African countries blast Britain’s ‘neo-colonial’ ban on importing hunting trophies with poll showing more than half of people in eight countries disagree with the ban amid warnings it will lead to a ‘big increase’ in illegal poaching

• Botswana and South Africa governments among those who strongly oppose ban

The UK’s proposal to ban the import of hunting trophies is widely regarded as ‘neo-colonial’, according to an opinion poll conducted in eight African countries.

The governments of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe have already said they strongly oppose the ban. They say it would increase the threat to wildlife posed by illegal poaching.

The new survey, conducted in those countries plus Malawi and Mozambique, suggests that the politicians’ views are echoed by their citizens.

Its findings, released today, show that nearly 57 per cent of those surveyed agreed that ‘the British Government’s decision to place such restrictions despite African governments’ objections is neo-colonial’.

Respondents also thought that hunting helped with species conservation, with 68 per cent believing that without it there would be ‘a big increase’ in poaching. Four out of ten agreed that British celebrities calling for the ban were ‘ignorant’.

Hunters who have killed a lion (File Photo)

Dame Joanna Lumley and Ricky Gervais are among the stars who wrote to Rishi Sunak last month calling on him to resurrect the shelved ban (File Photo)

Dame Joanna Lumley and Ricky Gervais are among the stars who wrote to Rishi Sunak last month calling on him to resurrect the shelved ban. Labour has promised to bring it in if it comes to power.

The findings of lobbying firm Abzed’s poll were released on the eve of the King’s Speech tomorrow.

It was commissioned by a consortium of community-based natural resources management groups in southern Africa and by individual trophy hunters. The UK’s Trophy Hunting Bill was blocked by the House of Lords in September after politicians were accused of failing to listen to conservation experts.

Rebel peers asked for an amendment under which a small number of trophies could be imported if benefits to conservation were shown.Amy Dickman, professor of wildlife conservation at Oxford University, who opposes the Bill, said the ban’s campaigns were being amplified by celebrities ‘who either don’t understand or are happy to ignore conservation evidence’.

Tory MP Henry Smith, the Trophy Hunting Bill’s sponsor, said: ‘I am urging the Government to live up to its pledge to introduce this ban.’

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