Australia is still among the world’s top importers of hunting trophies from protected species — including giraffes, zebras, hippos, and bears. These animals are killed for sport, and their body parts brought back as trophies for display.
Trophy hunting is not conservation. It’s cruelty.
At the May 2025 federal election, the Albanese Government committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from 19 species, including the American black and brown bears, giraffe, zebra, polar bear, hippopotamus, and others.
But the ban hasn’t been implemented yet.
Until the ban is implemented, Australia continues to play a role in a trade that the public overwhelmingly opposes. Australia has already shown leadership in the past by banning trophy imports from African lions, elephants and southern white rhinos. Expanding those protections to the twenty next most imported species is the natural next step and aligns with community values and modern animal welfare standards. The Government must now act to finalise and enforce the promised ban.
