This week, I added my voice to the campaign to stop British hunters bringing home ‘trophies’ of endangered animals – a campaign which has won the support of legendary conservationist Jane Goodall and record-breaking explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

A recent cross-party committee report found British trophy hunters have brought home 5,000 trophies of threatened species in recent years. Lions, elephants, hippos and zebras are among the most popular animals. Others shot and brought into the UK include polar bears, giraffes, cheetahs, rhinos and monkeys.

A bill to prohibit trophy hunters’ souvenirs is currently going through Parliament. An opinion poll by Survation found 86% of voters are in favour of the ban, with just 2% against.

Ranulph Fiennes said: “The vast majority of voters want this so-called ‘sport’ banished to the history books. We need to listen to what voters are saying and do the right thing for wildlife. That is why I applaud Jessica’s work on this issue. They are doing a great job in putting this issue on the map and speaking up for their constituents as well as for endangered animals.”

Goodall also paid tribute to MPs campaigning for the bill, adding: “I have struggled to get into the mind of someone who can behave like this. We are supposed to be a nation of animal lovers and yet we have these people, so what is motivating them? How can they feel pride?”