Hunters are killing millions of animals,

and 1 in 8 of those are endangered

By Damian Carrington, The Guardian, Adapted by Newsela staff on 06.20.16
Word Count 733

In this photo taken Oct. 12, 2012, bear and other animal pelts are displayed for sale at a roadside about 300 kilometers
(186 miles) northwest of Moscow, Russia. AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr

About 1.7 million animal “trophies” have been exported across borders by hunters in the
last decade, according to a new report. At least 200,000 of them are endangered species.

The report found that American hunters are by far the largest killers of trophy animals. Half
of all the 11,000 lions shot in the last decade were by Americans. The issue came to global
attention in July 2015 after an American dentist paid more than $50,000 to kill a lion called
Cecil. The male lion was being tracked by conservation scientists in Zimbabwe.

The report from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), based on official records,
sheds new light on the scale of the international trophy-hunting industry.

It found the number of lions hunted for trophies went up by 3 times to 1,500 a year in the
last 10 years, while the number of elephants killed by hunters more than doubled to 1,600.
The total number of animal trophies may be much higher because those that remain in the
country where they were killed are not recorded.

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Worldwide Demand

“The trophy-hunting industry is driven by demand, and, sadly, demand for animal trophies
is prevalent worldwide,” said Philip Mansbridge, director of IFAW United Kingdom. “Even
in the face of extinction, imperiled species are still being hunted every day in order to
serve as the centerpiece of someone’s decor. It is unconscionable in this modern day
where species are under so many threats to survive.”

Three of Africa’s “big 5” game, or the animals that are the largest challenge to hunt
including elephants, lions and leopards, were in the top 6 targets for trophy hunters. More
than 10,000 elephants and the same number of leopards were killed as trophies in the last
decade. More than 8,000 lions were killed during the same time.

The most popular target was the American black bear, of which 93,000 were hunted in the
last decade. The Hartmann’s mountain zebra was the second-biggest target with 13,000
deaths. Large numbers of baboons (9,500) and hippopotamuses (6,000) were also hunted
as trophies in the last decade.

Up To $60,000 For A "Trophy"

Trophy hunting is expensive. Hunters pay $25,000 to $60,000 to kill an elephant, $8,500 to
$50,000 for a lion and $15,000 to $35,000 for a leopard. Supporters of the industry argue
that the money raised by hunting can fund conservation efforts. Prince William of Great
Britain has argued it can be justified in some cases.

In April, the International Union for Conservation of Nature said: “Legal, well-regulated
trophy hunting programs can – and do – play an important role in delivering benefits for
both wildlife conservation and for the livelihoods and well-being" of native communities
living with wildlife.

But others strongly disagree. Azzedine Downes, president of IFAW, said many scientists
and organizations reject the "killing to save them" idea that people use for hunting.

Polar Bear Hunting Is Down

One species that is being hunted less frequently today is polar bears, of which just 20,000
survive in the wild. The United States banned the import of polar bear trophies in 2008.
Subsequently, the number hunted each year in Canada fell from 360 to 210. The 2
countries have continued to clash over the issue.

The IFAW report is based on records from the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES). CITES is a legal treaty signed by 182 nations. Its records do
not include trophies that are not exported. The IFAW report is in line with previous
research: In February, the Humane Society International estimated that 1.2 million animal
trophies were imported into the U.S. alone over the last decade.

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IFAW found the biggest sources of trophy animals were Canada, which had 35 percent of
the animal trophies, due to the many black bears killed. This was followed by South Africa,
which had 23 percent of the trophy animals, and Namibia, which had 11 percent.

Germany And Spain Follow U.S.

After the U.S., hunters from Germany and Spain take the most animal trophies home.
About 10,000 entered each country over the last decade. The United Kingdom imported
fewer than 500 animal trophies over the same period. Mansbridge is still calling on his
government to follow France and other countries and ban the practice.

Trophy hunting was likely invented by the British empire during Victorian times,
Mansbridge said. "We started this cruel practice – now we should lead the world in
stopping it.”

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