U.S. airline trophy ban destroys conservation efforts

[scruff]

Another feel-good liberal ban gone horribly wrong.


African Countries Say US Airline’s Trophy Ban Will Cause “The End of Conservation”
By Nick Leghorn on August 8, 2015
The Truth About Guns

Hunting in Africa is big business. The African countries depend on hunters, willing to pay extravagant tag fees to the government and spend many thousands of dollars in the local economy, to fund their conservation efforts that preserve and protect these beautiful animals from poachers and extinction. Earlier this week Delta, United, and American Airlines all announced that they will no longer allow the shipment of hunting trophies on their flights. While the reaction from Americans was one of support, the African governments who actually understand the situation are saying that this PR stunt might be single-handedly responsible for eliminating any remaining conservation efforts for these animals.

From the AP:

“The decision by Delta Air Lines to enforce a blanket ban fails to distinguish between the trade in and transportation of legally acquired wildlife specimens, and the illegal exploitation and trade in wildlife specimens,” the ministry said in a statement.

South Africa has been struggling to contain a record surge in rhino poaching, and poachers have slaughtered tens of thousands of elephants annually for their ivory around Africa in recent years.

Neighboring Namibia also warned that a ban by airlines on trophy transportation will hurt its economy and conservation efforts that rely on revenue from hunters.

“This will be the end of conservation in Namibia,” the Namibia Press Agency quoted Pohamba Shifeta, the environment and tourism minister, as saying.

In South Africa alone, the government is estimating that there will be a loss of $500 million from this decision which would have been used to fund conservation efforts and aided in preserving the various endangered animals. Namibia says that there are 80 wildlife conservatories in the country that depend entirely on the revenue generated from hunters to survive, and without that income they will be forced to close.

This is just one more example of a knee-jerk anti-hunting PR stunt that makes the anti-hunting crowd feel all warm and fuzzy, but actually means disaster for the animals they are ostensibly trying to protect.

[pennlineman]

Sounds like a business opportunity for someone with a few planes. I hope the fudds are paying attention, the target on their backs just got a little bigger.

[gnbrotz]

Sounds like a business opportunity for someone with a few planes.

Like maybe UPS?

[Krichardson]

I'm guessing this is in response to that locally famous lion that was shot a few weeks ago....

[pennlineman]

Like maybe UPS?

That would work although I was think more of a private charter. It doesn't really matter who does it as importation of the trophies is legal.

I'm guessing this is in response to that locally famous lion that was shot a few weeks ago....

I'm guessing you're right. Something like that is all it takes for some people to let their liberal side shine through.

[ItchyTick]

Can't fly trophies, but can ship human baby parts?

I wonder?

[Krichardson]

Can't fly trophies, but can ship human baby parts?

I wonder?

Jacked up priorities.This time last year the airlines didn't give two shits about any animal carcasses as long as their transport was fully paid for.

[Qtrborecrazy]

I hope these countries restrict the airlines somehow and hurt their bottom line. Plenty of foreign carriers that don't mind making money.

[middlefinger]

Like maybe UPS?

UPS already said they will be happy to ship them

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/m...ting-trophies/


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