86,000 Signatures Against Import of Hunting Trophies

Open Appeal to Environment Minister Lemke

More than 86’000 people signed an open appeal to Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, calling on her to finally put a stop to the import of hunting trophies from threatened and protected species into Germany.

This appeal under the hashtag #ProtectDontShoot was initiated by 35 prominent figures from culture and science, including Guido Maria Kretschmer, Maria Furtwängler, Ranga Yogeshwar and Dr. Jane Goodall, together with 21 nature and animal protection organisations and was handed over to the new Parliamentary State Secretary Jan-Niclas Gesenhues at the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV) by representatives of the associations.

Trophy Imports to Germany on the Rise

Germany is the world's second-largest importer of hunting trophies, and contrary to repeated assurances from the BMUV since 2022 to reduce trophy imports into Germany and even ban them in individual cases, the opposite trend is emerging. According to the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), the number of import procedures amounted to 435 in 2021, 538 in 2022, and finally 569 in 2023. This represents an increase of nearly 30 percent over this period.

"In these three years alone, the BfN recorded 68 import procedures involving trophies of African elephants, 53 hippopotamuses, 46 leopards, 43 lions, and nearly 500 mountain zebras. The human-caused extinction of species is one of the greatest crises of our time. Every year, numerous animal species become extinct worldwide, while rangers and wildlife conservation organizations fight relentlessly every day to prevent us from losing even more species. At the same time, the shooting of these endangered animals for fun and as a macabre souvenir is still permitted. This undermines sustainable species conservation and is unworthy of German wildlife conservation policy.»

Biologist Dr. Mona Schweizer from Pro Wildlife.

Trophy hunting without a hunting license — no problem abroad

But it is not only the fundamental principles of species conservation that are being undermined; trophy hunting is also an immense animal welfare problem. In many exporting countries, recreational hunting is subject to hardly any regulations. In many places, hobby hunters require no prior hunting experience whatsoever, let alone a hunting license. It is also frequently possible to allow children to shoot at animals. Bow hunting, which is prohibited in Germany, is permitted in many countries, as is hunting with crossbows, handguns, or from helicopters. Inappropriate hunting methods and lack of experience not infrequently lead to a significant prolongation of animal suffering.

«Trophy hunting is a cruel business model that is incompatible with the requirements of both species and animal protection, and that contradicts the values and norms of our society. Both surveys and the appeal signed by more than 86’000 people demonstrate the overwhelming rejection of trophy hunting. Steffi Lemke and the federal government must finally act and live up to their responsibility. An import ban on trophies of protected species is long overdue!»

Sylvie Kremerskothen Gleason, Country Director of HSI/Europe in Germany.

«Exotic hunting trophies are an anachronism and an expression of a wholly outdated culture. In the face of massive species extinction, we should draw a clear line. It is time to make peace with nature,» science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar explains his support for the appeal.

While other EU member states, such as the Netherlands, Finland, and Belgium, have already enacted import bans on particularly strictly protected species, or are working on expanding existing bans, as France is doing, the federal government and the BMUV under Steffi Lemke have so far shown no sign of any concrete initiative.

Background information:

Trophy hunting of endangered species
Petition on trophy hunting
Celebrities against trophy hunting