Australia needs to ban lion trophies

Senator David Leyonhjelm's comment piece in today's SMH misses the bigger picture for African wildlife. Breeding lions in captivity for a trade in their body parts only stimulates the multi-billion dollar illegal wildlife market that is depopulating the continent. Minister Hunt is right to ban imports of lion trophies to discourage this cruel practice.

We’re opposed to all forms of hunting and have campaigned for the end of wildlife hunting in various forms for decades. We believe there is no humane way to hunt animals in the wild as it often causes welfare issues such as extreme stress and prolonged suffering.

If you're travelling overseas, remember: the only shots taken on your trip should be on your camera. Learn how to protect animals when you travel by pledging to be an animal friendly tourist at www.animalfriendlytourism.org.au