August 2016
This Government is dedicated to protecting the lives of all species and is determined to do all we can to conserve wildlife. The UK is avidly supporting the preservation of endangered species through its participation in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This treaty reviews the controls put in place for endangered or protected animals, including lions.
Several cases in recent months have brought awareness to the plight faced by animals used for trophy hunting. A particularly distressful case was that of a lion named Cecil. Shortly after the tragedy, Grant Shapps MP, who was the Minister of State for the Department for International Development at the time, called for the UK and Zimbabwe to unite and bring the troubling situation of lions to light.
The UK takes the protection of lions seriously and in 2012, hosted a conference with other interested countries over the conservation of the African lion. Similarly, the Government led the London Conference on Wildlife Trafficking. Over 40 countries were involved and adopted the London Declaration in an attempt to prevent the extinction of the lion species.
The UK has aided in the conservation of lions in the past and I’d like to continue supporting this cause, especially at such a pressing time.
