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| Trump Halted These Hunt Trophies. Elephant Lovers Will Never Forget It. | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| WASHINGTON — Maybe it was the memory of a long-ago childhood visit to the zoo. Maybe it was a sense of loyalty to the symbol of his political party. | WASHINGTON — Maybe it was the memory of a long-ago childhood visit to the zoo. Maybe it was a sense of loyalty to the symbol of his political party. |
| But President Trump’s surprise intervention to try to save the elephants of Zimbabwe has drawn praise from across the political spectrum — and the question of why he did it has now become the, well, pachyderm in the room. | But President Trump’s surprise intervention to try to save the elephants of Zimbabwe has drawn praise from across the political spectrum — and the question of why he did it has now become the, well, pachyderm in the room. |
| In what may be one of the most curious moments of his first year in office, Mr. Trump put a sudden halt to a new federal government ruling that would have allowed hunters to bring “trophy” elephants killed in Zimbabwe into the United States, calling big-game hunting a “horror show” that he did not believe helped conservation. | In what may be one of the most curious moments of his first year in office, Mr. Trump put a sudden halt to a new federal government ruling that would have allowed hunters to bring “trophy” elephants killed in Zimbabwe into the United States, calling big-game hunting a “horror show” that he did not believe helped conservation. |
| “There’s a lot of shock that this president and this administration would roll back a decision on trophy hunting like this,” said Tanya Sanerib, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, which fights to protect species threatened with extinction. “But there’s something about elephants that just crosses party lines. They get to people.” | “There’s a lot of shock that this president and this administration would roll back a decision on trophy hunting like this,” said Tanya Sanerib, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, which fights to protect species threatened with extinction. “But there’s something about elephants that just crosses party lines. They get to people.” |
| Aides said it was no more complicated than that. The president likes elephants, they said. He did not know about his administration’s decision to lift the trophy ban until learning it from the news media and was annoyed to be criticized for a move he had no part in. So he made his displeasure known in the way he has so many other times this year, through his Twitter feed. | Aides said it was no more complicated than that. The president likes elephants, they said. He did not know about his administration’s decision to lift the trophy ban until learning it from the news media and was annoyed to be criticized for a move he had no part in. So he made his displeasure known in the way he has so many other times this year, through his Twitter feed. |
| As it happened, his decision also coincided with the sentiments of conservative media personalities like Michael Savage, Laura Ingraham and Mike Cernovich, who have defended Mr. Trump through a cascade of controversies this year but protested the administration’s initial announcement. | As it happened, his decision also coincided with the sentiments of conservative media personalities like Michael Savage, Laura Ingraham and Mike Cernovich, who have defended Mr. Trump through a cascade of controversies this year but protested the administration’s initial announcement. |
| “The ruling was absurd,” Ms. Ingraham, the Fox News host who has been considered for a job in the Trump administration, said on Monday. “Who could ever shoot these majestic creatures?” Ms. Ingraham called herself “a conservationist” who has been to Botswana three times, including this past summer with her children. | “The ruling was absurd,” Ms. Ingraham, the Fox News host who has been considered for a job in the Trump administration, said on Monday. “Who could ever shoot these majestic creatures?” Ms. Ingraham called herself “a conservationist” who has been to Botswana three times, including this past summer with her children. |
| President Barack Obama’s administration banned the import of elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia in 2014, citing the lack of data tracking elephant conservation in those countries. Trophies can be any part of the elephant, including tusks. His administration followed up in 2016 with a near-total ban on the commercial trade of African elephant ivory. That ban remains unchanged. | President Barack Obama’s administration banned the import of elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia in 2014, citing the lack of data tracking elephant conservation in those countries. Trophies can be any part of the elephant, including tusks. His administration followed up in 2016 with a near-total ban on the commercial trade of African elephant ivory. That ban remains unchanged. |
