Cape Town – More than 100 000 people have signed a petition asking South African Airways to stop transporting hunting trophies.
In July, SAA overturned a temporary embargo it put in place three months ago in May, after a shipment of elephant tusks made its way to Australia under the label "mechanical equipment".
READ: Anger as SAA lifts ban on hunting trophies
SAA cited the DEA’s implementation of "additional compliance measures for permits and documentation" as the reason for overturning its decision.
Now a petition started on Change.org is calling SAA to book on the transportation of hunting trophies, which is said to be endangering animals such as the rhino, elephant, leopard, and lions – providing an outlet for them to be hunted and poached to the point of extinction.
Started by Regina Fugate, a wildlife photographer from Cape Town, South African, she says, “As the national carrier, South African Airways has a moral obligation to safeguard these precious animals.”
After the illegal hunt of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe sparked a worldwide outcry against the trophy hunting industry, a number of airlines have stepped up and banned the transportation of lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and buffalo trophies outright - most recently the largest US transporter of hunting trophies from South Africa to the US, Delta Air Lines.
Airlines United, Virgin, British Airways and Emirates have also issued a global ban on the transportation of South Africa’s Big 5.
READ: Delta Air Lines issues outright ban on hunting trophies
This follows the successful change.org petition started by Chris Green, Chair of the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee who specifically called on the CEO of US- Atlanta-based Delta Airlines, Richard Anderson to join the list of airlines refusing to carry hunters’ exotic trophies.
It does not help the matter that SAA is in the throes of a leadership change, following the sudden exit of Mango CEO Nico Bezuidenhout as SAA acting CEO towards the end of July.
READ: SAA names Mpshe as action CEO
Fugate says in the petition to SAA, "Wealthy trophy hunters are exploiting Africa's animals in a cruel, shameful way. South African Airways is enabling trophy hunters to slaughter these animals despite global criticism.”
As someone with a passion for wildlife photography, Fugate says photography tourism brings more income to the lodges, its surrounding communities and is asking SAA to consider the economic impact of this over and above that of the hunting industry, “as the same animals are being photographed, over and over again”.
Click here to see the Change.org petition.
What's your view on the matter, comment below or email info@traveller24.com. You can also join us on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts.