President Trump Temporarily Delays Policy On Elephant-Hunting Trophy Imports

Last week, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service announced the reversal of a ban on importing elephant hunting trophies into the U.S, from the African nations of Zimbabwe and Zambia. On Friday, President Donald Trump halted the Nov. 16 decision made my his own administration.

Trump tweeted, “Put big game trophy decision on hold until such time as I review all conservation facts. Under study for years. Will update soon with Secretary Zinke. Thank you!”

The rationale behind his pause on the policy remains unexplained. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke tweeted, “President Trump & I have talked & both believe that conservation & healthy herds are critical…the issuing of permits is put on hold…”

The announcement by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service received immediate backlash from numerous wildlife support groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council and Conservation International.

Opposition to the decision also came from the right. Fox News host Laura Ingraham, known as a Trump supporter, objected strongly to the move on Thursday, “I don’t understand how this move by Trump Admin will not INCREASE the gruesome poaching of elephants. Stay tuned,” she tweeted.

Another notable objector is Rep. Ed Royce (R–CA). “The administration should withdraw the decision until Zimbabwe [situation] stabilizes,” he said in a statement. He called the it “the wrong move at the wrong time,” due to the political strife in Zimbabwe currently.