Ranulph Fiennes labels trophy hunters 'bullying bastards' and calls for UK import ban

Explorer says halting imports would recognise the devastating impact of colonialism on wildlife

Banning the import and export of big game hunting trophies would recognise the destructive impact European powers have had on wildlife in former African and Asian colonies, Sir Ranulph Fiennes has said.

Speaking to the Guardian, the veteran British explorer said hunting endangered species such as rhinos, elephants and lions to keep their body parts as trophies should be viewed with the same scepticism as Chinese traditional medicine in terms of the damage it does to biodiversity.