The National Trust has replaced a collection of tiger, lion and leopard skins at one of its historic houses with an anti-poaching art installation to highlight the “uncomfortable” issue of trophy hunting.

The skins have for years greeted visitors on arrival at Nunnington Hall in North Yorkshire. They were shot in the 1920s by the home’s former owner, Colonel Ronald D’Arcy Fife, while he served with the Yorkshire Regiment in Africa and India.

However, the Trust has invited a contemporary artist to install works at Nunnington “in response” to the trophies. The exhibition is entitled ‘Change in Attitudes’.

In place of the animal skins, which have been removed for cleaning and repair, there will be a display of 5,000 tiny porcelain sculptures in the shape of rhinoceros horns.

They represent the 5,000 black rhinos left in the wild. Visitors are invited to take one home free of charge, but face a moral dilemma designed to make them consider animal conservation and the earth’s dwindling resources.

A message on the wall reads: “You are being presented with a choice - take a trophy for yourself, knowing that everybody who makes the choice leaves less for others to experience, or experience the installation and leave it complete for all who follow you.”