The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) is establishing a so-called International Wildlife Conservation Council within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The council will essentially help Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke promote the international sport trophy hunting industry, by “increasing public awareness domestically regarding the conservation, wildlife law enforcement, and economic benefits that result from U.S. citizens traveling to foreign nations to engage in hunting.”
Statement from Defenders of Wildlife Vice President of Conservation Programs Bob Dreher:
“The narrow-minded focus on sport trophy hunting reflects this administration’s blindness to wildlife conservation. This is a myopic and one-sided approach that ignores the enormous range of conservation efforts across the globe that focus on preserving habitat, protecting imperiled species, combatting wildlife trafficking and promoting non-consumptive ways to enjoy wildlife, like photo-tourism.”
For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.
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