WWF revised its position on Trophy Hunting that was approved and signed last month. The policy paper follows the guidelines of both the CIC’s Best Practices in Sustainable Hunting (2008) and IUCN’s Informing decisions on trophy hunting (2016).

The new policy states that trophy hunting has been proven to be an effective conservation tool if it is based on scientific understanding. It also reflects how the revenue can help reduce poaching and habitat alteration. It supports hunting for conservation and strategies that help local people generating economic benefits.

WWF strictly opposes hunting if it is illegal, does not fit to the ethical norms and minimum conservation standards, if the population is genetically modified, if exotic species are introduced only for trophy hunting, if the animals are nutritionally supplemented to enhance trophy size and quality, or if it is culturally inappropriate. WWF strongly opposes any kind of animal re-localization for hunting, like “put and take”, “canned”, or captive-bred practices.

The minimum conservation standards are the following: a science-based approach to provide benefits; a specific legal framework to regulate trophy hunting, like quota-setting, trophy standards, etc; science based monitoring; maximizing social and economic benefits; accepting ethical norms; respect for local culture; transparency and record keeping.

The CIC embraces having another policy paper that helps the public to understand the importance of the sustainable use of wildlife. Read the full policy here.