38 Members Of The U.S. Congress Sign Letter Against Establishing Council To Promote Trophy Hunting

Photo from Trophy Facebook Page

In a letter to Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke that was signed yesterday by 38 members of Congress, it was requested that the Department of Interior (DOI) not establish a council to promote trophy hunting.

The shocking International Wildlife Conservation Council, announced by DOI on November 8, 2017, aims to increase public awareness of the “benefits that result from U.S. citizens traveling to foreign nations to engage in hunting.”

There are no benefits to Trophy Hunting and all of this is to push the Trophy Hunter’s ego-driven agenda.

As per an official notice issued by the Fish and Wildlife Service that was requesting nominations to the Council, it will would shockingly “advise the Secretary on the benefits international hunting has on foreign wildlife and habitat conservation, anti-poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking programs, and other ways in which international hunting benefits human populations in these areas.” Are They Kidding?

The good news is that the congressional letter signed yesterday, led by Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) and House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), disputes this characterization of trophy hunting and states that it is unethical, unpopular, and of questionable conservation value.

According to Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), both had strong words on the controversial issue.

“The intended goal of the International Wildlife Conservation Council is not to protect rare and vulnerable species,” said Rep. Beyer. “Rather. “It is to accommodate the desires of a minuscule subset of wealthy hobbyists who find entertainment in killing endangered wildlife. The majority of Americans want to see beloved species conserved through nonlethal methods, and Secretary Zinke should prioritize those effective and humane strategies instead.”

“The council would use taxpayer dollars to make it easier for President Trump’s sons and their rich big game hunter friends to kill species at risk of extinction,” Ranking Member Grijalva said. “It’s extremely disappointing and sickening that Secretary Zinke is prioritizing the interests of a small group of wealthy hobbyists over the voices of the more than 85 percent of Americans who oppose big game hunting. I strongly urge Secretary Zinke to take the potential extinction of species more seriously, and to terminate the creation of this superfluous council.”

“With the populations of so many species plummeting, this is not the time to elevate trophy hunting above activities that actually protect vulnerable wildlife,” Cathy Liss, AWI president said in a statement. “Thank you to the members of Congress who are speaking out against this disingenuous council.”

May they, and others continue to advocate against the travesty that is trophy hunting!