Delta Airlines on Monday announced that its banning the shipment of safari hunting trophies like lions, giving a major push to several calls for a national embargo on the shipment of pelts and horns.
In a statement, Delta said, “Effective immediately, Delta will officially ban shipment of all lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and buffalo trophies worldwide as freight.”
It plans to review policies on shipping other hunted game trophies. “Delta will also review acceptance policies of other hunting trophies with appropriate government agencies and other organizations supporting legal shipments,” it said.
Cecil the lion by Photo by Brent Stapelkamp off Humane Society website.
It follows the international uproar over the killing of a popular African lion — named Cecil — by an American dentist.
The surprise move came just a week after South African Airways lifted its embargo on shipping the hunting trophies. The airline is government owned and decided it was lawful under their laws and treaties.
Also, a spokesperson told Secrets, “The policy position in South Africa advocates for the sustainable utilisation of wildlife resources. Some of these objectives refer to the promotion of tourism, generation of revenue and conservation of wildlife. These objectives can better be articulated by the custodian Department of Environmental Affairs. As a state-owned carrier, SAA has a duty to contribute towards meeting the objectives of its shareholder, SA government.”
A New York state senator has moved to ban the importation of hunting trophies into the state and the Humane Society of the United States today called for a national ban. HSUS President Wayne Pacelle told Secrets, “Let’s let all the major airlines know it’s time to cut off the shipments for good of African lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and Cape buffalo – the so-called Africa Big Five.”
Hunting advocates are not happy, though. When South African Airlines lifted their embargo, for example, the National Rifle Association lobby and policy shop said, “These embargoes were put in place as a response to pressure from anti-hunting extremists, under the false pretense that they would curb poaching and the illegal trade of restricted wildlife. Ironically, embargoes like these actually increase poaching, as the revenue generated from legal hunting funds the vast majority of anti-poaching efforts. Therefore these embargoes only serve to undermine the sustainable use of wildlife resources through regulated hunting, conservation efforts funded by sportsmen and the legal trade of wildlife under the CITES convention.”
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
Cecil’s death sparks airline ban http://washex.am/1g1Ah6h in White House on LockerDome
