The Humane Society of the United States came out strongly against the policy change and said a number of problems remain with Zimbabwe's elephant management plan, including poaching, corruption and a lack of government support.
"Let's be clear: elephants are on the list of threatened species; the global community has rallied to stem the ivory trade; and now, the U.S. government is giving American trophy hunters the green light to kill them," wrote Wayne Pacelle, the organization's president and CEO.
"What kind of message does it send to say to the world that poor Africans who are struggling to survive cannot kill elephants in order to use or sell their parts to make a living, but that it's just fine for rich Americans to slay the beasts for their tusks to keep as trophies?" he added.
