Qatar extends hunting trophy ban

Qatar Airways is the latest airline to adjust its ethical cargo policy in the wake of the Cecil the lion outcry.
The Middle Eastern carrier today announced that its existing embargo on transporting hunting trophies would be extended to encompass all species identified by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora.
The airline’s existing ban on carrying CITES I hunting trophies, which covers endangered species, has been extended to include all species included in CITES II and III, which include species protected in at least one country and also species which come under trade controls.
Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said: “An absolute ban on all hunting trophies further extends our commitment to supporting the protection of endangered species and the elimination of illegal trading of animal products.”
More than 35,000 species (over 5,000 animals and 30,000 plants) are protected under the CITES, which includes, but is not limited to, great apes, the giant panda, many South American monkeys, cheetahs, lions, leopards, tigers, elephants and rhinoceroses.
American, United, Delta, Canada Air announced they would no longer ship lion, leopard, elephant, rhino or buffalo killed by trophy hunters following on from a public outcry when an American dentist killed well-known Cecil the lion in an allegedly illegal hunt.
Other airlines, such as Emirates, IAG, Lufthansa, South Africa and Virgin already had bans in place.
Yesterday, Virgin Atlantic Cargo called for the creation of an industry-wide ethical cargo policy that will identify shipments not acceptable for carriage in the aftermath of the killing of Cecil the lion.