LONDON, 10 February 2016 (Born Free):The Born Free Foundation is urging European politicians to support calls to ban the import of animal trophies into the European Union by signing a new Written Declaration.
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http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+WDECL+P8-DCL-2016-0003+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN
Between 2004 and 2013, over 27.000 trophies originating from Africa and America were imported into Europe, the declaration states.
British MEP Neena Gill – backed by 18 other cross-party MEPs – has tabled the Written Declaration in the European Parliament urging the European Commission and the 28 European countries to tighten the rules on the import of wildlife trophies into the European Union.
To raise awareness of this crucial issue, Ms Gill is also hosting a high-profile meeting at the European Parliament on 24th February 2016 where leading conservationists and policymakers will discuss current and potential future EU policy on trophy hunting.
Public concern about the impact of trophy hunting has been growing following the killing of Cecil the lion by an American dentist in Zimbabwe in July 2015.
Born Free has been working to bring the trophy hunting to the attention of the public, policymakers and enforcement bodies for many years.The NGO is now contacting MEPs from all EU countries to urge them to sign up in support of the proposed greater trade restrictions.
It is also encouraging the public to contact their local MEP to ask them to sign the Written Declaration. Born Free will highlight the names of the MEPs that support the Written Declaration on its website www.bornfree.org.uk.
“Hvert kvarter dræbes en elefant ulovligt”
Born Free Foundation President, Will Travers OBE, said:
"On average, an African elephant is illegally killed every 15 minutes. There may only be 20,000 lions left in the whole of Africa. Almost 2,000 rhino were poached in South Africa alone in 2015”.
“And yet it is possible for a tiny, wealthy elite to travel to Africa and kill hundreds of elephants, lions and rhinos – the world's rarest and most iconic wild animals – Legally, and for fun!”.
“Trophy hunters rob the rest of us of our shared wildlife heritage and it is time for a practice that leaves a bloody stain on our civilisation to end”.
“The European Union can lead the way and I urge Members of the European Parliament to show that leadership by supporting Written Declaration 0003/2016”.
Standser ikke nedskydningen, men….
Daniel Turner, Programmes Manager for Captive Wild Animals and Policy at Born Free, said:
““Whilst the restriction of trophy imports will not directly stop the issuing of permits by source nations to shoot iconic animals such as lions, elephants and rhinos for ‘fun’, they will make it far more difficult for a European hunter to bring his or her trophy back”.
“This will put massive downward pressure on the whole industry. EU countries imported almost 120,000 trophy items in the decade to 2013, and we must act now or risk losing our wonderful wildlife.”
Neena Gill, Labour MEP for the West Midlands, added:
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