Conservation group cuts ties with king

MADRID, July 22 (UPI) -- Spanish King Juan Carlo was dropped as honorary president of the World Wildlife Fund's Spain branch for going on an African hunting safari, the group said.

The WWF said in a written statement the 74-year-old monarch's hunting trip to Botswana did not fit in with the conservation group's mission to preserve endangered wildlife around the world.

"Although not illegal, the hunting was widely viewed as incompatible with the king's position at the head of WWF-Spain," the statement said.

The trip came to light in April when it was revealed Juan Carlos had taken a fall and broken his hip in Botswana. CNN said the initial criticism within Spain was related to the expense of the journey at a time when the Spanish economy was reeling.

There was no immediate comment from the Spanish palace on the WWF's decision to abolish the honorary post the king has held since 1968.