Cecily Zamora
In 2017, the Trump administration lifted the ban on importing elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia, allowing hunters to bring slain elephant trophies back into the US. This decision was met with outrage, particularly due to photos that surfaced in 2012 of Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump posing with a severed elephant's tail during an African hunting trip. While the Trump administration argued that the move would aid conservation efforts for vulnerable species, critics argued that it would increase poaching and negatively impact communities and conservation initiatives. The decision underscores the differing views on trophy hunting, with some seeing it as a tool for wildlife management and others expressing concerns about its ethical and environmental implications.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of law change | November 2017 |
| Previous law | Ban on importing elephant kill trophies |
| Countries affected | Zimbabwe, Zambia |
| Ruling body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Reasoning | To raise money for conservation programs |
| Backlash | Outrage on Twitter, criticism from animal rights activists |
| Notable critics | Wayne Pacelle, Tanya Sanerib |
| Notable supporters | Safari Club International, National Rifle Association |
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What You'll Learn
Donald Trump Jr.'s hunting trip to Zimbabwe in 2011
In 2011, Donald Trump Jr. and his brother, Eric Trump, went on a hunting trip to Zimbabwe. The trip was organised by a South African safari firm called Hunting Legends, which, at the time, hosted personalised big-game hunting trips across Africa for clients in Europe, the Middle East, and the US.
Photos of the trip emerged online in 2012, showing the brothers posing next to various dead animals, including a crocodile, a waterbuck, and a leopard. One photo, in particular, sparked outrage: it showed Donald Trump Jr. holding a severed elephant's tail, with a knife in his other hand. The photos were leaked to TMZ, which reported that the Trump brothers had used a South African safari firm that was not registered in Zimbabwe.
Donald Trump Jr. defended the trip, saying that the meat from the animal carcasses "fed a village for weeks" and that nothing was wasted. He also pointed out that the leopard they hunted was not endangered and that they did not hunt any of the animals in an unethical way. The Director-General of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, V. Chadenga, supported this claim, stating that the Trumps "hunted legally during their visit to Zimbabwe" and that they hunted with a "registered outfitter" and were accompanied by "game rangers".
The hunting trip gained further attention in 2017 when President Trump lifted a ban on hunters importing trophies of elephants killed in Zimbabwe and Zambia. This decision spurred outrage on Twitter, with critics recirculating the old photos of Donald Trump Jr. from the 2011 hunting trip.
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Trump's reversal of the ban on elephant trophies
In 2017, the Trump administration lifted a ban on importing elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia, allowing hunters to bring slain elephant 'trophies' back into the US. This decision sparked outrage on Twitter, with critics recirculating a photo of Donald Trump Jr. holding an elephant's tail after a hunt in 2010 or 2011. The photo was among a series that emerged online after Trump Jr. and his brother, Eric Trump, went on a hunting trip to Zimbabwe in 2012, where they killed an elephant and a cheetah, among other large animals.
While the Trump administration argued that the decision would aid conservation efforts for vulnerable species, many disagreed. Wayne Pacelle, the CEO of the Humane Society, slammed the reversal, stating that Zimbabwe's leader at the time, Robert Mugabe, operated the country's wildlife management program as a "live auction". He also highlighted that elephants are listed as threatened species and that the global community has been working to end the ivory trade.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service defended its decision, stating that hunting is beneficial to wildlife conservation and that Zimbabwe and Zambia know how to manage their elephant populations. The agency also cited a ruling by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which found that the original Obama administration ban was brought about unlawfully.
Despite initially putting a hold on lifting the ban due to public outcry, the Trump administration ultimately reversed the ban, allowing hunters to import elephant trophies on a "'case-by-case' basis." This marked a shift in efforts to stop the importation of elephant tusks and hides and was met with strong opposition from animal rights activists and conservationists.
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The Endangered Species Act and its stipulations
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was enacted in 1973 to provide a framework for the conservation and protection of endangered and threatened species and their habitats, both in the US and abroad. The Act establishes protections for fish, wildlife, and plants listed as threatened or endangered, and provides a process for adding and removing species from this list. It also allows for the issuance of permits for otherwise prohibited activities, such as importing trophies of hunted animals.
The ESA is implemented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service. These agencies work to protect and restore healthy populations of endangered species and their habitats. The ESA requires federal agencies to ensure that their actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of listed species or result in the destruction of their critical habitats. It also prohibits any action that causes a "taking" of listed endangered species.
