Hope for Elephants: U.S. Restricts the Import of Elephant Hunting Trophies
The move is a win for conservationists, who say America imports more hunting trophies than any other country in the world.
The importation of live African elephants and elephant hunting trophies has been restricted, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced today.
The move, which effectively bans elephant hunting trophy imports from select countries that are popular with trophy hunters, is being celebrated as a win for conservationists and provides hope for Africa's decreasing elephant population.
The US imports more hunting trophies than any other country in the world, according to research by the Humane Society International (HSI). Figures show that the US accounted for 75 percent of global hunting trophy imports and almost 25 percent of global elephant hunting trophy imports between 2014 and 2018.
Current rules in the US allow trophy hunters to import elephant trophies on a case-by-case basis. Critics say that the system suffers from a lack of transparency, and also promotes trophy hunting and incentivizes the killing of animals like elephants, rhinos, and giraffes.
Now, the case-by-case system has been revised to restrict the granting of permits, particularly from countries which are known hotspots for trophy hunting. The new revisions to the law will make it harder for trophy hunters to import their hunting spoils from the likes of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, who are the top exporters to the US for elephant hunting trophies.
“For decades the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been allowing African elephant imports without current population data, transparency or effective oversight,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “With African elephants’ rapid global population decline and the abrupt reversals in federal protections between administrations, this new revision to the regulation will help the agency make decisions that enhance the survival of the species in the wild, instead of incentivizing its decline.”
The trophy hunting industry has become a major concern for conservationists, who say that the industry is harming the elephant population in Africa which is already under threat from other issues including poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict.
The Fish and Wildlife Service classified African elephants as threatened back in 1978, and since then their global population has decreased by 60 percent. Trophy hunting has helped add to the decline - particularly as the direct removal of individuals from elephant groups can often have ripple effects that negatively impact the overall health and survival of family groups.
“The agency’s new rule is a strong step in the right direction to finally gain transparency and oversight on this highly politicized and harmful trade in African elephants killed for fun and gruesome souvenirs,” said Jeff Flocken, president of Humane Society International.
Protecting Animals from Trophy Hunting
In a statement, HSI explained that it will now continue to fight for a full ban on the trade in African elephant hunting trophies. The NGO also hopes that the latest import restrictions will set a precedent so that they can be applied to other imperiled species like lions, giraffes, and leopards.
There is already political support to grant more protections for endangered animals against trophy hunting. Earlier this month, legislation that aims to ban trophy hunting imports of threatened species was reintroduced.
Known as the ProTECT Act, the bill comes amid strong public support for more action against trophy hunting, with a poll of American citizens revealing that the majority (56 percent) are opposed to hunting animals for sport, and that most Americans (86 percent) are against big game hunting.
“Trophy hunting … enables the killing of thousands of protected wildlife animals every year”, said Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), who reintroduced the bill on March 22 alongside Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-CA).
It is estimated that over 100,000 animals are killed by trophy hunting each year.
We Have A Favor To Ask…
Species Unite amplifies well-researched solutions to some of the most abusive animal industries operating today.
At this crucial moment, with worldwide momentum for change building, it’s vital we share these animal-free solutions with the world - and we need your help.
We’re a nonprofit, and so to keep sharing these solutions, we’re relying on you - with your support, we can continue our essential work in growing a powerful community of animal advocates this year.
