya, Japan.

Contact us TODAY here and add your support to the campaign.

Lions and Parliament

Those of you familiar with this website will know that LionAid together with Andrew Turner MP (Isle of Wight) was able to bring a debate on lion trophy hunting to the UK Parliament on November 17, 2010. The full text of the debate can be found here.  The reason for the debate was to urge the UK Government and eventually other governments to review carefully the significant impact trophy hunting is contributing to the decline of Africa’s lion populations.

The Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Richard Benyon, received the debate and replied on the date, promising more action from the UK Government on the issue.

Response by the UK Government

In a letter to Andrew Turner on 20 December the Minister had this to say:

Dear Andrew:

Thank you for raising your and others’ concerns about the sustainability of African lion populations in the wild and in particular questions pertaining to lion trophy hunting during our Westminster Hall debate on 17th November 2010. Thank you also for your letter of 6 December providing further thoughts on the issue.

As I hope was apparent, I share your concerns and as promised, I am writing to set out the Government’s proposed action to address those concerns. As I made clear during the debate, the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) seeks to ensure that trade is sustainable and does not threaten the survival of a species in the wild. It does not seek to simply ban trade and has little remit over domestic trade.

You have set out very clearly fears that although hunting of lions and the resulting trophies may be perfectly legal, the way in which the individual targets of those hunts are selected may be placing individual populations under increasing strain. My officials are seeking the reaction of Tanzania to these claims, as this country was the subject of concerns raised in a BBC article and recent study. Unless we receive compelling reassurance to this enquiry we will seek to gain the support of the EU to raise this at the next CITES Animals Committee with a view to seeking a Review of Significant Trade. Subject to the response from Tanzania and the views of the UK’s statutory scientific authority, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, such a review could be widened to include all lions. We could either take this action ourselves or, if we can reach agreement, though a like-minded lion range state. Such a review should lead to corrective actions where necessary or, if the necessary assurances or actions are not forthcoming, to trade restrictions.

I cannot prejudge the outcome of our investigations but I assure you I will not hesitate to press for whatever action is necessary should your concerns be confirmed.

Yours ever, Richard Benyon MP

LionAid is obviously pleased by this response and delighted to see that the issue is being taken seriously and moving forward with the full backing of the UK Government.

Action - EU

also suggest action under the EC Wildlife Trade Regulation (WTR). With the dissolution of borders between many EU countries, the WTR came into force as a substitute for national wildlife trade regulations established by individual EU countries. The WTR generally mirrors CITES regulations, but can and has imposed stricter rules for imports in a number of cases. The WTR operates on a system of Annexes similar to the CITES Appendices, and lions are currently on Annex B. However, the WTR requires an import permit for lion trophies as well as the CITES mandated export permit issued by African lion range states. If trade restrictions are upheld, import permits will no longer be issued.

LionAid has now embarked on what we call Action-EU to seek modification of the status of the African lion in the WTR to Annex A – no further imports.

At present, trophy hunting of lions does not comply with many stipulations of Council Regulation (EC) 338/97 concerning the WTR. Specifically, lion trophy hunting is NOT:

• Based on sound biological data collected from the target population(s);
• Demonstrably sustainable in terms of harvest levels;
• Monitored by professional biologists;
• Modified if necessary to maintain conservation aims (with the exception of range states that have imposed lion hunting moratoria, and in some cases range states that have recently adopted the “six year” rule);
• Producing significant and tangible conservation benefits for the species;
• Providing benefits to, or being in cooperation with, local people living with lions or suffering from the presence of lions.

