Donald Trump to allow hunters like his sons Eric and Donald Jr to import elephant ‘trophies’
New York Post, News Corp Australia
November 16, 2017 8:23PM
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has decided to let big game hunters like his sons — Eric and Donald Jr. — import the heads of elephants into the United States, reversing an Obama-era ban from 2014.
The New York Post reports that US Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed the move in a statement on Wednesday night, saying it will begin issuing permits for elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia, even though the creatures are still listed under the Endangered Species Act.
“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,” the statement said.
A group of elephants pictured in a Thailand jungle. Picture: SuppliedPicture: Supplied
Officials in Africa reportedly announced the policy change at a wildlife forum this week hosted by the Safari Club International Foundation, which is a hunting advocacy group.
The National Rifle Association praised the FWS decision, saying it was long overdue.
“By lifting the import ban on lion trophies in Zimbabwe and Zambia, the Trump Administration underscored the importance of sound scientific wildlife management and regulated hunting to the survival and enhancement of game species in this country and worldwide,” explained Chris Cox, Executive Director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action.
“This is a significant step forward in having hunting receive the recognition it deserves as a tool of wildlife management, which had been all but buried in the previous administration,” he said.
The elephant — which is typically hunted for its ivory and tusks — has been listed as a “threatened” species since 1978.
Eric Trump on a hunt in Africa. Picture: SuppliedPicture: Supplied
Donald Trump Jr with an elephant tail. Picture: SuppliedPicture: Supplied
Mr Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr, sparked widespread outrage several years ago when pictures showing him posing with a dead pachyderm surfaced on social media. One particular photo — which received most of the attention — showed him holding up the elephant’s severed tail.
Mr Trump’s other son, Eric, has also faced criticism for his big game hunting after similar images emerged of him with a dead leopard and other creatures.
While much of Africa’s wildlife is endangered due to poachers, Savanna elephants may be the most threatened.
Donald Trump Jr is an avid big game hunter. Picture: SuppliedPicture: Supplied
The population plummeted by roughly 30 per cent — or 144,000 — from 2007 to 2014, according to the 2016 Great Elephant Census. It dropped 6 per cent in Zimbabwe, alone.
“Reprehensible behaviour by the Trump Admin,” tweeted The Elephant Project, which is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of African pachyderms. Loading content...
“100 elephants a day are already killed,” the group said. “This will lead to more poaching.”
Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, also blasted the Trump administration for the policy change in a blog post — calling it “jarring.”
You would have to be a real turd to find joy in killing beautiful wild animals!
