The survey conducted by YouGov
A survey conducted by YouGov commissioned by the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) and partner organisations, has revealed a high level of social acceptability of international hunting, often incorrectly labeled as “trophy” hunting. This independent survey conducted by YouGov on over 7.000 European citizens in five countries indicates that the majority of the European population considers hunting to be acceptable. Only 23% disagree with the practice of preserving animal parts, which is usually referred to as hunting "trophies", while 77% approve this practice or declare themselves neutral.
Import ban
This result contrasts sharply with the claim that 85% of European citizens are against “trophy” hunting conducted by Humane Society International. The resulting misinformation led several national parliaments to launch initiatives to ban the imports of “trophies”. The survey, conducted in November 2023, aims to impartially verify public opinion on the social acceptability of hunting at a national and international level. Attention was focused on the practice of preserving parts of hunted animals (e.g. horns, antlers, etc.) and on the acceptability of hunting conducted legally and for the benefit of conservation.
Not just a collection
These results contradict a distorted perception of hunting as an activity aimed exclusively at collecting "trophies" of charismatic species, an erroneous and ideological conception often spread by organizations that promote animal "rights". Therefore, bans or restrictions on the free movement of legally obtained “trophies” are not supported by society and have a negative impact on local communities, the economy and biodiversity. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) briefing paper states that “trophy hunting […] can and does generate significant economic incentives and revenue for public and private landowners and communities locals. These incentives and economic revenues allow wildlife to be used to achieve land use compatible with the conservation of biodiversity" (source: FACE).