killing for trophies: report analyzes trophy hunting around the world

The auctioning of a permit to kill a rare rhino in Namibia. A Texas cheerleader posting pictures on social media with a giraffe she shot. The tragic death of Cecil the Lion.

In the past few years, we have seen numerous high-profile trophy hunting issues and controversies play out in front of our eyes.

These are the instances we hear about, but how many and which animals are killed by trophy hunters each year? And from which nations do these hunters hail?

To help establish the true scope and scale of trophy hunting around the globe, IFAW sought to analyze the numbers of trophies that are transported, or technically “traded,” across national borders, isolating the largest importers of animal trophies worldwide. 

Our researchers pored through the many records of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES’) Trade Database to produce a comprehensive look at the state of international trophy hunting, the results of which are published in a new report released by the International Fund for Animal Welfare today called Killing For Trophies: An Analysis of Global Trophy Hunting Trade.

We estimate that at least 1.7 million hunting trophies have been traded between nations between 2004 and 2014, with at least 200,000 of these trophies coming from species or sub-species, also known as taxa, that are categorised as threatened by CITES.

Although there is worldwide demand for animal trophies, 97 percent of that demand comes from just 20 countries. The United States is the largest importer of hunting trophies by far, accounting for a staggering 71 percent of the import demand, or about 15 times more than the next highest nations on the list—Germany and Spain (both 5 percent).

We hope this report serves as a valuable resource for conservationists, scientists, governments and interested parties looking to make informed decisions about trophy hunting, and the merits—or lack thereof—of the practice when it comes to saving wildlife.

Act now to help us end trophy hunting of lions, elephants and other imperiled species.