Trump re-opens door to elephant trophies

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has decided to let big game hunters — including his sons Eric and Donald Jr — import the heads of elephants into the United States, reversing an Obamaera ban from 2014.

The New York Post reports that the US Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed the move in a statement on Wednesday, 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 muchneeded revenue back into conservation,” the statement said.

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,”istration,” he said.

The elephant,nt, which is typically huntedted for its ivory and tusks, has been listed as a “threatened” spe-pecies since 1978.

Mr Trump’ss son, Donald Trump Jr, sparked widespread outrage several years agoo when picturesres showing him pos-posing with a deaddead pachyderm surfacedrfaced on social media..

New York Post