Botswana’s recent decision to begin the trophy hunting of elephants after years of protection is a likely result of the Trump Administration’s actions promoting the slaughter of elephants. The International Wildlife Conservation Council (IWCC) established by the Trump Administration at the Department of Interior has been pushing countries like Botswana to reopen the trophy hunting of elephants - so American trophy hunters have a new place to get an elephant trophy to showcase in their office or home!

The IWCC mandate is to develop “a plan for public engagement and education on the benefits of international hunting,” according to its formation documents. In other words, despite its name, the IWCC is designed to promote the killing of elephants under the guise of conservation using taxpayer dollars.