Washington, D.C. – Born Free USA, a leading national wildlife conservation organization, applauds Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) for reintroducing last week the Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large (CECIL) Animal Trophies Act. Among other provisions, this bill would restrict the importation of African lions and any other species listed or proposed to be listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Rep. Grijalva first introduced the CECIL Act in 2015 following the killing of the African lion, Cecil, directly outside the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, during the time when the African lion was proposed to be listed under the ESA, but had yet to receive federal protections. The reintroduction of this legislation comes at a time when some members of Congress as well as the Trump Administration are looking both to dismantle the ESA and promote the trophy hunting of imperiled wildlife. Rep. Grijalva introduced this bill just one day before the House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on a package of nine bills from the Congressional Western Caucus that would severely weaken vital portions of the ESA. Additionally, in just March of this year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) revised its procedures repealing an Obama-era ban on importing certain endangered and threatened species, thereby allowing trophy hunting of imperiled species, and its importation thereof, on a case-by-case basis.
According to Angela Grimes, Interim CEO for Born Free USA:
“The CECIL Animal Trophies Act is a beacon of light against the numerous attacks on the Endangered Species Act and the animals, plants, and ecosystems it protects. Born Free USA is proud to support this bill that directly counters this assault as well as pushes back against the Trump Administration’s pro-trophy hunting agenda.”
Specifically, this bill would extend ESA protections to species proposed for listing under the ESA, with respect to trophy hunting import licensing; reinstate the Obama-era rule prohibiting the importation of African elephants and lions from Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Zambia and strengthen the application process in which the FWS approves permits. Additionally, it terminates the Department of the Interior’s pro-trophy hunting conservation council, and calls for the government to no longer use taxpayer dollars to pay the administrative costs associated with importation fees for wildlife trophies and parts.
Grimes added:
“The Endangered Species Act is effective, flexible, and popular. It has prevented more than 99 percent of listed species from going extinct; it is without doubt our strongest defense against the extinction of the African lion and other highly imperiled species. We thank Rep. Grijalva for standing up against those that want to weaken the ESA and remove protections from threatened and endangered species to appease special interests and trophy hunters, and we urge Congress to take up this legislation without delay.”
About Born Free USA
Born Free USA, a national 501(c)(3), believes that every individual animal matters. Inspired by the Academy Award®-winning film Born Free, the organization works locally, nationally, and internationally on the conservation front-lines, in communities, classrooms, courtrooms, and the halls of Congress, to end wild animal cruelty and suffering, and protect threatened wildlife.
Born Free USA was inspired by Virginia McKenna and her (late) husband Bill Travers, who, along with their son, Will, founded The Born Free Foundation (UK) in 1984. Their experience in Kenya filming Born Free, the story of Joy and George Adamson’s fight to successfully return Elsa the lioness to a wild and free life, launched the couple’s “compassionate conservation” movement, aimed at keeping wildlife in the wild. This movement continues to motivate millions of followers and activists across the globe.
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