Northstar

6 | www.travelweekly-asia.com ISSUES The tragic death of Cecil, a magnificently photogenic lion, created a flurry of moral debate throughout virtually every social media platform. Many called for criminal charges to be held against the hunter, US Dentist Walter Palmer, and lately other hunters who unwisely displayed their 'kills' on social media have been dragged into the same cauldron of moral fury and public condemnation, as anti- hunting activists call loudly for an indiscriminate ban on hunting altogether. Many (legal) hunting organisations are under fire, having to defend themselves from the relentless tirade of moral warriors preaching about the needlessness of the deaths of so many innocent animals in the name of sport. It seems everyone is being forced to take a side. The level of outrage at the death of an innocent animal came as no surprise. It helps the cause of those who oppose hunting that Cecil was such a beautiful creature, who so easily became an object of public sympathy. regarding the carrying of hunting trophies. Each airline's actions on this particular issue will either serve to invite commendation or criticism. With the story of Cecil's death being an incredibly hot topic, it has put many airlines in the limelight regarding their policies and those that (so far) do not choose to conform are shamed. Even airlines that already had these policies in place prior to Cecil's death are making public announcements to make their positions on the topic clear. For example, British Airways announced that they have adhered to the rules set by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) treaty since it was implemented in 1973. Conversely, South African Airways actually recently reversed their hunting trophy ban and is being shamed for failing to conform. Despite promises to only carry legal cargo, its position is not regarded as strong enough. Overall, it is fascinating to see how public opinion on an issue like hunting carries heavy influence over something as arguably mundane as an air carrier's policies on cargo. Prior to Cecil, those policies were probably as relevant to us as the terms and conditions of our latest iTunes software update. Now, we regard it as being indicative, if not definitive of their moral stance on a contemporary issue. When the dust begins to settle, as it will with the next big public interest story, it will be very interesting to see how much attention we devote to reading the fine print when booking our next flights on Skyscanner. Would we make a point of actually checking? Would we still be willing to boycott airlines that haven't conformed to these policies if it means having to pay significantly more for our ticket? And, if any of the air carriers participating in the ban were to reverse their policies (just like South African Airways), would they be as quick to make a public announcement? Time will tell. The amount of attention it garnered was enough for not only companies but also governments to take note and quickly implement policies that would keep them out of the line of fire. A particularly relevant example is how many international air carriers (Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Air France, Qatar Airways etc.) are now declaring that they would refuse to carry any 'exotic hunting trophies' in their cargo. Of course, these policies have been met with tremendous support and many of the airlines are being praised for their (albeit, minor) contribution to the protection of wildlife and a 'commitment to protecting endangered species'. It has created a wave of pressure for other airlines to follow suit. We have to question whether these policies are being adopted out of an authentic sense of moral responsibility or simply to avoid bad press. Prior to Cecil's death, it is unlikely that many travellers (with the exception of game hunters and staunch wildlife activists) were even aware of an airline's policies CUSTOMS TO DECLARE: THE LION By Marissa Trew KILLERS

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