Trump Administration Makes Elephants Fair Game For Hunters As Trophy Ban is Lifted

Sorry for the Yahoo article, ATS. I know these type of articles aren't exactly appreciated around here but the topic is one of importance. Trump in his never ending effort to undo everything Obama has done is now undoing Obama era protections put in place for trophy imports of Elephants. At first Trump was against this now, it seems, he's for it.

Wildlife conservationists have condemned the Trump administration's decision to quietly reverse an Obama-era ban on elephant trophy imports.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services reversed the ban at the start of this month, with the agency now expected to approve requests to bring body parts of African Elephants from Zimbabwe to the U.S. on a "case-by-case basis." The March 1 announcement came just over three months after President Donald Trump put a bid to ease the ban on pause after the move sparked public outrage. "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," the president tweeted in November.

Now, it appears something has changed his mind, with wildlife conservation groups and researchers hitting out at the U.S. leader over the flip-flop.

"At least 20,000 African elephants were killed for their ivory tusks in 2015 alone for jewelry, sculptures, trinkets and other items. If brutal elephant poaching continues at this rate, scientists predict that African forest elephants could be extinct in less than a decade," it warned.

I don't see how anyone can side with Trump on this. I'm speechless.....This isn't right and he probably is just doing it to appease his sons who are avid animal trophy hunters. I don't judge Trump but I think this is a real bone-headed move whether it's to please his sons or just to do this because it undoes an Obama era protection of these animals. What says ATS?

www.yahoo.com...

a reply to: lostbook

Another thought is that he needs another distraction from his other affairs-pun intended.

Trump Administration Makes Elephants Fair Game For Hunters As Trophy Ban is Lifted

My question to you is , when is the last time an elephant was reported in the wild in the US ?

a reply to: lostbook


I'm sure this will lower the price of Elephant Trophies. That will make collectors happy, but poachers and smugglers pissed.

originally posted by: Gothmog

Trump Administration Makes Elephants Fair Game For Hunters As Trophy Ban is Lifted

My question to you is , when is the last time an elephant was reported in the wild in the US ?

These are wild Elephants from Africa. Obama put a ban on the import of Elephant body parts for trophies. Now with the ban lifted there will be more Elephants hunted and killed.

originally posted by: Gothmog

Trump Administration Makes Elephants Fair Game For Hunters As Trophy Ban is Lifted

My question to you is , when is the last time an elephant was reported in the wild in the US ?

lol. That made me laugh.

a reply to: lostbook

You should look into the benefits, facts, and reality of big game hunting reserves. For one, there would be a LOT more poaching if they didn't exist, the people that go there hunt the big game, the people that work there hunt poachers.

I'm sure there are a lot of details that aren't covered in the article. The reality for me is that there will be a lot more hunting, killing, poaching, and everything else that goes on.

But I hear what you are saying. Elephants are hunted for a number of things including their tusks, skin, heads, tails, etc. Poaching will exist with or without Game Hunters. All I'm saying is that now there will be poaching AND Big Game Hunting. The Elephant population can't handle that. Plus we now have expansion on the African continent which will mean even more animal death(s) as animals are killed or forced from their lands to make way for human development.

originally posted by: snowspirit
His sons are into big game hunting, I think 🤔

Yes, they are and I'm sure they influenced Trump's decision.

a reply to: lostbook

I just noticed you covered that in the op. I would also guess there's an influence there too...

originally posted by: snowspirit
a reply to: lostbook

I just noticed you covered that in the op. I would also guess there's an influence there too...

Yes, I mentioned them in the op. They got their moment of fame in my thread.

Why is an elephant so important to protect? What about other hunted animals?

originally posted by: lostbook
Sorry for the Yahoo article, ATS. I know these type of articles aren't exactly appreciated around here but the topic is one of importance. Trump in his never ending effort to undo everything Obama has done is now undoing Obama era protections put in place for trophy imports of Elephants. At first Trump was against this now, it seems, he's for it.

Wildlife conservationists have condemned the Trump administration's decision to quietly reverse an Obama-era ban on elephant trophy imports.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services reversed the ban at the start of this month, with the agency now expected to approve requests to bring body parts of African Elephants from Zimbabwe to the U.S. on a "case-by-case basis." The March 1 announcement came just over three months after President Donald Trump put a bid to ease the ban on pause after the move sparked public outrage. "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," the president tweeted in November.

Now, it appears something has changed his mind, with wildlife conservation groups and researchers hitting out at the U.S. leader over the flip-flop.

"At least 20,000 African elephants were killed for their ivory tusks in 2015 alone for jewelry, sculptures, trinkets and other items. If brutal elephant poaching continues at this rate, scientists predict that African forest elephants could be extinct in less than a decade," it warned.

I don't see how anyone can side with Trump on this. I'm speechless.....This isn't right and he probably is just doing it to appease his sons who are avid animal trophy hunters. I don't judge Trump but I think this is a real bone-headed move whether it's to please his sons or just to do this because it undoes an Obama era protection of these animals. What says ATS?

www.yahoo.com...

Game reserves typically make their money to operate from big game hunters. The hunters pay fees so they can hunt the game. They usually allow them to cull the animals in poor health or that have other issues. Instead of just allowing the game to die or be killed by rivals, they allow a hunter to take it so they can continue to conserve. It is a better and more efficient use of resources that benefits the animals.

originally posted by: carewemust
Why is an elephant so important to protect? What about other hunted animals?

Good question. I think it has to do with the decimation of Elephant populations. In the article it points out that Forest Elephants could be extinct in a decade at the rate they are being killed. Not sure how Forest Elephants differ from other Elephants.

a reply to: lostbook

In December, a federal appeals court ruled on a suit brought by the NRA and the Safari Club arguing that the Obama administration had not followed the exact letter of the law when creating the regulation that banned the trophies. Specifically, the judge said it didn’t go through the usual lengthy rulemaking process that involves a period of public comment.

Because of the decision on the case, Fish and Wildlife says, it’s lifting the Obama-era ban and moving to this “case-by-case” evaluation of permits instead.

It will be interesting to see how the president responds, since he has publicly disagreed with hunting advocates and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, the uberboss of Fish and Wildlife, on this issue.

linky


In other words Its the court saying obama's decision on the ban was illegal so they overruled it.

Trump has nothing to do with it besides stating hes for the ban.

Please stop making me defend him in defense of the truth.

Lay off the Trump porn its not good for your health.

originally posted by: lostbook

originally posted by: carewemust
Why is an elephant so important to protect? What about other hunted animals?

Good question. I think it has to do with the decimation of Elephant populations. In the article it points out that Forest Elephants could be extinct in a decade at the rate they are being killed. Not sure how Forest Elephants differ from other Elephants.

Sigh... Mankind. Maybe the word "kind" should be removed from that.

oh No, this is terrible.
How can you not feel heartbroken over it?
Unless of course you indulge in killing animals for sport and self gratification.

Leave the animals alone!

Oh, Trump do? Good!
*pounds ground*
- The Trump crowd


Any questions?

originally posted by: carewemust
a reply to: lostbook


I'm sure this will lower the price of Elephant Trophies. That will make collectors happy, but poachers and smugglers pissed.

No, all it does is put a price on hunting one.

They left it open to "individual case by case decisions" - you can bet that people who donate big money to Trump will have their case looked on very favorably.

It's nothing more than a means to profit off the presidency. There is no other justification for it. None.