Congress: Ban Trophy Imports for Imperiled Species

  • by: Alicia Graef
  • recipient: U.S. Congress, Committee on Environment and Public Works

The recent killing of Cecil, a well-known lion in Zimbabwe has now only sparked international outrage over the killing of imperiled species by "sport" hunters, but it has raised awareness about the threat trophy hunting brings to species on the brink and inspired lawmakers to act on their behalf.

Since the killing, lawmakers have joined forces to protect imperiled species from trophy hunting with the introduction of the Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large (CECIL) Animal Trophies Act , which would amend the Endangered Species Act to ban imports of bodies and parts from species proposed for listing, but who aren't yet protected.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently considering listing African lions as threatened, but even though their numbers are declining as a worrying rate, the agency has yet to act.

Please sign this petition urging your rep to support and co-sponsor this important piece of legislation that will protect Africa's iconic wildlife from trophy hunters and ensure the U.S. doesn't continue to play a role in their decline.

As someone who is concerned with animal welfare and the plight of imperiled species, I am writing to urge you to support and co-sponsor the recently introduced Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large (CECIL) Animal Trophies Act.

The recent killing of Cecil, a well-known lion in Zimbabwe has sparked international outrage over the killing of imperiled species by "sport" hunters and has raised awareness about the threat trophy hunting brings to species on the brink.

In response to a petition filed by a coalition of conservation organizations who raised concerns about the rapid decline of African lions, whose numbers in the wild have dropped by more than 50 percent over the past three decades, with potentially fewer than 32,000 remaining today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing them as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, but has yet to finalize a decision.  

The CECIL Act will ban trophy imports for species proposed for listing, but who aren't yet protected, which will hopefully remove incentives hunters have to kill them for fun, many of whom are coming from the U.S.

I sincerely hope you will take a stand for wildlife and help ensure that the U.S. isn't playing a role in the demise of another iconic species by passing this legislation.

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