Joanna Lumley today takes aim at “cowardly and cruel” trophy hunters as she joins our fight to protect wildlife from bloodthirsty tourists.
The actress follows other celebrities, including Liam Gallagher and Sir David Jason, in demanding a ban on hunters importing souvenirs of kills to the UK.
PM Boris Johnson pledged in September to ban the sick practice, in which 2,500 body parts were imported in 10 years.
And in an emotional plea to Mirror readers to ensure a “total ban” is introduced, Joanna, 73, says she “cannot think of anything more cruel” than trophy hunting.
Calling it “cowardly” and “legalised animal abuse on an industrial scale” she said: “Can you imagine a world without lions?
“How do we explain that to future generations? We cannot call ourselves civilised while we allow trophy hunting.
“We must abolish it – please act today.” Her plea follows last week’s death in Kenya of one of Africa’s last “big tuskers”, elephants whose tusks reach the floor. Fewer than 40 remain.
And it comes as Botswana held its first auctions for the right to hunt elephants yesterday, after lifting a ban.
The consultation on ending UK trophy imports runs until February 25.
The country has some 130,000 elephants, the world's largest population.
Authorities issued seven hunting "packages" of 10 elephants each, confined to "controlled hunting areas", a spokeswoman said.
The government revoked a 2014 ban in May, saying human-elephant conflict and negative impact on local communities was increasing.
The lifting of the ban has been popular with many in local communities but criticised by conservationists.
The bidders - who must be companies registered in Botswana - are expected to put down a refundable deposit of 200,000 pula (£14,000).
Many rural communities believe a return to commercial hunting will help keep the elephant population away from their villages, and also bring in much-needed income in places not suitable for high-end tourism.
But critics fear it could also drive away luxury-safari goers opposed to hunting.
Audrey Delsink, Africa's wildlife director for the global conservation lobby charity Humane Society International, called the auctions "deeply concerning and questionable".
.jpg?w=600)
