Primates in the Crosshairs of Trophy Hunting

5’500 Primate Trophies in Five Years

Every year, thousands of animals are killed by trophy hunters, including elephants, leopards, lions, rhinoceroses and polar bears, as well as primates.

Between 2017 and 2021 alone, more than 5’500 imports of primate trophies were recorded worldwide. Nearly 800 of these trophies are attributable to Germany’s recreational hunters.Germany thereby holds second place after the USA in the import of primate trophies.

“The fact that trophy hunting of protected and endangered species still exists is shocking. Even more disturbing is that this also includes various species of primates.”

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace

Baboons and vervets the most frequent victims

99% of primate trophies worldwide are either baboons or vervet monkeys. The chacma baboon alone accounts for 66% of primate trophies, followed by the southern green monkey at 20%. Most of the primates are shot in South Africa (approx. 50%), Namibia (approx. 26%) and Zimbabwe (approx. 10%).

Sometimes entire families are wiped out during trophy hunting of primates, but as a rule it is primarily the imposing males that are in the sights of recreational hunters.

Fatal consequences for entire primate groups

Most primate species live in hierarchical, complexly structured social groups headed by a dominant male. When this individual is killed, infanticide follows: the successor kills the offspring of his predecessor in order to reproduce with the females as quickly as possible.

“Trophy hunting destroys the delicate social fabric of primates and has fatal consequences for the entire family group.”

Dr. Mona Schweizer of Pro Wildlife

Jane Goodall concludes by calling on the German federal government to ban the import of hunting trophies and to stop the professional sale of trophy hunting trips.