Ending Trophy Hunting Imports

Trophy hunting is the killing of wildlife purely for the purpose of displaying parts of the animal—often the head or skin.   

Globally, imports of over 97,000 trophies of mammal species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) were recorded between 2014 and 2018.   

While Australia has banned the import of African lions and elephants and rhinos, the import of trophies from many other CITES listed species, including giraffes, zebras and hippos, is still permitted. 

Shockingly, Australia ranked 10th on the list of global trophy imports of CITES listed mammal species for 2014–2018 with 827 trophies from 40 different species, including threatened species.   

Our investigations show that over the last decade, the Australian Government has granted permits for the import of hunting trophies from over 1,000 animals protected under CITES. Yet, public opinion of trophy hunting is overwhelmingly negative with only 15% of Australians supporting the continuation of trophy hunting. 

Australia’s federal environmental law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) determines whether animals can be imported into Australia as hunting trophies.   

While the EPBC Act already protects some species from this cruel trade, most are not. The Government can impose an immediate ban on the import of all CITES listed animals as trophies into Australia.      

HSI is pushing hard to ensure this ban becomes a reality by working closely with Government and stakeholders toward a solution that ensures protected species from around the world remain in the wild, not hung on a wall.  

Our report, Trophy Hunting by the Numbers, and our 2024 update, examine Australia’s role in the global trade in hunting trophies, and makes the case for a full ban on CITES species trophy imports to Australia. 

You can write to the Federal Environment Minister, asking for a ban on trophy hunting imports into Australia, by clicking here. Every voice makes a difference for imperilled animals around the world. 

When looking for your next flight, consider airlines that currently have a hunting trophy transport ban. Find out more.  

Want a heads up on more opportunities to participate in trophy import law reform? Join our newsletter by filling in the form at the bottom of this page and we will keep you in the loop!  

You can also follow us on social media for updates and information on developments in laws across the country. 

Keen to know more? Check out our animal fact sheets!

• American Brown Bear
• Giraffe