The EU has banned the import of elephant hunting trophies from Tanzania and Mozambique, due to their elephant populations being decimated by poaching. A ban on elephant trophies from Zambia was also upheld.
The decision was taken by an EU scientific committee which rules on whether hunting trophy imports are sustainable. Previously Tanzania and Mozambique were each permitted to export tusks from 100 elephants every year into the EU as hunting trophies.
Both countries have seen a significant decline in elephant numbers due to soaring levels of poaching, and neither could give information to show that the export of tusks as hunting trophies is sustainable.
Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder, long-time wildlife campaigner and founder of the cross-party MEPs for Wildlife group, said: "I'm glad the EU is leading the way in stopping the slaughter of endangered animals for sport. Trophy hunting of elephants is not only senseless and cruel, it is wholly unsustainable. African elephants could be extinct in the wild within our lifetimes; we must do everything we can to prevent this iconic species from being wiped out."
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