The government has said it remains committed to banning the import of hunting trophies in its forthcoming Animals Abroad Act.
Some Tory MPs have expressed concern that the ban promised in the party’s 2019 general election manifesto would fall, according to media reports.
But a government source dismissed the claims as “complete nonsense”.
Other measures of the draft law banning the import and sale of furs and foie gras have already been dropped.
Every year hunters from the UK travel abroad, often to southern Africa, paying thousands of pounds to legally shoot animals such as lions and elephants.
With the right paperwork, they can then bring trophies such as stuffed heads or horns back to the UK.
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The Animals Abroad Bill is one of several legislation the government is planning to protect animal welfare.
It has been mired in controversy in recent weeks after the BBC revealed plans to ban imports of foie gras and fur into the UK were likely to be dropped.
There was also dissatisfaction after reports over the weekend that the import of hunting trophies could also be removed from the legislation.
Tory MP Tracey Crouch tweeted: “I am deeply concerned by rumors that the ban on imports of hunting trophies has been shelved.
“This is extraordinarily cruel [and] 9/10 voters want a ban immediately. [The government] would be foolish to go back on his promise.”
But government sources said a ban would be imposed before the end of this parliament.
“We are fully committed to enacting one of the toughest bans in the world on imports of hunting trophies from thousands of endangered and threatened species,” said one.
“To say otherwise is utter nonsense.”
The source said the legislation will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time permits.
Environment Secretary George Eustice announced the plan for a ban in December, saying it would protect thousands of vulnerable and threatened species, including lions, rhinos, elephants and polar bears.
He said: “This would be one of the toughest bans in the world and goes beyond our manifesto, meaning we will be at the forefront of protecting vulnerable animals and helping to strengthen and support long-term conservation.”
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