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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US to lift ban on elephant hunting trophy imports | US to lift ban on elephant hunting trophy imports |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The Trump administration will allow American hunters to import elephant trophies to the US, reversing an Obama-era 2014 ban, US media report. | The Trump administration will allow American hunters to import elephant trophies to the US, reversing an Obama-era 2014 ban, US media report. |
| A federal government agency said imports could resume on Friday for elephants that are legally hunted only in Zambia and Zimbabwe. | A federal government agency said imports could resume on Friday for elephants that are legally hunted only in Zambia and Zimbabwe. |
| The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) said hunting fees could aid conservation of the endangered animals. | The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) said hunting fees could aid conservation of the endangered animals. |
| Experts say that populations of African elephants are plummeting. | Experts say that populations of African elephants are plummeting. |
| Their numbers dropped by about 30% from 2007-14, according to the 2016 Great Elephant Census. | Their numbers dropped by about 30% from 2007-14, according to the 2016 Great Elephant Census. |
| The nonprofit group's report found a population drop of 6% in Zimbabwe alone. | The nonprofit group's report found a population drop of 6% in Zimbabwe alone. |
| Despite their listing under the Endangered Species Act, there is a provision in US law that allows permits to import animal parts if there is sufficient evidence that the fees generated will actually benefit species conservation. | Despite their listing under the Endangered Species Act, there is a provision in US law that allows permits to import animal parts if there is sufficient evidence that the fees generated will actually benefit species conservation. |
| USFWS told US media outlets it had received new information from officials in Zimbabwe and Zambia that supported reversing the ban. | USFWS told US media outlets it had received new information from officials in Zimbabwe and Zambia that supported reversing the ban. |
| There is currently an apparent military coup taking place in Zimbabwe. | There is currently an apparent military coup taking place in Zimbabwe. |
| USFWS argued that rather than depleting the elephant population, killing the animals "will enhance the survival of the species in the wild". | USFWS argued that rather than depleting the elephant population, killing the animals "will enhance the survival of the species in the wild". |
| The agency's statement said: "Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit the conservation of certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation." | The agency's statement said: "Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit the conservation of certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation." |
| Officials had announced the forthcoming policy change during a forum hosted this week by the pro-hunting Safari Club International Foundation, which partnered with the National Rifle Association to lobby for the rule change. | |
| Every year since 2010, elephant populations in Africa have dropped by 7% on average - more than 30,000 deaths per year. | Every year since 2010, elephant populations in Africa have dropped by 7% on average - more than 30,000 deaths per year. |
| Elephant advocacy groups reacted angrily to the news. | Elephant advocacy groups reacted angrily to the news. |
| "Reprehensible behavior by the Trump Admin," tweeted The Elephant Project, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to the conservation of African pachyderms. | "Reprehensible behavior by the Trump Admin," tweeted The Elephant Project, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to the conservation of African pachyderms. |
| "100 elephants a day are already killed," the group said. "This will lead to more poaching." | "100 elephants a day are already killed," the group said. "This will lead to more poaching." |
| Many social media commentators, including some notable Trump supporters, such as Fox News' Laura Ingraham, also criticised the move. | Many social media commentators, including some notable Trump supporters, such as Fox News' Laura Ingraham, also criticised the move. |
| President Trump's sons are known to visit Africa for big-game hunting trips. | President Trump's sons are known to visit Africa for big-game hunting trips. |
| One photo of Donald Trump Jr shows him holding the amputated tail of a dead elephant. | One photo of Donald Trump Jr shows him holding the amputated tail of a dead elephant. |
| In 2015 a US dentist from Minnesota killed a famous lion named Cecil in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park. | In 2015 a US dentist from Minnesota killed a famous lion named Cecil in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park. |
| Cecil's death triggered an outrage in the US and Zimbabwe, and briefly forced the hunter into hiding. | Cecil's death triggered an outrage in the US and Zimbabwe, and briefly forced the hunter into hiding. |
| Love elephants? Here's more: | Love elephants? Here's more: |
| VIDEO: How elephants react to human voices | VIDEO: How elephants react to human voices |
| VIDEO: Elephant found swimming 16km out to sea | VIDEO: Elephant found swimming 16km out to sea |