The procedure to establish stricter guidelines within the WTR than exist for CITES is as follows:

• A Member State Scientific Authority (SA – the Joint Nature Conservation Committee in the UK) advises its Management Authority to cease issuing import permits, as it is not satisfied that trophy hunting satisfies established conditions for being non-detrimental. Authorities in other Member States are notified of this advice and suspend the issuance of import permits as well.
• The issue is then taken up by the EC Scientific Review Group (SRG) composed of SA representatives from all Member States. The SRG can form a Negative Opinion in which case the suspension of import permits stays in place. Alternatively, the SRG can form a Positive Opinion, in which case import permits can be reinstated.
• In the case of a Negative Opinion from the SRG, the Commission may consult Range States about introducing an import restriction. Range States can support the Negative Opinion, in which case a binding import restriction is published in an official journal of the Commission. If the restriction is not supported, the case is referred back to the SRG.
• The SRG can then confirm the Negative Opinion, in which case the import restriction is published, or reverse the negative opinion.

EU action and an important message sent

Overall, the process towards establishing an import restriction for lion trophies into the EU is straightforward and there are many levels at which input is requested to facilitate an informed opinion. The most significant advantage, however, is that the process is scientifically guided and not as prone to the political lobbying characterizing CITES decisions. Among other advantages are the meeting schedules of the SRG (3-4 times per year instead of once every three years for CITES), the immediate and tangible benefits of removing a significant contributory factor to the decline of lion populations, and also, the important message that the UK and the EU could send worldwide.

In terms of the latter, if the EC WTR imposes a restriction on the importation of lion trophies, it would send a powerful message of concern to other nations with wildlife trade regulations - in terms of lion trophies the most significant of which is the United States. The US regulatory agency, the Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), could then voluntarily follow EU trade restrictions, or at least request information as to the basis of the restriction for US consideration.

The UK Parliamentary debate has clearly led to progress. After meeting with Andrew Turner MP and Roger Gale MP, we will now also seek the support of the UK Members of European Parliament (MEP) to keep pushing the issue forward. Those of you from Europe reading this can also contribute by bringing a similar debate to your country’s parliament. LionAid will initially seek to bring such debates to Germany and the Netherlands.

Conservation requires multifaceted approaches to arrive at an overall goal that protects species. What is needed for lions is action on all fronts, and we believe the political approach will do much to raise awareness about the decline of lion populations and to eventually prevent further use of lions as gratifying trophies for a few to the detriment of a world heritage species.

Picture credit: http://davesworldtravel.com/image.php?title=houses-of-parliament&description=houses-of-parliament&url=uploads/2010/04/houses-of-parliament.jpg

LionAid is dependent on donations to keep the momentum of our important work moving forward. Lions need much better protection right NOW. If you like these blogs, please donate generously.

 http://www.lionaid.org/lion-aid-support-giving.php 

The Debate is now available on Hansard ( the official Parliamentary record), 17th November at 4.36pm.

We are very grateful to Andrew Turner, the MP for the Isle of Wight, for creating the opportunity for this Private members' Debate in Westminster Hall. Before the event, we worked together with Andrew and his team and we provided all the material for this speech which we reprint in full below.

We are also very grateful to the Under Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Mr Richard Benyon, for his considered response which shows the UK Government's commitment to investigate and support tighter controls on trophy hunting.

We are looking forward to hearing the report back from Richard Benyon and, in the meantime, we are  continuing to work with Andrew and his team on the issues highlighted in the Debate.

THE DEBATE TRANSCRIPT IN FULL (from Hansard)

Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight) (Con): Mr Sheridan, it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship this afternoon. I know that the Minister's diary was rearranged to enable him to be here today. I thank him for that, and hope that he agrees that this is an important debate.

"LionAid works to protect and conserve lions and raise awareness of their plight"

Some issues attract overwhelming public support. One is a call to ban all imports into the UK of lion trophies. Many people are amazed that the UK still allows such trophies to be imported. I became personally interested in the issue during a campaign organised by the charity LionAid to highlight rapidly declining lion populations. With LionAid, I visited the Isle of Wight zoo, where a majestic white lion named Casper served as an ambassador for their message. LionAid works to protect and conserve lions and raise awareness of their plight. One of its trustees, Chris Macsween, is present today. I thank her and Dr Pieter Kat for their help in preparing for this debate.

 "Everywhere else they have been persecuted and eradicated"

I would like to outline a few facts about the decline of this magnificent big cat. Lions used to be widespread across Africa-indeed, they used to be found in southern Europe, across the middle east and well into India-but today, they are found only in sub-Saharan Africa, except for one small remnant population left in western India. Everywhere else, they have been persecuted and eradicated.

"Sadly , only 20,000 are left today."

In the 1960s, it was estimated that there were 200,000 lions on the African continent. Sadly, only 20,000 are left today. In central and western Africa, only a few scattered groups remain, numbering not more than a few dozen individuals. In all Africa, it is estimated that that only six significant populations are left-in Tanzania, northern Botswana, and the Kruger national park in South Africa. Recent surveys in Ghana have shown that lions have become locally extinct. Kenya and Uganda have both announced that they estimate that their lion populations will become extinct in the next 10 years or so. In Nigeria, evidence of lions was discovered in only two of six locations where they were thought to exist until recently.

"It is suprising that sport hunting is still permitted"

The causes of the decline are largely attributable to humans protecting their own lives and livestock. Lion habitat is increasingly being given over to agriculture to feed the rapidly growing human population. Where lions come into contact with humans, history has long shown that lions must make way. Realistically, such decline is not preventable and there will never be 200,000 lions in Africa again. However, with the lion population in such rapid decline, it is surprising that sport hunting is still permitted in the wild. We must not underestimate the impact such hunting has on lion numbers. Again, I shall provide some facts on that.

Mike Crockart (Edinburgh West) (LD): Does my hon. Friend agree that the most worrying aspect of trophy hunting is that it concentrates almost exclusively on the male lions? Although total populations may be around 20,000 in Africa, only some 3,000 of those are males, which means the species is even more at risk.

"Between 2002 and 2008, some 4,250 wild lions were exported as trophies"

Mr Turner: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I will come on to that point later. Between 2002 and 2008, some 4,250 wild lions were exported as trophies. I make that distinction because South Africa specifically breeds lions for captive hunting. Sport hunting refers to animals killed for the prize of an animal trophy, usually the skin or mounted head of the animal. That can be done legally in a few places, such as game reserves. However, illegal sport hunting across Africa and poachers selling on lion trophies to the rest of the world is a real issue.

"Taking out male lions that cannot be replaced is aptly called "mining""

Sport hunting mostly targets adult male animals. Hunters regard them as the most impressive to kill. Out of the 20,000 lions that remain in Africa, there are lions of all ages and both sexes, from the youngest cub to the most ancient female. However, it is estimated that only 15% at most of any lion population is composed of adult males-the primary trophy targets. Therefore, instead of the figure of 20,000, we must think of 3,000 as the trophy hunting reserve. That figure is further reduced by subtracting the male lions who live in protected areas, such as Kruger national park. That level of specific removal from any population, particularly one in free-fall, is neither ethical nor sustainable. Taking out male lions that cannot be replaced is aptly called "mining".

"Such a situation cannot continue"

Where did all those trophies originate from? Between 2002 and 2007, the number of trophies exported was more than 1,000 from Tanzania, 935 from South Africa, 455 from Zimbabwe, 283 from Zambia, and 97 from Mozambique. Those are the top five exporting countries. Based on lion population estimates for 2002, the percentage of the wild lion population that was exported in that year was 13% in Tanzania, 33% in South Africa, 32% in Zimbabwe, 14% in Zambia and 11% in Mozambique. I stress that those percentages are based on the total population, not the adult male population. I hope we can all agree that such a situation cannot continue.

