Don't ban trophy hunting: researcher

The shooting of Cecil the lion in Africa last year caused global outrage, but banning trophy hunting would only hamper conservation efforts, an Adelaide researcher says.

"Understandably, many people oppose trophy hunting and believe it is contributing to the ongoing loss of species," University of Adelaide conservation ecologist Corey Bradshaw said.

"However, we contend that banning the $US217 million ($A310.16 million) a-year industry in Africa could end up being worse for species conservation."

Funds from trophy hunting should instead be invested back into conservation in poorer countries, a study by Professor Bradshaw, and English and Finnish researchers says.

But for this to work, the industry's money trail needs tougher regulations.

"There are many concerns about trophy hunting beyond the ethical that currently limit its effectiveness as a conservation tool," University of Cambridge Professor Nigel Leader-Williams said.

"One of the biggest problems is that the revenue it generates often goes to the private sector and rarely benefits protected-area management and the local communities."

The study also found that trophy hunting could actually have a lower carbon footprint than eco-tourism.

"It generates higher revenue from a lower number of uses," the University of Helsinki's Enrico Di Minin said.

TROPHY HUNTING GUIDELINES:

* Levies on safari operators to raise money for conservation

* A ban on sales of hunted animals to curb the illegal wildlife trade

* Confiscating trophies and revoking permits for illegal hunting practices

* Regular population viability analysis

* Backup professional shooters on hunts to strengthen animal welfare