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 ...
“Other than the fact that it was put in place by the Obama administration...”
Why would we need any reason other than that?
What is happening to elephants is outrageous and cruel. Killing them for souvenirs is just wrong
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Agree. A-men.
Nobody stopped the hunters from going there and hunting. All it did was ban bringing back the trophy, which cost some innocent Taxidermist a nice payday. The hunters still hunted, the game still got shot. Therefore, USFW isn't regulating hunting outside US borders by proxy.
The United States has listed African elephants under the federal Endangered Species Act, and hunting trophies can only be imported if the federal government finds that killing them positively enhances the survival of the species. How can one of the most corrupt countries on earth possibly be managing its elephant population in a sustainable manner ? Especially given that government officials been involved in both poaching of elephants and illegal export of ivory tusks.
So, does this mean I will be able to get real ivory grips for my Model 1911A1?
In Alaska, you can buy fossil ivory from which the grips can be fabricated
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