West and Central African countries have recognized that the development of tools and resources facilitating the identification of CITES-protected species, including identification guides, is key to successful CITES enforcement. Born Free USA has therefore developed country-specific CITES species identification guides for the following nations:
In August 2019, Born Free was at The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Conference of Parties (CoP) 18 in Geneva, Switzerland.
In November 2022, Born Free was at The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Conference of Parties (CoP) 19 in Panama.
This report, published by Born Free in July 2019, challenges many of the myths that persist about the supposed “benefits” of trophy hunting and exposes trophy hunting for what it truly is: a cruel practice that neither significantly benefits wildlife conservation efforts nor provides vast economic opportunities for local communities in the places where hunts take place.
Trophy hunters claim that trophy hunting aids in wildlife conservation efforts, contributes greatly to national economies, and helps support local communities. These claims are deeply controversial. In truth, trophy hunting does little to nothing in terms of wildlife conservation, contributing to national economies, or supporting local communities.
In 2014, the Obama Administration banned the import of legally-hunted elephant remains from Zimbabwe and Zambia, noting the lack of information to support that trophy hunts help conserve species. Recently, however, the U.S. Government has taken concerning steps and made inconsistent statements to suggest that it may reverse these and other bans, and encourage international trophy hunts.
This 2013 trophy hunting report details the true economics of trophy hunting in Africa and reveals that very little of the revenue generated by trophy hunting is invested in conservation efforts or back into local communities.
On Wednesday, July 22, 2020, Born Free USA hosted Trophy Hunting: Killing Is Not Conservation, a webinar on trophy hunting. Born Free USA CEO, Angela Grimes, hosted a conversation with experts from around the world: Eduardo Gonçalves, Founder of Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting (U.K.); Dr. Mark Jones, Head of Policy at Born Free Foundation (U.K.); Jennifer Place, Pike Associates, LLC (U.S.); and Dr. Liz Tyson, Born Free USA Programs Director (U.S.). Panelists discussed why trophy hunting is unsustainable, the cruelty of canned hunting, the status of work to end this terrible practice both in the U.S. and internationally, legislative efforts in the U.S., and more.
On May 14, 2020, Born Free USA hosted a special webinar on wildlife trade and the COVID-19 pandemic, discussing the link between COVID-19 and wildlife trafficking and what we are doing to combat the wildlife trade, followed by a live Q&A.
