Trump places big game trophy ban reversal 'on hold'

In the wake of widespread criticism, President Trump tweeted Friday evening that he’s putting his administration’s decision to reverse the ban on import of trophies from elephant hunts on hold for now.

“Put big game trophy decision on hold until such time as I review all conservation facts,” Trump wrote. “Under study for years. Will update soon with Secretary Zinke. Thank you!”

The president’s tweet about delaying the decision comes one day after the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced that it “will begin issuing permits to allow the import of elephants hunted in Zimbabwe, on or after January 21, 2016, and on or before December 31, 2018.”

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday attributed the decision to the findings from an agency study.

“This is actually due to a review that started back in 2014, under the previous administration, done by career officials at the Fish and Wildlife Service,” Sanders said during a press conference. “This review established that both Zambia and Zimbabwe had met new standards, strict international conservation standards that allowed Americans to resume hunting in those countries.”

However, many prominent individuals and groups have expressed their opposition to reversing this ban.

“Lifting this ban could endanger gains made by governments and environmental groups to protect elephants from illegal trade in ivory and other body parts,” the New York Times’ editorial board said in an opinion piece on Friday.

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