Exclusive:
Together with wife Sharon, Ozzy supports the Mirror’s campaign to ban trophy hunting imports and said: ‘Bulldozing these poor, innocent beaver’s homes with tractors then setting packs of dogs on them is pure evil.’
Rocker Ozzy Osbourne has slammed sick £666 hunting trips to slaughter beavers.
The Black Sabbath star said even the most twisted minds of metal would not comprehend this kind of cruelty. The “breaks” are advertised on bookyourhunt.com, which allows wannabe trophy hunters to buy animals to kill.
Artur Prentis, a holiday operator advertising hunts in Latvia, said: “During the day, tractors will destroy the beaver dams and hunters with dogs pursue the beavers.” He added: “Our team of professional and experienced hunters will be happy to take you on a truly amazing hunting adventure!”
The £666 fee includes preparation of the beaver “trophy” after it is killed.
Ozzy, 76, who together with wife Sharon supports the Mirror’s campaign to ban trophy hunting imports, said: “Bulldozing these poor, innocent beaver’s homes with tractors then setting packs of dogs on them is pure evil. I can’t believe there are people who’ll pay to kill these animals for entertainment. How the **** is this allowed?”
But hunter Prentis hit back saying: “It’s weird to hear complaints from a person who has bitten a head off a live bat on stage.
“In Latvia the beaver population is very high, and it’s 100% legal to hunt them. They damage the forestry industry, one of the main industries in the country. It’s why the beaver population needs to be controlled. We’re happy to welcome hunters from abroad.”
The Campaign To Ban Trophy Hunting and the Mirror is calling for the UK government to ban the import of hunting trophies.
The campaign’s founder, Eduardo Goncalves, said: “These sick beaver hunting trips are beyond belief, and yet another reason why we need to get the ban done quickly. The government has said that it will give parliamentary time to this issue, so name a date, we need this legislation in place so that animals can be free from this horrific pain and indignity.”
Wild beavers were legally released for the first time in England’s rivers last week, 400 years after their extinction in Britain. Two pairs are making a new home in Studland in Dorset.
Earlier this year the Mirror revealed the number of sick animal trophies imported into the UK has increased by four times. Trophies, such as skins and stuffed body parts like animal heads, from 39 animals, including lions, elephants, a brown bear, a leopard, a hippo and a cheetah, were shipped to the UK in 2023.
The number of lions imported leapt from two in 2022 to 28 in 2023, making the species the most targeted choice for UK hunters who crave a gruesome souvenir and bragging rights. Imports in 2023 also include trophies from five African elephants.
The figures come from CITES data, an international agreement between governments which aims to ensure international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants, which shows that nine hunting trophies were imported into the UK in 2022, 10 in 2021 and 25 in 2020.
Humane Society International/UK’s senior wildlife campaigns manager Nicola White said: “The longer the UK Government takes to deliver its manifesto commitment to ban imports of hunting trophies, the more animals will continue to suffer and die to be turned into ornaments, rugs and coffee tables by selfish British trophy hunters.
Last month Ozzy, who will play a star-studded farewell show at Aston Villa’s Villa Park stadium on July 5, auctioned off signed shirts to help raise awareness and funds for the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting.
Ozzy said: “Trophy hunters are totally crazy. You’ve got to be barking to kill an innocent animal and then take photos of yourself laughing about it.
“We’ve all got to do our bit. I like to design things so I’ve done a t-shirt for the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting. The government said it would ban hunting trophies, so get on with it! Tell your MP you want it banned right now!”
Sharon added: “Ozzy and I are big supporters of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting. I can’t think of anything more sickening than killing an animal just for the fun of it and then putting its head up in your living room. I honestly thought those days had gone.
“Let’s make trophy hunting extinct, not wildlife. Support the campaign and tell the politicians you want the ban done today not tomorrow.