American carriers ban game trophies from flights

Delta Air Lines has said it will ban shipment of all lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and buffalo trophies worldwide as freight.

The news follows a similar announcement from American Airlines earlier.

Both airlines acted to ban the shipment of big-game trophies on flights after the illegal killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe.

Prior to this ban, Delta’s strict acceptance policy called for absolute compliance with all government regulations regarding protected species, the airline said in a statement.

Delta added it will also review acceptance policies of other hunting trophies with appropriate government agencies and other organisations supporting legal shipments.

Cecil was shot illegally in July by US dentist Walter Palmer of Minnesota.

Following the incident, Zimbabwe is seeking his extradition and that of a doctor from Pennsylvania, named as Jan Casimir Seski, who is suspected of killing a lion in April.