Cecil sparks call for blanket ban on trophy transport by air

Against a background of Cecil the lion outrage, there have been strong calls for all airlines to boycott the transport of animal trophies.

While SAA recently announced the lifting of its ban, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have now joined the boycott already in place on British Airways, Air France, KLM, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Emirates, Iberia Airlines and Qantas flights .

In a blog that appeared in the Huffington Post, Wayne Pacelle,  president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, said the SAA decision was the result of pressure from Safari Club International and other groups aligned with the trophy hunting industry.

“Let's let all the major airlines know it's time to cut off the shipments for good of African lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards and Cape buffalo - the so-called Africa Big Five. This "hunting achievement" award leads to disgraceful behaviour, and the airlines should not provide a getaway vehicle for trophy hunters' larceny,” he said.