| Both African countries have struggled to maintain or increase their elephant population, according to the Great Elephant Census, a project financed by Paul G. Allen, a founder of Microsoft. The project found that the African elephant population shrank nearly 30 percent from 2007 to 2014. | Both African countries have struggled to maintain or increase their elephant population, according to the Great Elephant Census, a project financed by Paul G. Allen, a founder of Microsoft. The project found that the African elephant population shrank nearly 30 percent from 2007 to 2014. |
| The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, overseen by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, determined that Zambia and Zimbabwe had now adopted acceptable plans to manage their elephant populations. The service lifted its ban on imported trophies from Zambia earlier this month and on Friday began accepting permits for elephants hunted in Zimbabwe. | The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, overseen by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, determined that Zambia and Zimbabwe had now adopted acceptable plans to manage their elephant populations. The service lifted its ban on imported trophies from Zambia earlier this month and on Friday began accepting permits for elephants hunted in Zimbabwe. |
| But the permit application for both African countries was shelved late Friday when Mr. Trump announced his intent to review the decision. “Put big game trophy decision on hold until such time as I review all conservation facts,” he wrote. “Under study for years. Will update soon with Secretary Zinke. Thank you!” | But the permit application for both African countries was shelved late Friday when Mr. Trump announced his intent to review the decision. “Put big game trophy decision on hold until such time as I review all conservation facts,” he wrote. “Under study for years. Will update soon with Secretary Zinke. Thank you!” |
| He followed up Sunday with a more definitive message. “Big-game trophy decision will be announced next week but will be very hard pressed to change my mind that this horror show in any way helps conservation of Elephants or any other animal,” he wrote. | He followed up Sunday with a more definitive message. “Big-game trophy decision will be announced next week but will be very hard pressed to change my mind that this horror show in any way helps conservation of Elephants or any other animal,” he wrote. |
| Mr. Trump is not a hunter, unlike his sons Donald Jr. and Eric. In 2012, photographs were posted online of the two men posing with several dead animals during a safari in Zimbabwe, including one that showed Donald Trump Jr. holding a knife in one hand and a severed elephant tail in the other. | Mr. Trump is not a hunter, unlike his sons Donald Jr. and Eric. In 2012, photographs were posted online of the two men posing with several dead animals during a safari in Zimbabwe, including one that showed Donald Trump Jr. holding a knife in one hand and a severed elephant tail in the other. |
| Donald Jr. said at the time that the hunt was legal and that such safaris actually help preserve wildlife by providing financial incentives to local residents to maintain their game populations. He told Forbes magazine that he and his brother picked up hunting from their maternal grandfather. His father, a lifelong city dweller, “really doesn’t understand why Eric and I hunt,” he added. “However, he is open minded and so always allowed us to go hunting.” | Donald Jr. said at the time that the hunt was legal and that such safaris actually help preserve wildlife by providing financial incentives to local residents to maintain their game populations. He told Forbes magazine that he and his brother picked up hunting from their maternal grandfather. His father, a lifelong city dweller, “really doesn’t understand why Eric and I hunt,” he added. “However, he is open minded and so always allowed us to go hunting.” |
| Lara Trump, Eric’s wife, on the other hand, has become a vocal animal rights advocate and the Humane Society of the United States said she brought up the elephant trophy issue during meetings on Capitol Hill last Thursday. She and her husband visited the White House on Friday, but advisers to the president said they did not know whether the issue came up. | Lara Trump, Eric’s wife, on the other hand, has become a vocal animal rights advocate and the Humane Society of the United States said she brought up the elephant trophy issue during meetings on Capitol Hill last Thursday. She and her husband visited the White House on Friday, but advisers to the president said they did not know whether the issue came up. |
| Mr. Trump was certainly getting grief about the announcement to lift the ban from others. Mr. Savage, a talk radio host who has defended Mr. Trump so ardently he once warned of civil war if Democrats removed him from office, was indignant. “Do brave men hunt elephants?” he asked followers on Twitter. | Mr. Trump was certainly getting grief about the announcement to lift the ban from others. Mr. Savage, a talk radio host who has defended Mr. Trump so ardently he once warned of civil war if Democrats removed him from office, was indignant. “Do brave men hunt elephants?” he asked followers on Twitter. |
