The deputy Labour leader and MP for West Bromwich produced a video in support of a march in Birmingham city centre at the weekend, which was organised on behalf of End Trophy Hunting and All Animal Exploitation.

It aimed to order to highlight the current environmental crisis, where many of the world's most iconic species are facing extinction.

Mr Watson said: "There can be no sicker example of man’s inhumanity to animals, then watching grown humans shooting down beautiful innocent wildlife."

There is no sicker example of man's inhumanity to animals than the sight of grown adults shooting down beautiful, innocent wildlife to take their body parts home as trophies. That's why I'm backing today's Global March for Elephants and Rhino. #MarchforWildlife #Birmingham pic.twitter.com/KTnCT2T9eX — Tom Watson (@tom_watson) April 13, 2019

The march was held on Saturday at midday n Victoria Square.

Half of the wild animals on the planet have been lost over the last 40 years due to human consumption, loss of habitat, poaching and exploitation.

Global marches are being held in cities around the world, shortly before the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Conference of Parties (COP18) which will meet in Sri Lanka in May this year.

GMFER are calling on CITES to give all elephant species the strongest level of protection and list them in Appendix 1, also for the rejection of any proposal for trade in ivory and Southern White Rhino.

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Barbaric

March organiser Jenny Nolan added: "Iconic animals such as elephant, rhinos, lions, giraffes, hippos, leopards, tigers and many of our marine species could become extinct in a generation, due to our actions.

"We need to send a clear message to CITES, International and UK government that we must do whatever is necessary to halt this decline and provide adequate protection and resources for the conservation of these species.”

The march will also call on the UK government to ban the importation of all animal trophies. The UK government have allowed the importation of some 2,500 animal trophies in the last decade.

She said: "Trophy hunting is a cruel barbaric act, which results in the senseless slaughter of some the rarest animals on the planet. Many animals endure prolonged painful deaths when they are injured and not killed. The sole purpose of this activity is to hunt an unwitting animal, which is at a distinct disadvantage and ultimately provide a trophy for the hunter.

“The UK government pledged to review lion trophy imports in 2015 but has yet to take any action. We urge the government to follow the example set by Australia, France and the Netherlands who have banned the importation of animal trophies.”