The ESA provides for interagency cooperation and the issuance of permits for activities that may otherwise be prohibited under the Act. This includes the import of sport-hunted elephant trophies, which was permitted by the Trump administration in 2018. While this decision was controversial, it was made in accordance with the ESA and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
The ESA also includes provisions for financial assistance, authorizing the President to provide assistance to foreign countries for the conservation of endangered and threatened species. This assistance can include the acquisition of lands, waters, or other interests necessary for conservation efforts. The Act also establishes the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), which regulates the use of pesticides in the US to safeguard endangered species and their ecosystems.
Overall, the ESA provides a comprehensive framework for the conservation and protection of endangered and threatened species, both domestically and internationally. It ensures that federal agencies work together to protect these species and their habitats, while also providing mechanisms for issuing permits for certain activities that may impact listed species.
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Public outcry and backlash against the decision
In 2017, the Trump administration lifted a ban on importing elephant kill trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia, sparking public outrage and backlash. The decision was based on a ruling by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which found that the original Obama administration ban was unlawful. However, the move faced intense criticism from various quarters.
On social media, particularly Twitter, people expressed their anger and disappointment, with some sharing old photos of Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, holding an elephant tail after a hunt in 2012. The images of Trump Jr. and his brother, Eric Trump, posing with their "trophy" carcasses during an African hunting trip had surfaced earlier and caused a backlash at that time as well.
The decision to lift the ban was criticised by animal welfare activists, conservationists, celebrities, and politicians across the political spectrum. Notable critics included Fox News host Laura Ingraham, conservative radio host Michael Savage, and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Edward R. Royce. The negative response appeared to take the White House by surprise, as a similar decision regarding African lion trophies had previously gone unnoticed.
Some people questioned the ethics of trophy hunting and expressed concerns about the potential increase in poaching, the impact on vulnerable communities, and the harm to conservation efforts. There were also doubts about the claim that hunting license fees would fund local conservation efforts, with President Trump himself expressing scepticism about the effectiveness of such funding.
Amid the public and private pressure, President Trump eventually put the decision "on hold" and vowed to personally review it, marking a victory for animal welfare activists. This temporary halt demonstrated the significant public backlash against the initial decision to lift the ban on importing elephant trophies.
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The impact on elephant populations and conservation efforts
In 2017, the Trump administration lifted the ban on importing elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia, allowing hunters to bring ivory and other body parts from African elephants back to the US. This decision was met with widespread criticism and outrage, with many voicing concerns about its potential impact on elephant populations and conservation efforts.
Elephants are listed as endangered, and their population has been steadily declining. Between 2010 and 2012, an estimated 100,000 African elephants were killed, and the population of forest elephants decreased by 62% between 2002 and 2011. The lifting of the ban is feared to increase poaching and make communities more vulnerable, ultimately hindering conservation efforts.
The Trump administration argued that the decision would benefit conservation by generating revenue for Zimbabwe and Zambia through hunting fees. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contended that allowing wealthy big-game hunters to kill elephants would aid the vulnerable species. However, critics questioned the ethics of prioritizing wealthy Americans' desires to obtain trophies over the survival of a struggling species and the livelihoods of local communities.
The decision also sparked concerns about the potential disruption to the push to end the global ivory trade. While hunting elephants is legal in several African countries, it is done through a strict permitting system with high fees. By allowing the import of trophies, the risk of encouraging illegal poaching and the negative impact on elephant populations cannot be overlooked.
The lifting of the ban highlighted the conflicting interests of trophy hunting advocates and conservationists. While some praised the decision as a recognition of hunting's role in wildlife management, others worried about the message it sent regarding the value placed on elephants and the potential for further endangering an already vulnerable species. The impact of this policy change on elephant populations and conservation efforts remains a significant concern, with many fearing a detrimental effect on the already declining elephant numbers.
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Frequently asked questions
Trump lifted the ban on importing elephant trophies from several African countries, including Zimbabwe and Zambia.
There is no federal law that prohibits the killing of elephants in the US. However, there are laws and regulations that govern the hunting of elephants, such as the Endangered Species Act and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Trump's decision to lift the ban on importing elephant trophies has been met with outrage and criticism. Many people believe that it will increase poaching, hurt conservation efforts, and contribute to the decline of the African elephant population.
Supporters of lifting the ban, such as the Safari Club International and the National Rifle Association, argue that hunting can benefit conservation efforts and provide much-needed revenue for countries like Zimbabwe and Zambia. They also believe that hunting is a tool for sound wildlife management.
Donald Trump Jr., the son of President Donald Trump, has been at the center of controversy over elephant hunting. He has been photographed holding a severed elephant's tail after a hunting trip to Africa in 2010 or 2011. These images have sparked outrage and criticism, with many people questioning the ethics of trophy hunting and the Trump family's involvement in it.
