Conservationists are calling on the US government to ban the the import of lions killed in trophy hunting, following the death of Cecil, Zimbabwe’s most famous lion, who was allegedly killed by an American dentist this month.
As the African lion is not currently listed as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act, it is legal to import lion trophies into the US. The US Fish and Wildlife service proposed listing African lions as threatened under the act last October.
African lions have largely declined in population across the continent, mostly because of habitat loss and conflict with humans, in addition to sport hunting.
Globally, the African lion is listed as vulnerable, with rapid population declines in both western and eastern Africa.
A statement on Born Free USA’s website urged citizens to write the US Fish and Wildlife Service and urge it issue a final rule listing the lion as threatened.
Listing the African lion as endangered or threatened would not affect US citizens who want to go to other countries and hunt. However, hunters usually have to pay tens of thousands of dollars to make these trips, and a ban on bringing home trophies might deter them.
Earlier this year, Emirates Airlines stopped carrying hunting trophies of elephants, rhinos, lions and tigers on its planes. South African Airways, which previously banned customers from transporting hunting trophies, lifted the embargo on 22 July.
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