ProTECT Act Would Protect Species Killed as Trophies Niki Fri, 03/07/2025 - 13:48 Photo by Henk Bogaard March 7, 2025 Washington, DC—The Prohibiting Threatened and Endangered Creature Trophies (ProTECT) Act (H.R. 1934) was reintroduced yesterday by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA). The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends Lieu for continuing to champion this legislation following the death of its long-time sponsor, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX).The ProTECT Act would prohibit importing a trophy of a species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, as well as ban the killing of a listed species for a trophy within the United States. This reflects the values of American citizens, 86% of whom oppose all big game hunting, according to a 2015 poll.“Wildlife trafficking must be stopped. When people choose to kill animals to take home as trophies, they’re being selfish and inhumane,” Lieu said. “This is especially true when it comes to endangered species, which are already at perilous risk of going extinct. I am pleased to re-introduce the ProTECT Act to defend both endangered and threatened species from the senseless practice of trophy hunting. I had the privilege of working with the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee on this legislation, and it is in her honor and memory that we will continue to champion this important cause.”“Species protected under the Endangered Species Act face many grave threats, including habitat loss and climate change. Killing them for sport makes absolutely no sense if we want to save them from extinction,” said Susan Millward, AWI’s executive director and chief executive officer. “Let’s not cater to the interests of wealthy hunters who care more about mounting a dead animal’s head on a wall than protecting disappearing species. Thank you to Representative Lieu for introducing the ProTECT Act, which will ensure that species under federal protection aren’t victimized by trophy hunters.”There is no credible scientific evidence that trophy hunting provides conservation or economic benefits. Indeed, studies have shown that charismatic species are worth more alive as tourist attractions than dead at the hands of a trophy hunter. Trophy hunting can also hurt the structure and viability of already vulnerable wild populations: Big game hunters target the largest, strongest animals for trophies, and this can result in enormous upheaval for the surviving members of the group, disrupting social bonds and behaviors and having adverse genetic impacts on the population. Many populations of targeted species are already severely depleted due to other threats, and killing more than 100,000 animals for trophies each year only exacerbates the problem.The ProTECT Act would also ensure that threatened and endangered species cannot be killed for trophies on canned hunting operations within the United States. Known as “shooting preserves” or “game ranches,” these operations allow trophy hunters to shoot animals within fenced-in areas. While it is generally illegal to harm an ESA-listed species, the operators of these ranches receive species permits from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to offer these captive hunts. Such canned hunts perpetuate the market for imperiled species’ trophies, which can encourage poaching of the animals in the wild. This runs contrary to the fundamental purpose of the ESA, which is to conserve wild species—not endanger them further by targeting these animals for trophies. Media Contact Information Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institutemargie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.