U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) introduced the Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large (CECIL) Animal Trophies Act to curb the killing of species for sport hunting that are proposed to be listed as Threatened or Endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973.[teaserbreak]
This important piece of legislation comes after the tragic death of Cecil the lion, who was allegedly lured outside of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and killed by an American hunter. His death was particularly gruesome because he was shot with an arrow, injured, and tracked for 40 hours before finally being shot, beheaded, and skinned.
The CECIL Animal Trophies Act would extend ESA import and export protections to species that have been proposed for listing, thereby prohibiting the import of any trophies without an explicit permit from the Secretary of the Interior.
Senator Menendez stated, “Cecil’s death was a preventable tragedy that highlights the need to extend the protections of the Endangered Species Act. When we have enough concern about the future of a species to propose it for listing, we should not be killing it for sport. I’m proud to be joined by my colleagues in introducing this common-sense legislation to take a necessary and prudent step that creates a disincentive for these senseless trophy killings and advances our commitment in leading the fight to combat global wildlife trafficking.”
This legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Ben Cardin (D-MD).
In 2011, Born Free USA filed a petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to list the African lion as Endangered under the ESA. In October 2014, the FWS proposed listing the African lion as Threatened under the ESA, but has yet to finalize any protections. Born Free USA is urging FWS to finalize its rule of listing lions as Threatened under the ESA.