British Trophy Hunters Pose Alongside 'Vulnerable' Zebras Killed For Sport
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Pictures of British trophy hunters posing alongside 'vulnerable' zebras they killed for sport have been shared on social media.
The pictures show the tourists smiling alongside the dead animals, which were killed for fun on safari holidays.
Writing in the guestbook on a safari's website, one of the hunters said: "Never had so much fun with my pants on."
Zebras were classified as vulnerable on the International Union of the Conservation of Nature's red list of threatened species three years ago, after the population dropped by 24 percent over a 14-year period. However, it is not illegal to hunt the animals on the plains of South Africa.
That said, Zac Goldsmith, minister for animal welfare, wants to ban imports of such 'trophies' to the UK in a bid to help tackle the trade.
Speaking to the Sunday People, he said: "I look at the photos and it turns my stomach."
Ricky Gervais also condemned the pictures, sharing one on Twitter alongside the caption: "What's black & white and has a c**t on its side?"
The 'sport' is the preserve of the wealthy, with travelling Brits paying more than £4,000 ($4,915) for a week's hunting in South Africa, and adding £500 ($614) to their bill for a zebra. This actually makes zebras a relatively cheap prey, with hunters paying £1,666 ($2,047) extra to shoot a giraffe and £6,422 ($7,916) for a hippo, according to the Daily Mail.
Eduardo Goncalves, of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, described such safari holidays as 'evil'.
According to the Sunday People, he said: "So many of Africa's greatest wild animals are already suffering thanks to the vile trophy hunting industry.
"Now zebras have joined the list. In April last year zebras were officially listed as vulnerable. The Grévy's zebra species is listed as endangered.
"What is it going to take to stop these killers from wiping out our wildlife completely? Unbelievably, there are hardly any legal restrictions on shooting zebras for fun."
He continued: "No wonder our wildlife is in the terrible situation that it's in. There needs to be an immediate moratorium on the sport-hunting of all threatened animals.
"The government should ban imports of hunting trophies and call on other countries to join it. It's the only way to end this evil trade."
Boris Johnson's girlfriend, Carrie Symonds, has also slammed trophy hunters on Twitter.
She said: "Can you imagine the hunters below fighting these majestic beasts without needing to hide behind a rock and without needing to use a massive gun? Of course not. That's why it's not only cruel beyond belief but as cowardly as it gets too."
In a tweet yesterday (Saturday), boyfriend Boris appeared to be singing from the same hymn sheet.
Sharing an article about trophy hunting, he said: "We must end this barbaric practice."
Whether consultations lead to decisive action, remains to be seen.
