In 2014 Barack Obama banned the importation of elephant trophies from Zimbabwe, after finding out that the management of legal hunting did not “enhance the survival of the African elephant in the wild.” Only 3 years later, Trump has decided to reverse the ban, allowing elephant trophies to be imported from Zimbabwe and Zambia. The information was confirmed by the US Fish and Wildlife service, and said it was going ahead, despite African elephants being classified as ‘threatened’ under the US Endangered Species Act. People from all over the world have hit social media in droves, protesting the unjust and unnecessary removal of the ban. Among the outraged is UK comedian and animal-rights activist Ricky Gervais, who tweeted his devastation yesterday.
The fact that Trump has lifted President Obama’s ban on elephant trophies being imported into the country is a devastating blow to the survival of these beautiful animals. It’s savage and pointless. It breaks my heart. pic.twitter.com/iclfxN6TXr
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) November 16, 2017