Trophy hunting: Broaden the debate.

Abstract

In their Letter “Trophy hunting bans imperil biodiversity” (30 August, p. [874][1]), A. Dickman et al. argue against trophy hunting bans, but the bans they mention are neither blanket nor hunting bans. France only suspended lion trophy imports, whereas Australia and The Netherlands banned import permits for trophies of several species ([ 1 ][2]), but other trophies continue to be collected worldwide and domestically. Indeed, a ban on the import of a trophy into a nation does not constitute a ban on hunting by its nationals; Dickman et al. confound the two, which is disingenuous and raises the question of whether hunting is a sport or a form of commodity acquisition ([ 2 ][3]). International movement of trophies is regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), governed by member states. Unless there is evidence of trade threatening the survival of a species, sovereign states can allow hunting and export trophies, but potential importing states also have sovereignty over their response to concerns of their constituencies and have the right to implement what CITES calls “stricter domestic measures” ([ 3 ][4]). Debates around this have been politicized, which typically happens when scientific data are too inconclusive to guide policy formulation ([ 3 ][4]). Dickman et al. misrepresent the responsibility of importing states over hunting policy; ironically, they may stimulate blanket bans by arguing against opt-outs for some countries for certain species. Moreover, they fail to mention that where hunting zones are protected areas recognized by civil law, they would remain so. In addition, habitat in hunting zones is often not effectively protected, and the collapse of trophy hunting observed in certain areas is not due to trade bans but to a failing balance of costs and benefits ([ 4 ][5], [ 5 ][6]). Trophy hunting is neither the main threat to nor the main opportunity for wildlife conservation, and we encourage a broader debate. Dickman et al. respond: “…It is…hypocritical for a rich country to…reduce the viability of trophy hunting in poor countries while taking no action against domestic sport hunting…” See the [full response][7]. 1. [↵][8]1. E. Ares , “Trophy hunting,” Briefing Paper 7908 (House of Commons Library, London, UK, 2019). 2. [↵][9]1. C. Batavia et al ., Conserv. Lett. 12, e12565 (2019). [OpenUrl][10] 3. [↵][11]1. H. Bauer et al ., Conserv. Lett. 11, e12444 (2018). [OpenUrl][12] 4. [↵][13]1. H. Bauer et al ., PLOS One 12, e0173691 (2017). [OpenUrl][14] 5. [↵][15]1. B. Chardonnet , “Africa is changing: Should its protected areas evolve? Reconfiguring the protected areas in Africa” (IUCN, 2019). H.B. has received funding from or is a member of University of Oxford, Born Free Foundation, IUCN Cat Specialist group, IUCN Save Our Species, Wildlife Conservation Network, National Geographic, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Leo Foundation, GIZ (German Technical Development Cooperation), and Leipzig Zoo. B.C. has received funding from or is a member of African Union/IBAR, IUCN, GIZ (German Technical Development Cooperation), KfW (German Financial Cooperation), Afrique Nature International, Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Medecine Veterinaire de Dakar (EISMV)/University of Minnesota, African Wildlife Foundation, OIE–World Organization for Animal Health, and AFD (French Agency for Development). C.S.-Z. is Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Canid Specialist Group and Chief Scientist of Born Free Foundation. He has received funding from or is a member of University of Oxford, University of Vermont, Wildlife Conservation Network, Fondation Segre, Conservation International Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, African Wildlife Foundation, IUCN Save Our Species, National Geographic, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, IUCN Cat Specialist group, IUCN Wildlife Health Specialist group, and IUCN Human Wildlife Conflict Task Force. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/365/6456/874 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #ref-3 [5]: #ref-4 [6]: #ref-5 [7]: http://science.sciencemag.org/content/366/6464/433.2/tab-e-letters [8]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [9]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [10]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DConserv.%2BLett.%26rft.volume%253D12%26rft.spage%253D12565e%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [11]: #xref-ref-3-1 View reference 3 in text [12]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DConserv.%2BLett.%26rft.volume%253D11%26rft.spage%253De12444%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [13]: #xref-ref-4-1 View reference 4 in text [14]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DPLOS%2BOne%26rft.volume%253D12%26rft.spage%253De0173691%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [15]: #xref-ref-5-1 View reference 5 in text