Now Donald Trump Is Going After Elephants
In a move that is bound to greatly boost his popularity worldwide, Donald Trump has agreed to allow legally hunted elephants to be imported into the United States from both Zimbabwe and Zambia.
A practice that was outlawed under the Obama administration, Trump has reversed the ban of remains of elephants killed in Zimbabwe and Zambia from entering the United States, arguing that it could actually boost conservation efforts.
According to a statement from The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), "the hunting and management programs for African elephants will enhance the survival of the species in the wild".
"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."
Back in 2014, the Obama administration banned imports of trophies from Zimbabwe after concluding that the nation's management of legal hunting did not "enhance the survival of the African elephant the wild".
The reversal has, unsurprisingly, caused outrage amongst animal conservation groups, with chief executive of the Humane Society, Wayne Pacelle, releasing a damning statement that reads:
"Let's be clear: elephants are on the list of threatened species; the global community has rallied to stem the ivory trade; and now, the US government is giving American trophy hunters the green light to kill them.
"It's time for the era of the trophy killing of Africa's most majestic and endangered animals to come to a final close, and the United States should not be retreating from that commitment."
Celebrities also had their say, with a host of high-profile names taking to Twitter to condemn the new laws.
Compassion, social intelligence, decisiveness, patience, wisdom. These are all qualities found in elephants and not found in the people allowing them to be killed for trophies. #NotUs
- Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) November 16, 2017
The fact that Trump has lifted President Obama's ban on elephant trophies being imported into the country is a devastating blow to the survival of these beautiful animals. It's savage and pointless. It breaks my heart. pic.twitter.com/iclfxN6TXr
- Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) November 16, 2017
Dear people with no soul ,
stop shooting Elephants https://t.co/T0fThLjOWH- Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) November 16, 2017
Trump has, so far, not personally commented on the uplifting of the ban, but we can't imagine he'll remain silent for long.
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