The infamous killing of Cecil the lion has encouraged British hunters to go to South Africa and shoot dead more big cats than ever, figures reveal.

Experts had believed worldwide revulsion at the shooting would mark a turning point for the endangered species and the start of a decline in “trophy” hunting.

But instead the number of British hunters targeting farmed lions and bringing home their body parts more than doubled in the three years after Cecil’s death, compared with the three years before, according to statistics from the global wildlife trade regulator.

Imports after the 2015 shooting jumped to 59, against 27 before. In 2007…