Trump sparks backlash by lifting ban on importing elephant heads into US
The president's move will allow big game hunters - like his sons Eric and Don Jnr - to bring back elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia
DONALD Trump has sparked backlash after lifting a ban on importing elephant heads into the US.
The president's move will allow big game hunters - like his sons Eric and Don Jnr - to bring back elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Former president Barack Obama had banned the practice in 2014.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed the policy change last night claiming hunting fees will aid conservation.
The statement 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."
But Trump was slammed for the move, with animal rights activists calling it "reprehensible".
Wayne Nacelle, president of the Humane Society, said: "It's a venal and nefarious pay-to-slay arrangement that Zimbabwe has set up with the trophy hunting industry.
"What kind of message does it send to say to the world that poor Africans who are struggling to survive cannot kill elephants in order to use or sell their parts to make a living, but that it's just fine for rich Americans to slay the beasts for their tusks to keep as trophies?"
Charity the Elephant Project tweeted: "Reprehensible behaviour by the Trump Admin. 100 elephants a day are already killed. This will lead to more poaching."
Donald Trump's sons Eric and Donald Jnr are known to enjoy big game hunting trips to Africa. The pair caused outrage parading exotic animal trophies in photographs which surfaced several years ago. In one Don Jnr held up a severed elephant's tail with a knife in his other hand.
Elephants are still listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and are typically hunted for their ivory tusks.
Experts say since 2010 elephant populations in Africa have dropped by seven per cent on average - more than 30,000 deaths per year.
They have been listed as a threatened species since 1978.
Last month the US Fish and Wildlife Service overturned a similar ban on lion trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia claiming hunting has enhanced the survival of the species in those two countries.
