Air Canada bans shipments of hunting trophies after killing of Cecil the lion

TORONTO – Air Canada says it will no longer transport big-game hunting trophies after the killing of Cecil the lion drew international attention.

A company spokesman says the airline will no longer carry trophies from lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros and water buffaloes.

Peter Fitzpatrick says such shipments have been extremely rare in the past because the company does not operate flights to South Africa, where big-game hunting is a booming industry.

He says the company already complies with existing regulations on transporting endangered wildlife.

The killing of Cecil the lion by a Minnesota dentist in early July cast a spotlight on trophy hunting and sparked a social media outcry.

Zimbabwean authorities have said they will seek the extradition of Walter James Palmer, alleging he shot the lion with a bow and arrow illegally.

Air Canada joins at least a half dozen other airlines that have banned the transportation of big-game trophies in the past two weeks, including Air France, Delta Air Lines and Qantas.

Other airlines, including Emirates, Lufthansa and British Airways, brought in a similar ban in April.