On March 1, 2018, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued a memorandum withdrawing its earlier findings as to whether the trophy hunting of certain species from parts of Africa enhanced the survival of those species. Going forward, USFWS decisions to issue individual permits for trophy hunting imports will be done on a case-by-case basis.
At first glance, this memorandum should revert the process back to what the law dictates – that trophy hunting is permitted only after an enhancement finding is made. But, in practice, this memorandum will likely result in trophy hunting permits being freely granted. In this regard, this memorandum is consistent with recent actions and statements by the Government that have been supportive of trophy hunting. Considering the pro-hunting position of the DOI and the agency’s budgetary and personnel constraints, this memorandum will allow USFWS to issue permits while ignoring unfavorable facts, and there will be little ability by groups like Born Free to challenge those decisions.
Prashant Khetan, Born Free USA CEO and General Counsel, says:
“The Government is operating under the faulty premise that trophy hunting significantly aids wildlife conservation efforts, and is taking actions and making decisions to promote the practice for this reason, as well as to accommodate the well-funded hunting industry. However, the truth is that trophy hunting does virtually nothing to aid wildlife conservation. President Trump said it best: the ‘horror show’ of trophy hunting in no way helps elephants or any other species. I call on President Trump and his Administration to act on behalf of imperiled species and the majority of Americans who oppose trophy hunting by passing rules that put into place trophy import bans.”