We support the proposed rule of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to designate the African Lion as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (FWS-R9-ES-2012-0025). However, we strongly oppose the provision that would grant permits to import lion hunting trophies into the US.
The US FWS found that lions are "in danger of extinction in the foreseeable future". The ESA designation makes it unlawful for a person to "harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect or attempt to engage in any such conduct".
We urge the Obama administration and Director of the US FWS Dan Ashe to enact and enforce Endangered Species Act protection for the African Lion, without any permitting process for the importation of sport-hunted lion trophies.