Azzedine Downes, President and Chief Executive Officer for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), issued the following statement in response to the killing of one of the largest elephants ever seen in Zimbabwe.

"A magnificent tusker has lost its life for nothing more than 'sport.' This is another trophy hunting tragedy."

"Elephant trophy hunters usually target the largest bulls with impressive tusks. This can have dire consequences for elephant populations and is a cause for real concern for African elephants."

"Revenue generated from hunting permits rarely benefits local communities. These claims are often disingenuous and exaggerated—only 3% of the money from trophy hunts reaches the local communities where hunting occurs."

"Where government agencies rely on revenue generated through hunting licensing, IFAW challenges the international community to work with these agencies to find alternative revenue generating schemes."

"In addition to the large bull elephant that was shot by a trophy hunter, more than 24 elephants were killed for their tusks in Zimbabweusing cyanide this week—a cruel and painful death."

"We're reaching a tipping point with more than 35,000 elephants killed each year for their tusks. We need to find solutions to protect elephants rather than offering them up as legally permitted commodities for profit."

SOURCE International Fund for Animal Welfare

YARMOUTH PORT, Mass., Oct. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --