The Department of Interior announced at a meeting of the Safari Club International that they would end a ban on the importation of the remains of elephants hunted in Zimbabwe and Zambia. This action is intended to help this species “by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation,” according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, but will encourage more killing of these already threatened animals.

In 2015, the Obama administration determined that Zimbabwe could not demonstrate how hunting elephants would enhance this species survival. The decision by the Department of Interior comes at a time of political chaos in Zimbabwe–a nation that has a history of corruption and an absence of sound management strategies for its wildlife. Zimbabwe's elephant population has declined six percent in less than two decades and President Robert Mugabe celebrated his birthday last year by eating an elephant.

Reversing the ban now, when Zimbabwe is in chaos and has shown no ability or desire to protect its elephants is outrageous and inexplicable. Please reverse this decision and leave the ban in place.