A new case study reveals a sharp increase in U.S. imports of elephant trophies under the Trump administration.
- Over 300 elephant trophies were approved for import in 2025, up from 114 in 2018. - More than two-thirds of the trophies came from Botswana, which resumed hunting in 2019.
- Scientists warn that targeting large males harms elephant genetics and social structures. - Safari Club International is pushing to eliminate Endangered Species Act protections for trophy imports.
The findings highlight the conflict between conservation and the trophy hunting industry's deregulation efforts.