International community calls for an end to trophy hunting

Together we’re calling for an end to the hunting of lions and other wild animals in South Africa by tourists. 

35 travel agencies including Expedia, Booking.com and TripAdvisor, have sent a letter to the South African government calling for trophy hunting a thing of the past in the country.

So-called ‘trophy hunters’ shoot more than 800 lions in South africa each year.

Ambushed and slaughtered, they’re often left to bleed out, suffering an agonising and demeaning death. Then they’re skinned and decapitated and turned into ‘trophies’.

You funded new polling that shows that international tourists are distancing themselves from this bloody tourist “sport”. 

The key findings from the research revealed: 

• 71% of Australians said they would be put off from visiting a country that has made trophy hunting a key pillar of policy. 
• 84% of Australians believe that the South African government should instead prioritise wildlife-friendly tourism over trophy hunting as a key part of the country's economy and conservation policy. 
• 7 in 10 South African citizens agree their country would be a more attractive tourist destination if they banned trophy hunting 
• Three quarters (74%) of South African citizens agree that trophy hunting is unacceptable when wildlife-friendly tourism alternatives have not been fully utilised. 

Wildlife-friendly tourism is a better alternative

Transforming the current trophy hunting industry into a more wildlife-friendly alternative will benefit both the animals and the country. 

South Africa has beautiful nature and rich wildlife, which should be experienced with wildlife-friendly alternatives that can both generate income from the tourism industry and ensure better lives for lions.

Here are just three national parks with lion prides to visit in South Africa:

1. Kruger National Park

The greater park area is home to an estimated 1,800 lions.

2. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Home to about 40 prides of the legendary black-maned lion

3. Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park

A small but growing population of 120 lions call these combined parks home.

South Africa has beautiful nature and rich wildlife, which should be experienced with wildlife-friendly alternatives that can both generate income from the tourism industry and ensure better lives for lions.