Yesterday, November 16, 2017, the Trump administration once again made it legal for hunters to kill elephants in Zimbabwe and Zambia and bring the bodies of the animals back to the United States. In 2014, the Obama administration had banned the import of hunted elephants in an attempt to curb uncontrollable poaching and the population decline of endangered species.
Upon hearing the news on Wednesday, Chair of our Board of Directors and Nigerian environmental activist, Nnimmo Bassey, responded:
“Permitting Americans to kill elephants, lions and other threatened species and shipping their carcasses to the United States is reprehensible. The permit will encourage trophy hunters to prowl African forests and grasslands, and engage in bloodletting for sport. Local communities have lived in a respectful relationship with their environment. This permit from the White House is an affront to indigenous peoples who will be further cut off from the gifts of nature so that rich tourists can carry on with their deadly hobbies.”
We are aghast at this recent development, and stand in solidarity with those who continue to protect the elephants and take a stand.