Major airlines ban big-game trophy transport after Cecil the lion killing

ATLANTA, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Following the illegal assassination of Zimbabwe lion Cecil by U.S. dentist Walter Palmer, major airlines banned the transport of big-game trophies.

Delta, United and American Airlines banned on Monday the transport of lion, rhinoceros, leopard, elephant and buffalo remains. The three airlines did not link their decision to the killing of Cecil and offered no other reasoning for the changes in travel policy. They also pointed to the logistics behind getting the head, horns and hide of a dead animal to a destination.

Delta, who provides direct flights to many African cities, had faced pressure from an online petition aimed at banning such shipments. American Airlines' tweet simply read "Effective immediately, we will no longer transport buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion or rhino trophies." United Airlines' spokesman Charles Hobart said it made sense for the airline to ban the cargo.

The three carriers join Singapore Airlines Ltd., Asiana Airlines Inc. and Emirates in a ban against trophies. Singapore Airlines had placed its ban in May. South African Airways had also halted the ferrying of trophies in April. It then dropped its policy in July once it determined that it had sufficient safeguards to stop illegal shipments.

Cecil the lion was shot illegally in July by American dentist Walter Palmer, who hails from Minnesota. The country of Zimbabwe is seeking the extradition of Palmer and alleged accomplice Jan Casimir Seski. Palmer expressed regret after killing Cecil and enduring the backlash, claiming he relied on local professionals to ensure the legality of his hunt and that he was unaware that his prey was a local favorite. The lion was shot with an arrow and stalked for 40 hours before being shot with a firearm.