Update #2: As of Sunday evening, Trump tweeted: “Big-game trophy decision will be announced next week but will be very hard pressed to change my mind that this horror show in any way helps conservation of Elephants or any other animal.”
It seems like the ban on elephant trophies will still be enforced. Phew! Now let’s hope he reconsiders his administration’s decision to lift the ban on lion trophies, that was made last month. Lions need protections as well.
Update #1: Trump tweeted on Friday night: “Put big game trophy decision on hold until such time as I review all conservation facts. Under study for years. Will update soon with Secretary Zinke. Thank you!” FYI-Zinke is an avid hunter and a trophy collector.
So it looks like the ban on these trophies will not be lifted just yet. Hopefully, he listened and learned that allowing these trophies was a poor choice. We will keep updating this story as it unfolds.
The Trump administration will be lifting a ban on elephant trophies killed in Zimbabwe and Zambia that was originally put in place by President Obama’s administration.
Now hunters will be able to bring back their elephant kills, even though elephants are listed on the endangered species list. The loophole in this protection is if it can be proven that there is a conservation benefit with hunting these animals. In that case, hunting permits can be issued.
“Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit the conservation of certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation,” a Fish and Wildlife spokesperson said in a statement.
However, there are problems with this claim, namely poaching and government corruption. The Humane Society has written a blog post spotlighting the problems:
“For decades, Zimbabwe has been run by a dictator who has targeted and killed his political opponents, and operated the country’s wildlife management program as something of a live auction….Zimbabwe – one of the most corrupt countries on earth – was not managing its elephant population in a sustainable manner. Government officials allegedly have been involved in both poaching of elephants and illegal export of ivory tusks.”
And let’s not forget about Cecil the Lion, who was also murdered in Zimbabwe. Lifting this ban is very upsetting to me. How do you feel about this?
