A record number of trophy hunting firms offering gruesome trips to slaughter animals flocked to a British shooting show, prompting renewed calls for a ban on the trade. Nearly a dozen companies, including Somerset-based Pro Stalk, were promoting packages to Africa to shoot defenceless bears, elephants, giraffes, leopards, lions, and zebras at The Stalking Show in Staffordshire.
Mirror Banned from Reporting
Organisers of the two-day event, which describes itself as "created by hunters, for hunters," attempted to ban the Daily Mirror from reporting inside, labelling a previous report on last year's show as "a load of lies." The newspaper's environment editor, Nada Farhoud, was escorted off the site after being recognised at the door. Despite this, a colleague managed to document the event, which featured some of the most notorious names in the trophy hunting industry.
Public Outrage and Political Pressure
Eduardo Gonçalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, condemned the show as a "sick 'Kill Fest'" where dead animal parts are displayed and shooting holidays are sold to "grinning psychopaths." He praised the Mirror for exposing the industry's cowardice. Labour pledged in its election manifesto to make trophy hunting imports illegal but has yet to set a timeframe. Arthur Thomas of FOUR PAWS UK urged the government to act swiftly, noting that the record number of international exhibitors demonstrates the industry's emboldened stance after six years of inaction.
Trips and Prices
Among the trips on offer, ProStalk Safaris, run by former gamekeeper Derek Stocker, sold packages costing £1,970 to shoot a giraffe, £7,500 for a hippo, £14,206 for a mature black-maned lion, and £6,500 for a mature male leopard. The Real Big Five offered a five-day "stalking special" to hunt wildebeest, zebra, and impala for £2,500 in South Africa. Englebrecht Safaris promoted trips to Zimbabwe to shoot cheetahs and even invited children to participate. Taxidermist Gary Tatterton displayed African game head trophies, and Huntershill Safaris had a zebra skin on sale for £550.
Government Response
A Defra spokesperson reiterated the government's commitment to banning imports of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, stating they are "carefully considering all available options" and aim to introduce legislation "as soon as Parliamentary time allows." Critics argue that further delays are unacceptable, with nine out of ten voters supporting a ban. The Stalking Show, Pro Stalk, and Gary Tatterton have been approached for comment.
