Madrid: The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Spain has removed King Juan Carlos as its honorary president after going on an elephant-hunting trip in Botswana.
According to The BBC, the WWF’s Spanish chapter voted overwhelmingly to abolish the post, a statement said, adding that the safari was against the rules of the WWF.
The king was widely criticized after news of the trip emerged in April. King Juan Carlos apologised to the Spanish people for the hunting trip, which came to light when he was flown home from Africa after breaking a hip. An online petition calling for his resignation from the WWF post gained almost 85,000 signatures by the time he made his public apology.
"Although this type of hunting is legal and regulated, many members consider it to be incompatible with the position of honorary patron of an international organisation that aims to protect the environment," the WWF statement said. The vote to abolish the position of honorary president was carried by a 94 percent majority, it said.
ANI
