SYDNEY (15 April 2025)—The upcoming federal election could mark the end of trophy hunting imports to Australia with the ALP, Greens, Animal Justice Party and several independents committing to banning the import of hunting trophies as part of their election promise.
The ALP has committed to banning the 20 most imported species to Australia as trophies: American black bear, brown bear, giraffe, hippo, polar bear, Hartmann's zebra, Chacma baboon, caracal and vervet monkeys.
Trophy hunting involves the killing of wildlife purely for the purpose of displaying parts of the animal – often the head or skin. Animals often endure slow painful deaths as hunters—who are often unskilled—shoot to preserve the head and skin rather than prioritise a quick kill.
The commitment follows Trophy Hunting by the Numbers, a 2022 report from Humane World for Animals, formerly called Humane Society International, which uncovered Australia's role in the trophy hunting trade, and ongoing pressure from the organisation to keep the issue in the sights of Australian politicians.
'Wildlife belongs in the wild not on the wall, and no animal deserves to be killed as a trophy,' said Nicola Beynon, Head of Campaigns for the Australian office of Humane World for Animals. 'Trophy hunting is an outdated and cruel practice which is not supported by the majority of Australians'.
Despite Australia's small population size, it ranked tenth in the world between 2014–2018 for global trophy imports of mammal species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Over the past decade Australians have imported more than 1,000 hunting trophies from 46 different CITES-listed mammal species, including iconic hippos, grey wolves and polar bears. Species listed under CITES are either currently threatened by overexploitation through trade or may become so if trade is not regulated.
According to reports, at least 20,000 of the hunting trophies traded annually are from threatened species.
Trophy hunting supporters claim trophy hunting is good for conservation. However, hunters seek the healthiest and reproductive-aged animals for trophies. This leads to decreases in population size, health, and resilience, and reduces long-term population viability and species survival for already threatened species.
Trophy hunting is economically insignificant as a tourism revenue and for employment as trophy hunting is often conducted on private farms or state reserves, with the money split between foreign hunting companies and local elites, rarely making it to communities. It also serves as an obstruction to innovation and investment in alternative industries or resource uses.
'Ending the international trade in hunting trophies can help disincentivise the exploitative practice of trophy hunting and pave the way for humane industries and sustainable development opportunities,' Beynon said.
'We are pleased Labor has committed to regulate against the import of hunting trophies and that this is supported by several independents, the Greens, Animal Justice Party and other minor parties. Unfortunately, the Liberal and National parties have not met community sentiment on this issue and failed to match the commitment. We would encourage them to reconsider this position should they win government.'
The commitments from the candidates contesting the federal election were provided in response to policy questions from the Australian Alliance for Animals, of which the Australian office of Humane World for Animals is a proud member.
About us:
Together, we tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering to create permanent change. With millions of supporters and work happening in over 50 countries, Humane World for Animals—formerly called Humane Society International—addresses the most deeply entrenched forms of animal cruelty and suffering. As the leading voice in the animal protection space, we work to end the cruelest practices, care for animals in crisis and build a stronger animal protection movement. Driving toward the greatest global impact, we aim to achieve the vision behind our name: a more humane world.
humaneworld.org.au
