Video screen grabs from an undercover investigation at Safari Club International’s annual hunter’s convention in Las Vegas-CopyrightHSIByTim Gallagher•Updated:01/07/2021 -17:10

A shocking new report reveals that the EU imported an average of eight hunting trophies of internationally protected species between 2014 and 2018.

Over the five-year period nearly 15,000 so-called trophies were imported to the bloc, making it the world’s second largest importer.

The items come from species including African lions, African elephants, critically endangered black rhinos and even polar bears who are vulnerable to extinction.

The research, conducted byHumane Society International (HSI), found an average of 2,982 imports of protected species a year – with Spain, Germany and Denmark making up 52 per cent of imports.

During the period examined the rate of imports increased by almost half. Protected species imported also included African leopards, Hartmann’s mountain zebras and cheetahs, with the EU being…