TRUMP-THE-DESTROYER APPROVES SLAUGHTER OF ELEPHANTS

International outcry as Trump allows big game hunters (like his sons) to bring severed African elephant heads and tusks back to the US as trophies in blow to campaign to ban Ivory trade. Animal rights groups around the globe have condemned the 'reprehensible' move by Donald Trump. The ban on importing elephant trophies was brought in by the Obama administration in 2014

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  Trump's sons Donald and Eric are pictured with big game they killed.
  
  
• Fish and Wildlife Service claims sport hunting is part of 'sound management' 
   

By Tariq Tahir For Mailonline

November 2017

The Trump administration has reversed a ban on the importing of trophies from elephants killed in Zimbabwe and Zambia, to outcry from wildlife organisations across the world.

The move overturns the ban put in place by the Obama administration in 2014 and is a heavy blow to the international campaign to end the ivory trade, whose backers include Prince Harry and Prince William.

It also comes after the president's sons, Donald Jr and Eric Trump, were heavily criticized in 2012 after being photographed with a leopard and other big game kills including an elephant.

Though elephants are listed as endangered species, the hunting and killing of them is legal in parts of Africa and the Trump administration argues it helps manage their population numbers.

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International wildlife organisations have reacted with fury to the Trump administration's decision to let big game hunters bring elephants trophies back to the U.S. Donald Trump Jr is pictured with the tail of an elephant on one of his hunting trips to Zimbabwe in 2011

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The decision comes after a campaign by the NRA on behalf of big game hunters. The president's sons Donald Jr (left) and Eric Trump (right) have previously been on big game hunting trips to Africa (pictured)

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Donald Jr  seen here with a 40" Cape Buffalo Bull, which his tour guide said he shot with 'the precision of a true marksman. The Trump administration said managed hunting can benefit the conservation of some species

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Eric Trump its atop one of their kills. In his responses to critics on Twitter, Donald Jr said that the animals were used as meat for hungry villagers who do not often eat the animals

The U.S Fishing and Wildlife Service said, as it announced the decision, that new information from officials in Zimbabwe and Zambia supports reversing the ban to allow trophy hunting permits in those countries.

In a statement, it 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.'

However, wildlife organisation across the globe have condemned the decision and argue that it will only encourage illegal poaching of elephants.

The Humane Society of the United States said banning trophies from Zimbabwe should continue because it is 'one of the most corrupt countries on Earth'.

The country's deposed leader Robert Mugabe celebrated his birthday by dining on an elephant, said the society.

Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive, said: 'It's a venal and nefarious pay-to-slay arrangement that Zimbabwe has set up with the trophy hunting industry.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5088227/Ban-elephant-trophies-Zambia-Zimbabwe-lifted.html#ixzz4ybgZ0KNY