| Mr. Cernovich, known for fanning the flames of far-fetched internet conspiracies involving liberals, posted pictures of himself on Twitter petting elephants and wrote, “These are magical animals and will change your life if you open your heart.” | Mr. Cernovich, known for fanning the flames of far-fetched internet conspiracies involving liberals, posted pictures of himself on Twitter petting elephants and wrote, “These are magical animals and will change your life if you open your heart.” |
| On the other side, the National Rifle Association, another supporter of Mr. Trump’s, had hailed the lifting of the ban, calling it “a significant step forward in having hunting receive the recognition it deserves as a tool of sound wildlife management.” | On the other side, the National Rifle Association, another supporter of Mr. Trump’s, had hailed the lifting of the ban, calling it “a significant step forward in having hunting receive the recognition it deserves as a tool of sound wildlife management.” |
| It was not the first time Mr. Trump has announced an unexpected policy shift via Twitter but wildlife service veterans could not remember a president stepping in so late in the process. | It was not the first time Mr. Trump has announced an unexpected policy shift via Twitter but wildlife service veterans could not remember a president stepping in so late in the process. |
| “It’s unprecedented, especially once it’s been published in the Federal Register Service,” said Dan Ashe, the former director of the Fish and Wildlife Service who stepped down in January after 22 years with the agency. “It puts the Fish and Wildlife Service in an awkward procedural position.” | “It’s unprecedented, especially once it’s been published in the Federal Register Service,” said Dan Ashe, the former director of the Fish and Wildlife Service who stepped down in January after 22 years with the agency. “It puts the Fish and Wildlife Service in an awkward procedural position.” |
| Mr. Ashe, now president of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, said he was surprised not only at the president’s intervention but at the timing of the agency’s recommendation. | Mr. Ashe, now president of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, said he was surprised not only at the president’s intervention but at the timing of the agency’s recommendation. |
| “This administration has not yet found a voice on the wildlife trafficking epidemic, which is what is driving elephants and other animals into extinction,” Mr. Ashe said. “I would’ve hoped, and maybe expected, that they would have first found a voice on the larger issue of wildlife trafficking before they ventured into trophy hunting.” | “This administration has not yet found a voice on the wildlife trafficking epidemic, which is what is driving elephants and other animals into extinction,” Mr. Ashe said. “I would’ve hoped, and maybe expected, that they would have first found a voice on the larger issue of wildlife trafficking before they ventured into trophy hunting.” |
| Indeed, the uncertainty generated by the president’s involvement prompted a lawsuit on Monday by two environmental groups, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Natural Resources Defense Council, citing confusion over the administration’s position. Mr. Trump’s tweet may only suspend permit evaluation without putting the ban back in place, they said. | Indeed, the uncertainty generated by the president’s involvement prompted a lawsuit on Monday by two environmental groups, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Natural Resources Defense Council, citing confusion over the administration’s position. Mr. Trump’s tweet may only suspend permit evaluation without putting the ban back in place, they said. |
| “Putting trophy imports ‘on hold’ isn’t enough,” said Elly Pepper, deputy director of wildlife trade for the resources council. “If we don’t force the administration to completely revoke its decision, President Trump could quietly start allowing these imports as soon as he stops facing criticism on Twitter.” | “Putting trophy imports ‘on hold’ isn’t enough,” said Elly Pepper, deputy director of wildlife trade for the resources council. “If we don’t force the administration to completely revoke its decision, President Trump could quietly start allowing these imports as soon as he stops facing criticism on Twitter.” |
| The other side of the debate rallied as well. The Safari Club International sent out a “call to arms” last weekend, asking more than 50,000 members to lobby Mr. Trump and Mr. Zinke to stand by the decision to lift the ban, blaming the “shrill, negative reactions” of anti-hunters and media outlets. | The other side of the debate rallied as well. The Safari Club International sent out a “call to arms” last weekend, asking more than 50,000 members to lobby Mr. Trump and Mr. Zinke to stand by the decision to lift the ban, blaming the “shrill, negative reactions” of anti-hunters and media outlets. |
| “You don’t hear a lot of hunters stepping out,” said Paul Babaz, the organization’s president. “We’re trying to encourage hunters to step out, to have a voice.” | “You don’t hear a lot of hunters stepping out,” said Paul Babaz, the organization’s president. “We’re trying to encourage hunters to step out, to have a voice.” |