Labour’s proposed ban on importing hunting trophies could do more harm than good, a study by the University of Oxford has found.

       Researchers said backers of the legislation had failed to take into account the benefits to local communities in Africa and other hunting areas, and attempts to crack down might harm biodiversity.

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       Their analysis found that nearly eight in 10 hunting trophies imported to the UK came from countries where populations of the hunted species were stable or better.

       The findings, published in the journal Conservation Science and Practice, are likely to add fuel to a bitter debate that cuts across party lines.

       Dame Joanna Lumley, the actress, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the explorer, are among supporters of the proposed ban, which was included in Labour’s manifesto.

       However, the ban has been criticised as “colonial” by some experts on African wildlife.

       The new study analysed an estimated 3,494 hunting trophies from 73 species – all included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – thought to have entered the UK between 2000 and 2021.

       The number represented less than one per cent of the global trade in hunting trophies from the CITES-listed species, ranking the UK 25th in the world for importing hunting trophies.

       The data showed that approximately 79 per cent of the trophies imported into the UK between 2015 and 2021 were from countries where the hunted species were stable, increasing or abundant in population.

       Legal hunting for trophies was found not to be a major threat to any of the 73 species imported into the UK. However, researchers found there was a “likely or possible” local threat to eight species.

       ‘It may harm biodiversity’

       Dr Dan Challender, who led the research, said: “Our study suggests that the proposed ban on importing hunting trophies to the UK is disproportionate and may harm biodiversity.

       “Crucially, the previous UK government’s impact assessment failed to adequately consider the likely impacts of this policy on local people outside of the UK who would incur most of the costs.”

       He added: “The analysis indicates that this bill could have a severe, even devastating, impact on marginalised rural communities and indigenous peoples who rely on legal hunting trophies for income and employment.”

       The UK is one of 180 nations already subject to a convention for the sustainable export of hunted animals, requiring permits for endangered species and proof of legal acquisition.

       The species for which trophy hunting was found to pose a “likely” local threat in the study were Brown bear, Siberian ibex, Gobi argali and bongo.

       In addition, trophy hunting was found to “possibly” cause a local threat to American black bear, lion, leopard and puma.

       Under Boris Johnson’s premiership, the Conservatives took steps to introduce their own ban, but the measures were dropped in 2022.

       Rishi Sunak had indicated that his government would support a private member’s Bill seeking to ban the practice, but this was lost when the general election was called.

       The Oxford researchers said the Government should consider either leaving the existing legal framework in place, or implement a “smart ban”.

       This would “prohibit the import of hunting trophies except in circumstances where the benefits of this hunting tangibly contribute to the conservation of the hunted species and their habitat”, said the team.