Euro MP Sharon Bowles calls for ban on import of lion trophies
October 5, 2011 11:34 AM
Lib Dem MEP, Sharon Bowles, who represents South East England at the European Parliament, has met with Dr Pieter Kat and Chris Macsween of LionAid to discuss a ban on the import of lion trophies into the EU.
Research in this area has been difficult as data-gathering of lion populations in countries such as Tanzania and Mozambique is woefully inadequate. However, according to LionAid there are currently just 25,000 lions left in Africa (of which only 2,500 are adult males) and only 411 Asiatic lions left inIndia.
Furthermore, despite hunters' claims to support the areas they hunt, LionAid asserts that local people are often exploited, selling their land to hunting organisations for as little as $4 per square kilometre.
Sharon Bowles MEP said:
"Having met with LionAid and discussed the issues at length, I will be calling on the European Commission to consider banning the import of lion trophies into the EU.
"An EU-wide ban should also include 'post-antiquity' lion trophies which, as with ivory, are trophies hunted after a certain date.
"A ban would mean that trophies such as the lion skin auctioned at UKIP's annual gala last month would be prohibited.
"I will be speaking with Janez Potočnik, the EU's Environment Commissioner, about this issue and hopefully some progress will be made."
ENDS
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