Fury as FTSE 100 mining boss and conservation charity patron poses with dead elephant and leopard on 'trophy hunting' trips

Mark Bristow was photographed with several trophy kills including elephants, antelope, gazelle, a hippo, buffalo and a zebra taken in Africa.

In promotional material dating from 2005 to 2014 he posed with a dead lion and leopard even though since 2017 he has served on the conservation council of Panthera.

The council  – dedicated to the welfare of wild cats – also includes actress Glenn Close as co-chairman, and actor Jeremy Irons.

Bristow appears in promotional images on the website of Hunters & Guides Africa, a South Africa-based professional hunting tour operator.

Mr Bristow, 59, who was born in South Africa but now lives in London, has been the CEO of mining giant Randgold since 1995.


The £5bn company has a partnership with the Mali Elephant Project, which works to protect the world's last remaining desert elephant herds.

It is currently in the process of being bought by Canada’s Barrick  which will make it the world’s largest gold miner.

Randgold told the Telegraph: "Legal, well-regulated hunting can and does deliver benefits for both wildlife conservation and the livelihoods of indigenous communities living with wildlife.

"Led by Mark Bristow, Randgold Resources has invested in a wide range of biodiversity programmes in its host countries … and is bringing together conservation professionals and scientists to develop a tailored method for the mining industry in Africa to restore the continent’s biodiversity."


However, the international wildlife charity Born Free was far from impressed with the actions of Bristow – reported to be the longest serving FTSE 100 boss.

Its president Will Travers said: “Mark Bristow is obviously fond of big numbers. His company, Randgold, just bought by Canada’s Barrick Gold, is worth at least £5bn.

"But there are other numbers he may be less willing to discuss. Mr Bristow shoots African elephants – there are about 415,000 left.

"Mr Bristow shoots African hippo – there are about 130,000 left. He also shoots zebra, antelope, gazelle and leopard.

"He will claim that it supports conservation and development but evidence suggests that only around three per cent of what people like Mr Bristow spend on their deadly predilection ends up in ­local communities.

“Trophy hunting is not illegal. It is, however, deeply controversial. Large donations to conservation organisations (shame on them) do nothing to mitigate the horror that will surely be felt by many investors, shareholders and the general public, who will share my sense of disgust and abhorrence at people of wealth and privilege who kill natural treasures of the world – for fun.”

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