Following in Australia's footsteps to ban the lion imports, call on the Canadian government to ban the import of all big game trophies from Africa. As it stands now, many at-risk species can be imported into Canada for personal use with the appropriate CITES permit(s). This must change!
The death of Cecil, Zimbabwe's beloved 13-year-old lion, has brought much attention to trophies from 'canned' lion hunts, but let it not stop there. Trophy hunting of any kind should not be condoned, especially of the big game variety; it is counter-evolutionary, focused on selecting the most robust males from a population for a hunter's trophy room. While most of us prefer to simply admire these incredible animals - many of whom are already struggling to survive in human-dominated landscapes - trophy hunters fulfill their lust to kill the largest, most exotic animals for their collections.
Many major airlines have banned the transport of the trophies of big game sport hunters. By continuing to allow the import of such trophies, Canada is condoning the practice and sending the wrong message to the international community.
Petition Minister of the Environment Leona Aglukkaq and make it clear that Canadians will not stand for these trophies to be brought back into the country at all. Canadians want to stand proud in the name of conservation efforts.
Demand that Canada act now to ban the import of all sport-hunted big game trophies from Africa.
Dear Minister Aglukkaq,
Current regulations permitting the import of hunting trophies from at-risk species with the appropriate CITES permit(s) are unacceptable. While recent events have brought much attention to trophies from 'canned' lion hunts, it is imperative that other species be considered as well.
Trophy hunting of any kind should not be condoned, especially of the big game variety; it is counter-evolutionary, focused on selecting the most robust males from a population for a hunter's trophy room. Many of these incredible animals are already struggling to survive in human-dominated landscapes, yet trophy hunters continue to fulfill their lust to kill the largest, most exotic animals for their collections.
Many major airlines have banned the transport of the trophies of big game sport hunters. By continuing to allow the import of such trophies, Canada is condoning the practice and sending the wrong message to the international community.
We want to be clear that Canadians will not stand for these trophies to be brought back into the country under any circumstances. Canadians want to stand proud in the name of conservation efforts, and we respectfully ask that you act now to ban the import of all sport-hunted big game trophies from Africa.
Sincerely,
