A simple interview that has sparked a hive of controversy: the Prince William, grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Cambridge, made some statements to ITV News, explaining how the trophy hunting can be justified in certain circumstances. According to him, in fact, the impact could be positive, particularly as regards endangered species. According to William "when an animal is not fertile and is at the end of its existence, someone's payment of money is justifiable in relation to conservation of the species". One of the main criticisms was leveled by Lion Aid, an association based in the United Kingdom that seeks to protect lions.
The Prince's comments were bluntly described as "sad". According to their opinion, moreover, there is nowhere in the world for commercial hunting of these mammals, consequently the trophies could never be considered something sustainable. Lion Aid then pointed out that a six-year-old lion is by no means in the next stage after playback, but in that of maturity. It is not the first time that he has argued with William because of his claims related to the hunting field.
For example, in 2014 it did not go unnoticed his trip to Spain to hunt deer and wild boar a day before launching an appeal to stop illegal culls. The Queen's grandson still cashed the solidarity of the International Council for Hunting and Conservation of Wildlife (CIC) as well as the Federation of Hunting and Conservation Associations of the European Union (better known as FACE). The appropriately regulated position on trophy hunting has been approved on the basis of scientific evidence. According to the two associations, in fact, a well managed and sustainable hunt is able to create tangible benefits for both people and fauna.
Sustainable hunting is also capable of promoting conservation efforts for species and habitats, not only within protected areas. It should not be forgotten that commercial hunting provides important socio-economic incentives for communities that must coexist with wildlife. FACE and CIC have remarked how the trophies have facilitated the recovery of the antelope in South African territory, while the sustainable hunting of white rhinos has made them recover from a population of few specimens. Initiatives against commercial hunting, on the other hand, were branded as an unacceptable moral colonialism and an element that favors the proliferation of poaching.