"A rapid turnover in males can result in no reproduction at all in a pride"

Lions are social animals. Their family unit is the pride. Pride territories are held long term by the females, while adult males emigrate from their original prides. They become nomadic for some time and then challenge resident males to gain their chance at reproduction. A feature of lion biology is that victorious incoming males will kill cubs belonging to the previous pride males. That ensures that newly won females will raise the cubs with their genes instead of those belonging to their predecessor. Females need at least 30 months to successfully raise cubs. That becomes an issue, given the length of time between the previous males, and loss due to hunting of the incoming males. In other words, a rapid turnover in males can result in no reproduction at all in a pride. Such a rapid turnover is entirely predictable; indeed, it is inevitable when male lions are trophy hunted.

"Feline AIDS is widespread among eastern and southern African lion populations"

Lions have socially complex lives. There are many reasons why they should not be the target of sport hunting, apart from the simple fact that there are dwindling numbers. Disease is also an important consideration. In 1994, more than 1,000 lions died in the Serengeti in Tanzania alone because of an outbreak of canine distemper. Bovine tuberculosis is a severe threat to the lions in Kruger national park in South Africa. Both diseases have domestic animal origins. Feline immunodeficiency virus-a cause of feline AIDS-is widespread among eastern and southern African lion populations and affects both reproduction and longevity. Such diseases contribute to the overall decline and instability of the few remaining lion populations.

"Stronger action should clearly have been taken before now"

Stronger action should clearly have been taken before now to prevent lion trophy hunting. Relevant international organisations include the International 
Union for Conservation of Nature, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. They have been entrusted with the conservation and regulation of international trade in species to conserve biodiversity. Both organisations have listed lions as vulnerable for many years. However, rather than taking effective action, sadly, those organisations have overseen their decline.

" The meeting...failed to ...act on any important recommendations"

For example, the last time lions were on the CITES agenda was in 2004, when Kenya requested an upgrade on to appendix I. That is the highest list for endangered animals, and being on it would have imposed severe restrictions on all international trade. Such action was watered down by members of the convention and instead it called for regional meetings, so that individual range states with a recognised lion population could agree on lion conservation needs. Those meetings were, in fact, in part financed by the UK. The meeting for eastern and southern African range states has, to this day, failed to meet any significant deadlines or act on any important recommendations.

"Lions have not even appeared on the CITES agenda in 2007 or 2010"

Lions have not even appeared on the CITES agenda in 2007 or 2010. It should be noted that CITES votes are often influenced by powerful lobbying and special interest groups. That was apparent at the most recent meeting in Doha. Efforts to protect the threatened bluefin tuna-a staple ingredient in sushi-were defeated in the face of staunch opposition from Japan. Significantly, powerful so-called pro-sport hunting lobbies have boasted about defeating moves to add lions to the agenda, and they have already announced their intention to block any such consideration at the next CITES meeting in 2013. One such lobbying group, Safari Club International, has pledged financial support to assist CITES with current budget troubles.

"What are the individual range states doing?"

What are the individual range states doing? It is a mixed picture. Only Kenya has had a long-standing, anti-trophy hunting stance. Uganda has announced that hunting in reserves will cease by 2011. Botswana announced a reversible moratorium on lion trophy hunting in 2008. Tanzania and Mozambique have implemented stricter controls on the minimum age at which male lions can be killed for trophies, but they have not stopped the practice. Other range states, such as Cameroon, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia, have not implemented specific plans to save their dwindling lion populations. They might have good intentions, but they have yet to take effective action.

"The UK is a relatively minor importer of wild lion trophies overall"

I accept that the UK is a relatively minor importer of wild lion trophies overall, having imported about 50 between 2002 and 2008, compared with 317 for Spain, 274 for France, 170 for Mexico, 146 for Germany and a staggering 2,792 for the United States. Britain also imported 11 captive-bred lion trophies during the same period. Therefore, it could well be asked why we are being asked to take a stance, since we are such a minor part of the problem. Could not the issue be much more effectively discussed by the United States? I believe that to take such an attitude would be mistaken for two reasons.

