"Groups Sue Over Decision To Lift US Ban On Elephant Trophies"

"WASHINGTON — A coalition of environmental and animal-welfare groups sued on Tuesday to challenge the Trump administration's moves toward allowing the importation of the heads, hides and tusks of African elephants as hunting trophies.

Four groups filed an amended lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Washington against Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke over this month's announcement that the Fish and Wildlife Service will begin considering permit applications for importing body parts from sport-hunted elephants on a case-by-case basis.

The agency said its March 1 decision was in response to a legal ruling that found procedural flaws with how the Obama administration had imposed an earlier ban, which was challenged by pro-hunting groups."

Michael Biesecker reports for the Associated Press March 20, 2018.