In the United States, more than 75% of Americans oppose trophy hunting and 82% oppose the hunting and import of lions and African elephants, both of which are listed under the Endangered Species Act.

The allowance of trophy hunting of endangered species in the United States and the imports of trophy hunts into the United States is undermining the long-term survival of imperiled wildlife and will impose a threat to the health of our planet and us.

Because the ProTECT Act (The Prohibiting of Threatened and Endangered Creatures Trophies Act) has not been introduced in the U.S. federal government, which would protect innocent endangered wildlife from being hunted, many endangered species have lost their lives and many continue to lose their lives. 

According to the CITES (Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) database, between 2014-2018 almost 125,000 trophies of PROTECTED species were imported, with the largest trophy hunt importer being the United States. 

Trophy hunting has many adverse effects on the wildlife such as:

·      Skewing population structures which reduces reproductive success

·      Risk of local extirpation or regional existence of a species

·      Decreased genetic diversity and adaptability

·      Destabilization of populations as key individuals are killed who had social and ecological knowledge that is critical for survival and reproduction

·      Reducing population size, health, and resilience thus reducing long-term survival. 

As many scientists agree, we have crossed the threshold and are in Earth’s sixth mass extinction crisis where by 2050, 30-50% of Earth’s species will be extinct and almost exclusively due to human impact. 

The effects of dwindling endangered wildlife populations are noticeable and for the first time in 2021, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) the world’s most comprehensive information resource that lists the extinction risk status for animals, assessed the global extinction risk status of the African savanna and forest elephants separately because each of these populations are under threat. 

Trophy hunting also undermines wildlife conservation efforts and degrades healthy ecosystems because the keystone species which largely contributed to a thriving ecosystem are no longer present.  Humans benefit from healthy ecosystems because healthy ecosystems provide us with healthy water, oxygen, and sequester carbon and many scientists and conservationists are relaying this exact message.

Dr. Barney Long, Global Wildlife Conservation’s Senior Director of Species Conservation states;

“Regular re-assessment of a species’ status on the Red List helps to highlight worrying trends like what the elephants of Africa are experiencing.  The health of our planet depends on the health of elephants and the ecosystems they inhabit…”

Additionally, the authors of the article titled Defaunation in the Anthropocenepublished in the journal Science in 2014 stated;

“Consequences of defaunation or the loss of animal life represents a major change in biodiversity and it is likely to have important effects on ecosystem functioning.”

But the proof to end trophy hunting of endangered species in the United States and the imports of trophy hunts is not just in science journals and recognized by wildlife conservationists. 

The people of the United States largely oppose trophy hunting.  According to a 2022 survey, taken in the United States, more than 75% of Americans oppose trophy hunting and 82% oppose the hunting and import of lions and African elephants, both of which are listed under the Endangered Species Act.  

To further this point, of the Americans who oppose trophy hunting and want a ban of trophy hunting imports, 78% were republican and 89% were democrat.  Therefore, Americans representing both parties are in agreement to ban trophy hunting imports.  

This is proof that now more than ever, we need that legislative stronghold to protect endangered species in our country and around the world as they continue to be hunted and are placed in a dire position to become extinct. 

I know many Americans and people around the world want to be part of the solution to ensure the survival of endangered species because we have so much to lose if we do not take action. 

Photo courtesy of Twitter: @XposeTrophyHunt