The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Fish and Wild rodent, has loosened restrictions on import of hunting trophies into United States. This is reported by New York Times, citing a memorandum (pdf) published last week by authority.

According to this, trophies from elephants, lions or even multi-colored antelopes with a permit may be brought to USA in future. The relaxation concerns goods from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. The import authorization will be checked on an individual basis. The new regulation does not apply automatically to all trophies, authority stressed.

In November, Trump government wanted to repeal anor species-protection ban that had been adopted under presidency of Barack Obama: body parts of legally hunted elephants from Zambia and Zimbabwe should be allowed to be re-introduced to United States. The US President, however, only reversed this decision one day later. Trump has great difficulty in understanding how "this horror show should somehow contribute to protection of elephants or or animals."

Regulated hunting for more species protection?

Hunting and import permits are controversial. Hunting and protecting organizations such as Safari Club International and National Rifle Association, as well as conservation organizations such as Fish and Wildlife Service, argue that regulated hunting can help preserve certain animal populations. The revenue from hunting permits would support a large number of animal welfare programmes.

In order to obtain permission to export trophies, exporting countries would have to prove that hunt was promoting survival of certain species in wilderness. According to New York Times, hunters would pay at least $100,000 for permission to shoot a lion or an elephant – money that could be invested in conservation projects.

Date Of Update: 09 March 2018, 12:03