Wildlife criminals were in the firing line from North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale in the House of Commons this afternoon.

Sir Roger, president of Conservative Animal Welfare, today condemned the twin threats posed by “moronic tourists” and organised crime to the world’s endangered wildlife.

Speaking in the debate on wildlife crime in the Commons, the MP poured scorn on “the cowards who go out with rifles with telescopic sights to slaughter animals and then go back to Japan or the USA or Europe to boast about how close they got and how brave they are. This so-called tourist trade, in what is revoltingly known as ‘canned’ hunting, has to be brought to an end.”

The MP also hit out at the “Chinese and Far-Eastern mafia cashing in on a primitive belief in the medicinal powers of rhino horn and tiger bone that have no more medicinal value than toenail clippings.

Sir Roger welcomed the International conference to be held at Lancaster House next week. It will include the launch of United for Wildlife with the backing of the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The MP added: “The conference must end not in words but in action backed by hard cash and by ruthless enforcement.”