"We, perhaps more than any other nation, have taken lions to heart"

First, the UK is a country, more than any other, where symbolism of lions is important to the public and central to our national identity. Lion symbols are found practically everywhere we turn: in our statues, our emblems and even our sports teams. We, perhaps more than any other nation, have taken lions to heart to stand for attributes that we admire, such as courage, steadfastness, loyalty, and nobility.

"Our nation should set a strong precedent"

Secondly, our voice is a powerful one among nations. We are a leading member of the Commonwealth, the United Nations and even the Common Market. We are signatories to the convention on biological diversity and other international conventions. A leadership position adopted by the British Government would support range states in resisting the massive pressures they face from the trophy hunting lobbyists and help them to implement their good intentions. Our nation should set a strong precedent, rather than meekly following in the footsteps of others and thus allowing the extinction of lions in the wild.

"The first step is banning the import into the UK of lion trophies"

In 2004, my hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Miss McIntosh) asked what action the Government were taking to save the lion. She was told that the then Labour Government would press for "collaborative action" through CITES to ensure that the lion does not become endangered. However, the fate of the lion was not even placed on the CITES agenda in 2007 or 2010. The next meeting is not until 2013. I hope the new Government will take decisive action to save these majestic animals. The first step is banning the import into the UK of lion trophies and taking a lead on the issue now, before it is too late, and before the wild African lion is lost for ever.

"I agree about the urgent need for action"

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Richard Benyon): I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight (Mr Turner) on securing the debate and speaking so passionately on a matter that is clearly of great concern to him. I also pay tribute to LionAid and the conservation work done by the Isle of Wight zoo. The work of such organisations does have an effect, but we must ensure that it does not come too late for some species, and I agree about the urgent need for action. I share his concern and am equally passionate about the subject. I am lucky enough to have seen a considerable number of lions in the wild, and I want my children and grandchildren to have the same experience.

"The Government have set out to be the greenest ever"

The Government have set out to be the greenest ever, and we carry that ethos into our international dealings. Indeed, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently returned from the conference for the parties to the convention on biological diversity in Nagoya, where she played a pivotal role in securing a range of historic agreements that will benefit biodiversity across the globe.

"The African lion has been in decline for many decades"

As my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight pointed out, the African lion has been in decline for many decades and has come under increasing pressure as a result of the spread of mankind across Africa. As he acknowledged, most of the animals killed by man have been killed to protect people or livestock, but several countries in sub-Saharan Africa allow people to hunt lions for sport. There is little we can do to control what occurs within another country's borders, but we can and do seek to influence them when we are concerned about how they are acting. For instance, Ministers can write to their opposite numbers in a country to draw attention to our concerns or raise issues during official visits.

"We can use our membership of international conventions to bring influence"

We can also use our membership of international conventions to bring influence or provoke reflection. I have already mentioned the recent successes achieved through the CBD, and my hon. Friend mentioned CITES, a convention that is intended specifically to regulate trade in wildlife, both fauna and flora, to ensure that the survival of species in the wild is not threatened. The UK, along with 174 other countries, is a party to CITES. The convention looks to regulate the import and export of around 33,000 specimens of wild plants and animals through a licensing system. Trade in those specimens most at risk is effectively banned, except in exceptional circumstances, by placing them on its appendix I. The African lion is presently on appendix II, which allows for regulated and sustainable trade.

"Lion numbers are clearly in decline"

As my hon. Friend has stated, lion numbers are clearly in decline. In 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature declared in its red list assessment that the wild population of African lions was "vulnerable", and the two most recent assessments of population size declared that the population was somewhere between 16,500 and 47,000. An accurate assessment is, for obvious reasons, notoriously difficult to calculate, but we know that the population is decreasing.

