WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that the administration will soon announce its decision on whether to allow trophies of African elephants to be imported into the United States.
"Big-game trophy decision will be announced next week but will be very hard pressed to change my mind that this horror show in any way helps conservation of elephants or any other animal," Trump said in a tweet Sunday.
The president's tweet came after he delayed a decision on Friday to remove the ban on importing elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia.
"Put big game trophy decision on hold until such time as I review all conservation facts," Trump tweeted Friday night.
"Under study for years. Will update soon with Secretary Zinke," Trump continued, referring to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.
In a statement Friday, Zinke confirmed that "the issuing of permits is being put on hold as the decision is being reviewed."
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) said Thursday that it believes the ban was no longer necessary.
A spokesperson said the agency "determined that the hunting and management programs for African elephants in Zimbabwe and Zambia will enhance the survival of the species in the wild."
The FWS insisted its decision to reverse the ban is part of "a robust United States conservation strategy," shortly before Trump's tweet on Friday.
The proposed reversal of the ban has faced a strong backlash, with celebrities and public figures voicing strong opposition to the administration's decision.
The Obama administration introduced the ban in 2014 that prohibits hunters from bringing the trophy heads of elephants they'd killed in Zimbabwe and Zambia to the United States.
Under the Endangered Species Act, elephants are categorized as endangered.
But a provision of the law allows for the import of trophies if it can be proved that hunting benefits conservation of the species.
