Trump administration reverses ban on shipping elephant trophies to America from hunts in Zimbabwe. Gee, I wonder why?

Courtesy of WaPo:

The Trump administration announced Wednesday that the remains of elephants legally hunted in Zimbabwe and Zambia can now be imported to the United States as trophies, reversing a ban under former president Barack Obama. 

African elephants are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that large sums paid for permits to hunt the animals could actually help them “by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation,” according to an agency statement. 

Under the Obama administration, elephant-hunting trophies were allowed in countries such as South Africa but not in Zimbabwe because Fish and Wildlife decided in 2015 that the nation had failed to prove that its management of elephants enhanced the population. Zimbabwe could not confirm its elephant population in a way that was acceptable to U.S. officials, and did not demonstrate an ability to implement laws to protect it. 

The Service’s new statement did not specify what had changed in that country — where the African elephant population has declined 6 percent in recent years, according to the Great Elephant Census project — to allow hunting trophies. A spokeswoman said an explanation will be published in the Federal Register on Friday.

Yeah I really don't get it.

I guess there is just no part of my body that is so small and shame inducing which would require that I murder these magnificent animals in order to make up for it. 

NRA lobbyist shoots elephant in the face and then celebrates manhood by drinking champagne.

Courtesy of the YouTube page:  

NBC Sports network came under fire this week after it aired an NRA-sponsored program that included gun lobbyist Tony Makris shooting an elephant in the face and then drinking champagne. Deadspin noted on Tuesday that the Botswana hunt had aired during this week's episode of Under Wild Skies. 

Makris is a longtime friend of NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre and is best known for orchestrating Charlton Heston's rise within the organization. 

In a video of the hunt, Makris spots an elephant in the brush, walks up and shoots it in the the face twice. After a short chase, Makris fires again and the elephant is dead. The NRA lobbyist then takes a moment to pose with his .577 "Tyrannosaur" rifle and the dead pachyderm. 

As the episode ends, the group of hunters enjoys a glass of champagne while watching the sunset. 

Yes, NOTHING will improve the reputation of the NRA like televising a hunt featuring one of their lobbyists, where he shoots a majestic elephant IN THE FACE.

I will have to assume that there were no kittens or puppies around for them to stomp to death.

Perfect metaphor!

To be fair I am convinced that an ACTUAL elephant would have long since moved on to do something much more productive with its time.

Proving once again that the average intelligence of a Republican pales in comparison to a number of other mammals on this planet.

Alaska's ailing elephant may be leaving the state.

Following an impassioned public outcry, the Alaska Zoo board has decided to relocate the state's only elephant to another state under certain conditions, the board president said Wednesday.

"Every effort will be made to expedite a move if and when all the factors for a successful move are favorably addressed," board president Dick Thwaites said in a prepared statement.

Because there are so many criteria to meet, zoo officials said, it's impossible to predict how long it would take to move Maggie, a 25-year-old African elephant who arrived in Anchorage as an orphaned baby. Advocates want her moved to a warmer location, preferably to a sanctuary where she can roam with other elephants. At the zoo, she spends the cold half of the year in a 1,600-square-foot concrete enclosure.

I post this for my animal loving visitors.

It really is way past time for us to admit that our environment is just not healthy for an African elephant, and rather then purchasing another elephant to keep Maggie happy (like Maggie was brought up to keep Annabelle happy) we should just send her to a warmer and more elephant friendly facility.

Here is the biggest story in my little corner of the world right now.

About two dozen fans of the zoo's African elephant, Maggie, gathered on a South Anchorage street corner Sunday to make a collective plea for the pachyderm:

Move Maggie -- and take action soon, rather than wait for a scheduled review in August. About two dozen people showed up for the rally, many toting homemade signs that had messages like "Tell the zoo to let her go," and "Stop watching Maggie die."

"We just need to zoo to say 'OK, we'll let her go,' " said Peggy McFarland, at Sunday morning's protest. "They'd be respected a lot more in this community if they'd agree to do that."

Maggie has collapsed twice in one week's time. She is being tested and so far nothing has been revealed as the cause. But many in our community believe that Maggie is simply lonely and sad, and in the wrong place to ensure her health.

I know that their are a lot of animal lovers who visit this site, so I know where you will come down on the Move Maggie debate. And I am predisposed to agree with you. It is time for her to go live in a warmer climate with other elephants to keep her company.