Help Stop US Trophy Hunting - Please support the CECIL Act

[Flaxbee]

Last year, the world was aghast and disgusted when Cecil the lion was killed by a deranged US dentist. Unfortunately, trophy hunting happens with great regularity and threatens world wildlife populations.

Let's not just be outraged by the death of one notable lion. Let's be outraged by the needless, cruel deaths of all animals killed by trophy hunters - the majority of whom come from North America.

(And yes, I'm a vegetarian. No, I'm not a hypocrite. I realize people will always eat meat, but there are much much much more humane ways to do it and people would be far healthier if they ate less meat, aside from the issue of the damage done to the climate and environment by huge livestock populations. I vehemently oppose the cruel, painful, and senseless deaths of all creatures).

Here's a link to a letter about the Cecil Act. Please sign if you're so inclined, and spread the word. Thanks.

http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/get-involved/help-stop-us-trophy-hunting?ms=UONDG160607002&mailid=14735906&af=BAXeIyex13fzU0NS2ESSCottM8jWV8JDqXT62dLTazODyWujTjg2l5C6oA0d9ghPuvYE8TiR7GSM63SQcZ8gkSbBNuY3iqx6T824RSNdHodtr6Ny%2FzfsPNHv4fBHwJXmiVZ6H%2FAKZdTJC7RlVD%2F%2BRbZsXUykCBBzrgHXuTq81b8vFMJGiyVZTiZQyOnN%2F6oc2j3jKrh965bpq%2Bq6DQpZwVVY9SRlw4sK3hcB1YrC4v8%3D&utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&spMailingID=14735906&spUserID=MTg0MDE4ODE3NjU3S0&spJobID=801018669&spReportId=ODAxMDE4NjY5S0

Trophy hunting affects people, animals, and habitat worldwide. IFAW’s Killing For Trophies: An Analysis of Global Trophy Hunting Trade report found that as many as 1.7 million hunting trophies may have been traded between nations between 2004 and 2014, with at least 200,000 of those being threatened species. The United States accounted for a staggering 71% of the import demand, or about 15 times more than the next highest nations on the list. We are importing thousands of trophies annually from animals threatened with extinction, a practice that is far out of step with modern day animal welfare ethics.

Therefore, we ask you to write your U.S. representative and senators and urge them to support the Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large (CECIL) Animal Trophies Act (S. 1918 / H.R. 3526).

If enacted, this bill will amend the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to help protect animals that have not yet received a final ESA listing from trophy hunts by restricting their import into the U.S.

[MariaThinks]

1. Trophy hunting needs to stop.

[shenmue]

2. Signed and shared

[Gothmog]

3. I support this proposal

[Crepuscular]

4. Not a trophy hunter

but there are always two sides to the coin. Many endangered species are being preserved as the result of the revenue generated by trophy hunting fees. Simply eliminating trophy hunting puts those species at increased risk unless an adequate alternative source of funding is found to pay for anti-poaching efforts, etc.

It's easy to say ban something based on an emotional appeal but unintended consequences may have an unfortunate impact unless a solution is provided.