France Bans Import of Trophy Hounds, Marking Major Win for Animal Welfare

Brussels – Humane World for Animals Europe has welcomed today’s announcement from the French government to end the import of hunting trophies from endangered species, hailing it as a significant step forward for wildlife protection and a clear signal that the import of trophies from threatened species increasingly clashes with Europe’s growing public sensitivity towards wildlife conservation.

French Minister for Ecological Transition, Mathieu Lefèvre, confirmed that France will introduce a ‘total ban on the import of hunting trophies from endangered species’ and that, effective immediately, all applications for import permits have been suspended.

The announcement is widely expected to be met with positive sentiment among French citizens, with 91% reportedly favouring a ban on the import of hunting trophies from endangered species. The scale of imports – 827 hunting trophies belonging to mammals listed under CITES between 2015 and 2024, including leopards, African elephants, and hippopotamuses – underscores the importance of this decision, extending far beyond French borders. Even more striking is the European Union data, which, as the second largest importer of hunting trophies from threatened mammals worldwide after the United States, saw the import of 27,361 trophies between 2015 and 2024, all listed under CITES.

“This decision represents a crucial step in the protection of threatened species and biodiversity as a whole,” stated Ruud Tombrock, Executive Director of Humane World for Animals Europe. “It demonstrates that public concern for the future of wildlife can translate into concrete political action. Humane World for Animals has long advocated for stricter restrictions on the import of hunting trophies, both at the European Union level and within individual member states, and this decision strengthens the arguments for intervention by the European Commission. The introduction of a valid EU-wide ban on the import of trophies from threatened and protected species would contribute to safeguarding animals and biodiversity while simultaneously preventing the fragmentation of the European single market.”

The move builds upon France’s existing ban on the import of lion trophies, implemented following the death of Cecil the lion in 2015, and is the result of years of advocacy coordinated by Humane World for Animals Europe alongside Convergence Animaux Politique (CAP), with the support of Born Free Foundation, Brigitte Bardot Foundation, FOUR PAWS, Jane Goodall Institute France, The Animal Law, Ethics and Science Foundation and 30 Millions d’Amis.

Martina Pluda, Director of Humane World for Animals Italy, commented: “We congratulate the French Government on introducing the ban on the import of hunting trophies from endangered species, a measure that demonstrates how to translate commitment to biodiversity into concrete action. We hope that the Italian Parliament will follow this example, finally approving the proposed law inspired by our #NotInMyWorld campaign, which has been stalled for years despite widespread public support. Between 2014 and 2024, Italy imported 546 hunting trophies belonging to 27 protected mammal species under CITES, including the critically endangered black rhinoceros: it’s difficult to comprehend why a measure designed to combat this trade remains blocked for years, while the Caccia (Hunting) bill, aiming to weaken wildlife protection, has followed a remarkably rapid parliamentary process. Political priorities should reflect the growing public sensitivity towards animal protection, now recognized even in the Italian Constitution, rather than heading in the opposite direction.”

Over the past five years, Humane World for Animals has led advocacy efforts in Europe and at EU institutions to promote national and European restrictions on the import of hunting trophies. The French announcement adds to the growing momentum across Europe, with the Netherlands, Finland, and Belgium already implementing limitations on the import of certain categories of hunting trophies. This announcement also reflects a broader shift in public opinion and political debate: throughout Europe, the killing of threatened wildlife solely for trophy hunting is increasingly considered unacceptable. While the European Parliament called for the introduction of an EU-wide ban in 2022, EU regulations continue to permit the import of hunting trophies as ‘personal effects’, provided they are accompanied by the necessary permits. The French decision therefore intensifies the pressure on the European Union to address these regulatory gaps and end its role as a primary destination market for trophies from internationally protected species. Humane World for Animals Europe urges the European Commission to transform this momentum into a binding action at the community level, introducing without further delay a European ban on the import of hunting trophies from threatened and protected species. Until the EU remains the second largest importer of hunting trophies worldwide, a European regulation is necessary to guarantee a stronger and more uniform protection of threatened wildlife across all member states.

Hunting for trophies involves the killing of wild animals with the primary objective of preserving their body or parts thereof as ‘souvenirs’ or ‘trophies’ for personal recognition, money, or other rewards. Through its campaigns, Humane World for Animals works to strengthen the legal protection of wild animals, reduce the demand for parts and products from wild animals, and mitigate conflicts between humans and wildlife. In Australia, the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and various African countries, we work to reduce or ban international trade in hunting trophies from endangered species. In the United States and Africa, we are also working to put a stop to or end the trophy hunting of key species for ecosystem health, such as large African carnivores and rhinos.

# Notes: The trophy hunting trade represents a serious threat to biodiversity and the stability of ecosystems. It involves the killing of wild animals with the aim of preserving their head, skin or other body parts as trophies for personal recognition, money or other rewards. This cruel and damaging practice accelerates the decline of species, compromises their survival and alters ecosystem balances. The French government’s decision confirms that the new regulations will encompass species subject to the highest levels of protection under European Union wildlife trade regulations (species listed in Annex A of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97) as well as further threatened species for which the European Union already requires an import permit (species listed in Annex B including in Annex XIII of Commission Regulation (CE) No 865/2006). The Netherlands (2016), Australia (2018), Colombia (2019), Finland (2023) and Belgium (2024) have already introduced Bans on the import of certain categories of hunting trophies. In the review of the European Union’s Action Plan against Illegal Wildlife Trade, the European Commission has committed to “strengthening controls on the import of hunting trophies, for example: (i) evaluating the extension of the obligation to obtain an import permit for hunting trophies of further species included in Annex B of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97; (ii) collaborating with international partners to update the available evidence on the effects of trophy hunting on wildlife; and (iii) making the opinions of the scientific advisory group regarding country/species combinations for the import of hunting trophies more transparent.” Trophy hunting is not considered acceptable by the vast majority of French and European citizens. Even in South Africa, the main African exporter of protected CITES wildlife trophies, two out of three respondents interviewed stated their opposition to the practice.

Source: Humane World for Animals Europe (2022), “Report: Hunting – Ipsos Khayabus W1 2022”, survey conducted by Ipsos South Africa.”