" We would look to countries such as Kenya to take the lead"

The threats to the species are numerous, but in 2004 the threat of trade was not thought sufficient to uplist the species to CITES appendix I, and no range state felt that it was necessary to make such a proposal at the two subsequent conferences of the parties, where such decisions are taken, in 2007 and 2010. CITES works by range states making such proposals to ensure that there is support from the affected region. Therefore, we would look to countries such as Kenya to take the lead, as it has the most knowledge of the situation and the tools to implement any measures required. Kenya proposed uplisting the lion to appendix I in 2004, but the parties to CITES felt that the preparation and implementation of management plans would suffice, and as a result Kenya withdrew its proposal. I am happy to report that we work closely with Kenya's wildlife service and are supporting it actively and financially in certain activities, particularly in support for elephant populations. I will continue to build on my relationship with Ministers there and will work with colleagues across Government to take forward the points that my hon. Friend has raised.

"{European law} regulations.....impose a number of stricter measures.."

I should point out that, as a consequence of the EU single market, CITES has been transposed into European law via regulations that have direct effect in all member states. Those regulations list species in annexes, roughly equivalent to the CITES appendices, and also impose a number of stricter measures, including the requirement for member states to issue import permits in addition to the export permits issued by the exporting country. However, hunting trophies are regarded in international terms as personal and household effects, as the commercial transaction occurred within another country rather than across borders, so no import permit is required for appendix II species, although they are for annex I species.

"Trophy hunting is often an emotive subject"

Trophy hunting is often an emotive subject, but many recognise that, if managed properly, it can actually benefit conservation. Hunters can pay large sums of money for the privilege of hunting, particularly for Africa's "big five", which includes the lion. If it is managed properly and the income is fed back into conservation schemes and the local community, trophy hunting can have, and has had, a positive effect. Also, the value that hunting places on wildlife can often mean that some species are viewed differently by locals than they might previously have been, because they have a value and are more than just killers of livestock and a danger to families. Those who hunted those animals for food or their own protection in the past might now view their conservation as a sound investment. It is essential, of course, that such enterprises are managed effectively, with the conservation of the species being of paramount importance. Recent studies published earlier this year have raised some questions about lion trophy hunting.

"Our support...must be on the basis of better information"

Lion populations may be sparse in certain areas, but there may be concentrations of them in other areas. Our support for countries, and international operations, must be on the basis of better information about where the animals are, and the support that we can give to communities as a result. For example, until recently, Tanzania had authorised the taking of up to 500 animals per year, although our records suggest that takes have usually been in the mid 200s. Many of those animals are taken abroad as hunting trophies after they have been killed. The recent report into the status of lions in Tanzania makes several recommendations, including reduction of the quota, but we have yet to ascertain how Tanzania has reacted or will react to the recommendations.

"If there are concerns.......we and the EU can...support tighter controls"

As I have already made clear, it is for individual countries to manage their own wildlife, and, in the case of animals that can be killed, possibly for hunting trophies, to set their own quotas for each species, dependent on the population size. However, if there are concerns that trophy hunting is unsustainable in some places, we and the EU can raise questions and support tighter controls. Where we have such concerns, we would contact the exporting country concerned and normally also pass on our concerns to the CITES secretariat for broader consideration.

"If the EU has concerns....it can bring considerable influence to bear..."

As CITES is a matter of EU competence and with the EU being a significant trading block for wildlife as well as everything else, it means that if the EU has concerns about the sustainability of wildlife it can bring considerable influence to bear through wildlife trade. Until the most recent reports voiced concern about the levels of some hunting trophy activities, the international community was not considering whether trade in lion trophies or the use of lion derivatives in medicines-another important point-posed sufficient threat to merit additional protection under CITES.

"I have asked my officials to look into the matter"

However, the UK is presently a member of the CITES animals committee and its standing committee. As a result of recent reports and my hon. Friend's debate today, I have asked my officials to look into the matter to see what opportunities are presented, and I shall report their findings to him. I hope that he is convinced from what I have said that the Government take seriously the conservation of international wildlife, including the lion, and I look forward to working with him on any further concerns that he has.

