New north-east MP Logan backs all-star campaign to ban trophy hunting
A north-east MP has swung his weight behind a campaign to stop British trophy hunters bringing home the heads and bodies of endangered wildlife.
Seamus Logan, who was recently elected to represent the new seat of Aberdeenshire North and Moray East for the SNP, voiced his support for the Campaign to Ban trophy Hunting.
The movement has attracting all-star backing, including the likes of Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley and legendary explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes. They were joined at the House of Commons recently by ‘Allo ‘Allo icon Vicki Michelle and Downton Abbey and Afterlife actor Peter Egan to personally give their backing to the campaign, which was gathering the support of MPs.
A new report by the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting - published on the ninth anniversary of the killing of Cecil the lion by American dentist Walter Palmer - shows that British trophy hunters are also killing lions.
It also reveals that British trophy hunters have killed thousands of elephants, hippos, giraffes and other endangered animals including rhinos and polar bears. A number of British companies are selling trophy hunting ‘holidays’ in Africa where trophy hunters can shoot hand-reared lions in enclosures.
Mr Logan has given his backing to the campaign and attended the launch event to show his support.
He said: “It was a pleasure to meet Joanna Lumley, Ranulph Fiennes, and all the other influential supporters of this worthy campaign.
“While it’s a little over three weeks since I became an MP, it’s clear from my inbox that the issue of animal welfare is very important to my constituents, and I had no hesitation in giving my backing.
“I have written to the UK government on the issues raised by this campaign and trust that Ministers will respond in a positive manner.”
Ms Lumley said the UK government needed to bring in a complete ban on hunting trophies.
“The British people want a comprehensive ban - not one riddled with loopholes and exemptions. It must be brought to the House of Commons immediately. It’s high time this ban was in place.”
Mr Fiennes commented: “I’m 100 per cent behind Seamus Logan MP’s work to bring an end to this disgrace.”It’s high time we had a comprehensive ban on these sick souvenirs of innocent animals killed for so-called sport. What kind of world are we living in where this is still allowed?
“I’m really pleased Seamus is campaigning to stop this.”
Mr Egan added: “Seamus Logan MP is speaking up for his constituents as well as for vulnerable wildlife.
“Voters are furious that British trophy hunters are killing lions, elephants, giraffes and zebras just so they can display their heads and bodies in stomach-churning trophy rooms.”
Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting founder Eduardo Gonçalves said: “We often think of trophy hunters as crazed gun-toting Americans, so it’s a shock to many people to learn that large numbers of lions and other animals are killed every year by British trophy hunters.
“It’s fantastic that Seamus Logan MP has taken up the cudgels on this issue.
“Polls repeatedly show that voters want these sordid mementoes banned and trophy hunting abolished.”
