Swiss hunters import trophies of endangered species despite global conservation warnings
Every year, around 1,500 Swiss amateur hunters travel abroad to kill wildlife and bring their trophies home. The country ranks among the world’s top three for trophy hunting, trailing only the US and Spain. Yet the practice raises serious concerns about conservation and ethical hunting standards.
Between 2010 and 2020, Swiss hunters imported 507 trophies from protected species, including lions, elephants, and even a polar bear. Critics argue that such hunting weakens already vulnerable animal populations and sends a damaging message about wildlife protection.
Swiss hunters often target endangered and protected species, despite international conservation efforts. Over a decade, their imports included 24 lions, 46 elephants, two white rhinos, and seven cheetahs. Many of these species, such as those listed under CITES Appendix I, face critical threats to their survival.
The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) oversees trophy imports, but no public records detail individual officials responsible for approvals. Unlike France, which restricts rhino and lion trophies, or the Netherlands, which bans imports of around 200 species, Switzerland has not imposed similar broad bans. There is also no evidence that Swiss authorities use financial penalties or incentives to discourage trophy hunting of at-risk animals.
Beyond conservation risks, trophy hunting often removes the strongest animals from populations. This disrupts genetic diversity, skews age and sex ratios, and reduces reproductive success. The long-term health of species suffers as a result. Meanwhile, the economic benefits for local communities are minimal—residents receive, on average, just $0.30 per person annually from trophy hunting.
Swiss hunters also use weapons abroad that are banned at home, such as bows, arrows, and spears. Despite these controversies, trophy hunting contributes a negligible 0.006 percent to national budgets. This tiny sum does little to support local economies or conservation projects on the ground.
The continued import of trophies from endangered species highlights a gap between Swiss hunting practices and global conservation goals. With no strict bans or proven financial deterrents in place, the country remains a major player in trophy hunting. The low economic returns and ecological harm further question the justification for the practice.
