Trump Administration Lifts Ban on Importing Elephant Trophies from Africa
OutdoorHub Reporters 11.16.17
President Trump has lifted a ban implemented by the Obama administration, which allows hunters to import trophies of elephants they harvested in Africa back to the United States.
As ABC News reports, even though elephants are protected under the Endangered Species Act, arrangements within the act allow the government to dole out special permits for the animal to be imported. However, this can only take place if there is conclusive evidence that the hunting benefited the conservation for that species.
“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 reportedly said in a statement.
This reversal applies only to elephants in Zimbabwe and Zambia, but this move – along with removing Yellowstone grizzlies from the Endangered Species list – further supports President Trump’s claims to back-up hunters.
College Humor really said it best when they released this video on “Why Trophy Hunting Can Actually Be Good for Animals”:
