The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a final rule governing import permits for live African elephants and elephant hunting “trophies.”
This action effectively bans elephant hunting trophy imports from certain countries that serve as major destinations for trophy hunters—a win for the conservation of the species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
The revised rule heightens the criteria required for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to authorize imports, including from South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia—the top exporters of elephant hunting trophies to the U.S.—making it harder for trophy hunters to import their hunting spoils and for captive wildlife facilities such as zoos to bring animals stolen from the wild into the U.S. for exhibition.
Source: World Animal News
