Species Factsheets
Learn more about trophy-hunted species, including African elephants, leopards, lions, giraffes and black rhinos, as well as European brown bears and grey wolves.

The Lion’s Share: On the Economic Benefits of Trophy Hunting

This report debunks inflated claims that trophy hunting is a critical contributor to African economies and jobs. In eight key African countries, trophy hunters contribute at most 0.03 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and at most 0.76 percent of overall tourism jobs. It also proves that the non-hunting tourism industry has a much brighter future in Africa.

Trophy Hunting by the Numbers: The United States’ Role in Global Trophy Hunting

This report reveals that American hunters are the world’s leading consumers of hunting trophies of internationally regulated mammal species, having imported 75% of the global total between 2014 and 2018. During this timeframe, the U.S. imported over 72,600 wildlife trophies representing almost 100 different species from 59 countries, with the top two countries of origin being Canada and South Africa. These imports included over 10,484 trophies of imperiled species, including the African lion, African elephant, and leopard.

The $200 Million Question: How Much Does Trophy Hunting Really Contribute to African Communities?

This report analyzes literature on the economics of trophy hunting and reveals that African countries and rural communities derive very little benefit from trophy hunting revenue.

Trophy Madness Report: Elite Hunters, Animal Trophies and Safari Club International’s Hunting Awards

This report reveals that a hunting membership group, Safari Club International (SCI), promotes the senseless slaughter of wildlife for sport by offering its members the opportunity to compete to win nearly 50 awards for killing elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards, bears, ringed-horn antelopes, wild sheep, ibex, moose, and many other animals around the world.

Cecil 2: Trophy Hunting America’s Lion

This report reveals that the top five deadliest states for mountain lions are Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Utah and Arizona. Between 2005 and 2014, trophy hunters killed approximately 29,000 mountain lions in the U.S.; an estimated 2,700 more were killed in other countries and traded internationally over the last decade.

Eco-Tourism Worth More to African Economies Than Trophy Hunting by Michael Markarian

The HSUS’s former Chief Program and Policy Officer shows that wildlife-based eco-tourism is a big industry in Africa and dwarfs trophy hunting in its economic impact.