The Debate in Westminster Hall is on Wednesday and  is entitled "Government policy on Lion Trophies and the protection of Lions". The time has now been amended to 4.30pm.

We need YOUR HELP

Please email your local MP and ask him/her if they will attend the debate and/or offer their support on your behalf. If you do not want to see lion trophies coming in to the UK, then tell your MP this.

It WILL make a difference if you tell the MP your views.

You can find your MP here and the entry will give you the name, the email address, the postal address and the telephone number.

Very important : if you get a reply (whatever it says) from the MP, please forward to me at info@lionaid.org.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

As you are aware, we are asking all 650 of the UK's MPs to support a ban on the importation of lion trophies into the UK.

We are so very pleased to tell you that we have succeeded in getting the adjournment debate in Parliament next Wednesday at 4pm. Andrew Turner, the MP for the Isle of Wight will make the speech on trophy hunting and to ask the Minister to consider the ban on the importation of lion trophies into the UK.

We  now need as many MPs as possible to turn up next Wednesday and to support this debate.

So PLEASE all of you who believe that this is an important issue, write to your MP today and ask him/her to attend this debate next Wednesday in Westminster Hall.

You can look up who your MP is here and find his address.

This is your call now to show your support for the conservation of the African Lion.

If we succeed in this ban, it will be a significant step towards halting the decline in African lion populations.

We're counting on you to do your bit now.

LionAid is launching an important campaign  to ask the UK Government to consider a ban on the importation of lion trophies and body parts into the UK.

 

 We talk to many people and find always that they are surprised and indeed shocked to hear that trophy hunting of an endangered species still goes on – and that importing lion trophies into the UK is legal.  And we have yet to talk to anyone who would not support a move to prevent the trophy hunters bringing their spoils back into the UK. It is time that this practice was brought to an end. Hunting was considered a normal activity in the 20th Century, but maybe we are a bit more enlightened in the 21st Century and the need to take responsibility, maintain biodiversity and consideration of the preservation of species and habitat  to be more important than allowing sport hunting for the few that still support it. The United Kingdom can lead the way in this International Year of Biodiversity.

 

We are currently contacting all 650 British MPs, calling on them for greater support and recognition of the plight of lions and positive action for the conservation of lions.

 

The African lion, long a symbol and icon of the British national identity, is under considerable threat on its home continent. Over the past 50 years, lion numbers have plummeted from an estimated 200,000 to fewer than 20,000 today, and the trend continues. Ghana could soon be classified among the many countries that have lost all their lions, and Kenya and Uganda have themselves expressed concern that they might lose their populations over the next ten years.

 

These grim statistics are the result of many factors. With the current rate of human and livestock population growth rates in Africa, there can never be 200,000 lions again. But there are alternatives to the steady slide to extinction of one of the world’s most magnificent predators.

 

While conflict with humans and livestock will likely further erode the numbers of lions in non-protected areas, there is a source of significant lion mortality that can be halted.  That is trophy hunting.

 

Surprising as it might be in terms of a species in freefall decline numerically, the business of lion trophy hunting is flourishing. Between 2002 and 2008, CITES (an international monitoring and regulatory agency) has recorded over 4,400 exports. This is an unacceptable added source of mortality to lions, especially since trophy hunters attempt to take only a small proportion of the overall population – adult lion males.

 

Just as in the case of banning the ivory trade, individual nations can do much to control importation of lion trophies. Britain is in a robust position to stand up for lions because of our strong international connections including with the European Union and the Commonwealth.  An international ban is the ultimate goal, but in the meantime, we should take the first practical step of banning lion trophy imports.  That will help halt further declines of lions and send a powerful message to the rest of the world.   

 

We call on all of you now to show your support of this campaign. Sign up to our mailing list in your numbers if you support. We need to give the MPs the courage to show the way here and be the first country to invoke this ban.

 

It WILL make a difference!!