Trump Reversed Elephant Hunting Trophies Import Ban & It's Devastating

The Trump administration has decided to undo yet another policy enacted by the Obama administration, news reports on Thursday, Nov. 16 reveal. This time, Trump reversed a ban allowing elephant hunting trophies — as in, parts of elephants killed recreationally — from Zimbabwe and Zambia to be imported back to the United States. Elephants are currently listed under the Endangered Species Act, however, if there is evidence that hunting will somehow contribute to helping that species, the act allows the government to give permits to import the trophies.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service official confirmed this to ABC News, saying they also have information from officials in Zimbabwe and Zambia that are in support of reversing the ban and allowing permits for the hunters.

The U.S government is yet to make an official announcement of this policy change, but it was reportedly announced in South Africa at a wildlife forum this week with Safari Club International, who filed a lawsuit in 2014 in favor of blocking the ban for hunters, according to ABC News.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a statement saying, "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."

The new policy change will apply to elephants hunted in Zimbabwe on or after January 21, 2016, and on or before December 31, 2018, and elephants hunted in Zambia during 2016, 2017 and 2018, according to a Fish and Wildlife spokesperson reported by ABC News.

As of Friday, Nov. 17, the Federal Register will post a notice with specifics on the change in policy and justifications for these changes.

More to come.

Credit: Elite Daily