Posted on 11/16/2017 9:49:30 AM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
The Trump administration has reversed a ban on the importing of trophies from elephants killed in Zimbabwe and Zambia, to outcry from wildlife organisations across the world.
The move overturns the ban put in place by the Obama administration in 2014 and is a heavy blow to the international campaign to end the ivory trade, whose backers include Prince Harry and Prince William.
It also comes after the president's sons, Donald Jr and Eric Trump, were heavily criticized in 2012 after being photographed with a leopard and other big game kills including an elephant.
Though elephants are listed as endangered species, the hunting and killing of them is legal in parts of Africa and the Trump administration argues it helps manage their population numbers.
But wildlife organisations argue that corrupt officials - especially in Zimbabwe where dictator Robert Mugabe was deposed in a coup this week - cannot be trusted to protect elephants. The US Fishing and Wildlife Service said as it announced the decision that new information from officials in Zimbabwe and Zambia supports reversing the ban to allow trophy hunting permits in those countries.
In a statement it said: '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.' However, wildlife organisation across the globe have condemned the decision and argue that it will only encourage illegal poaching of elephants.
The Humane Society of the United States said banning trophies from Zimbabwe should continue because it is 'one of the most corrupt countries on Earth'.
The country's leader Robert Mugabe - who was deposed this week - celebrated his birthday by dining on an elephant, said the society.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Whack ‘em and stack ‘em!
A renewable resource? Killing one of God’s creatures just for the fun of it? That is totally disgusting and evil. Man’s inhumanity.
They don't. It only applies to importing trophies into America. Didn't you read the article?
Are you one of those people who follow licensed legal hunters into the woods on opening day shouting "Murderer!"?
I dont need to kill an animal for sport.
Nor I.
But freedom doesnt require you to shoot a gun, nor others to not shot a gun.
It is sad that those animals have to depend on those nations for their protection!
Nor do I!
Did you know the meat goes to local villages? It is no different than deer hunting and donating the meat to a food pantry.
Every scrap of legally killed elephant will be eaten, nothing goes to waste.
According to 96 Elephants (which gets its name from the approximately 96 elephants that are poached every day), there were roughly 1.2 million African elephants in 1980. After the illegal ivory trade heyday during the 1980s, the population declined to nearly 420,000 in 2012.
Look at the picture you posted. An innocent creature being killed for fun. It is evil. I am sure God judges it as evil.
re: Are you one of those people who follow licensed legal hunters into the woods on opening day shouting “Murderer!”?
No. That’s pretty insulting. I value life. Life in the womb and the life of God’s creatures.
you know what’s wrong with that!
Do not try and explain harvesting game and proper wildlife conservation to a liberal. It’s like casting pearls before swine.
5.56mm
READY IN: 1608hrs SERVES: 3500
UNITS: US
Ingredients
1 medium elephant
2 (50 gallon) containers broth
500 lbs assorted fresh vegetables, chopped
2 rabbits (optional)
Directions
Cut elephant into bite-size pieces.
This takes about 2 months.
Using large kettles, simmer equal parts elephant and vegetables with enough broth to cover.
Cook for a couple days.
If more are expected add the rabbits, but do this only if necessary.
Most people don’t like to find hare in their stew.
Yes, I did.
The gist is that you can’t bring trophies of big game into the US, and the USFW is enforcing that.
Therefore, USFW is regulating big game hunting outside of US borders by proxy.
What? did you think that these hunters are going hunting in Africa to fill their freezers full of lion, elephant, or zebra meat?
I don't either, but I've been to Africa enough times to understand the benefits of proper herd management. A US importation ban doesn't dictate hunting laws in other countries. All the ban does is encourage hunters to prefer going with unscrupulous poachers than with legit conservation groups.
Yet you sit here in judgment of people who legally bought licenses, spent fortunes traveling to the hunt then donated the meat from their kill to the local villagers in one of the poorest nations on earth.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.