This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/nov/16/trump-sons-us-lifts-import-ban-african-elephant-trophies

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Trump sons' hunting in focus as US lifts import ban on African elephant trophies Trump sons' hunting in focus as US lifts import ban on African elephant trophies
(2 months later)
Obama administration imposed ban because of conservation concerns
Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump are enthusiastic big game hunters
Jamiles Lartey
Thu 16 Nov 2017 18.46 GMT
Last modified on Tue 21 Nov 2017 15.57 GMT
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email
View more sharing options
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest
Share on Google+
Share on WhatsApp
Share on Messenger
Close
The Trump administration’s decision to loosen restrictions around the import of elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia has turned attention back to the president’s family’s own connection to the controversial sport.The Trump administration’s decision to loosen restrictions around the import of elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia has turned attention back to the president’s family’s own connection to the controversial sport.
Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump are prolific big-game hunters and during the 2016 campaign, images re-emerged of the pair on a 2011 hunting trip posing with animals they had killed on safari, including an elephant, a buffalo and a leopard.Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump are prolific big-game hunters and during the 2016 campaign, images re-emerged of the pair on a 2011 hunting trip posing with animals they had killed on safari, including an elephant, a buffalo and a leopard.
The GOP. Here's Donald Trump Jr. holding the tail of an elephant (party symbol) that he killed. #TrumpSacrifices pic.twitter.com/FIGkcH2F0tThe GOP. Here's Donald Trump Jr. holding the tail of an elephant (party symbol) that he killed. #TrumpSacrifices pic.twitter.com/FIGkcH2F0t
What went so wrong with Trump sons that they could kill this beautiful creature pic.twitter.com/L1gquLQrRzWhat went so wrong with Trump sons that they could kill this beautiful creature pic.twitter.com/L1gquLQrRz
The images of Trump’s sons smiling with dead animals sparked a wave of criticism, with actress Mia Farrow writing on Twitter: “What went so wrong with Trump sons that they could kill this beautiful creature.”The images of Trump’s sons smiling with dead animals sparked a wave of criticism, with actress Mia Farrow writing on Twitter: “What went so wrong with Trump sons that they could kill this beautiful creature.”
But Trump Jr told Forbes in 2012 that outrage over the images of him and his brother was misplaced. Forbes columnist Frank Miniter said Trump Jr had told him: “Elephants are overpopulated in the area the Trumps hunted and so need to be hunted to prevent them from further destroying their habitat.”But Trump Jr told Forbes in 2012 that outrage over the images of him and his brother was misplaced. Forbes columnist Frank Miniter said Trump Jr had told him: “Elephants are overpopulated in the area the Trumps hunted and so need to be hunted to prevent them from further destroying their habitat.”
Conservationists say elephants numbers are in sharp decline because of human encroachment and poaching, and that trophy hunts fuel the demand for wild animal products.Conservationists say elephants numbers are in sharp decline because of human encroachment and poaching, and that trophy hunts fuel the demand for wild animal products.
Trump himself has never expressed interest in big-game hunting. “My sons love hunting. They’re hunters and they’ve become good at it,” Trump told TMZ in 2012. “I am not a believer in hunting and I’m surprised they like it.”Trump himself has never expressed interest in big-game hunting. “My sons love hunting. They’re hunters and they’ve become good at it,” Trump told TMZ in 2012. “I am not a believer in hunting and I’m surprised they like it.”
In 2014, the Obama administration’s US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) banned the import of elephant trophies from Zimbabwe on the basis that the country had failed to show it was taking elephant management seriously.In 2014, the Obama administration’s US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) banned the import of elephant trophies from Zimbabwe on the basis that the country had failed to show it was taking elephant management seriously.
After reversing that ban this week, an FWS spokesman told the Guardian: “Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management programme 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.”After reversing that ban this week, an FWS spokesman told the Guardian: “Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management programme 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 decision was applauded by Safari Club International, a hunting rights group, and the National Rifle Association.The decision was applauded by Safari Club International, a hunting rights group, and the National Rifle Association.
Donald Trump Jr
Conservation
Wildlife
Zimbabwe
Zambia
news
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest
Share on Google+
Share on WhatsApp
Share on Messenger
Reuse this content