Photographs of Trump’s sons’ with their big game kills are receiving flak after the US administration lifted ban on importing body parts of African elephants shot for sport.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service said in a written notice issued on Thursday that permitting elephants from Zimbabwe and Zambia to be brought back as trophies will help raise money for conservation programmes.
A licensed two-week African elephant hunt can cost more than $50,000 per person, not including airfare, according to advertised rates.
The change marks a shift in efforts to stop the importation of elephant tusks and hides, overriding a 2014 ban imposed by the Obama administration.
The new policy applies to the remains of African elephants killed between January 2016 and December 2018.
"Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve those species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation," the agency said in a statement.
Animal rights activists and environmental groups expressed skepticism on Thursday that killing elephants could help save them.
(With inputs from AP)
Video Producer: Hera Khan
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