The shipment of big game hunting trophies is still acceptable to UPS and FedEx with a UPS spokeswoman telling The Washington Post that the global shipping giant follows US and international laws, not public opinion, in determining what it will and won’t ship.

The issue came to the fore after the recent killing of one of Africa’s most iconic lions known as Cecil. The GPS-tagged lion which was part of a research study was was killed in Zimbabwe by American big-game hunter. The news went viral on the Internet, sparking international outrage and a number of carriers announcing a ban on such ‘trophy’ cargo.

“There are many items shipped in international commerce that may spark controversy,” UPS public relations director Susan Rosenberg wrote in an e-mail reply to The Post. “The views on what is appropriate for shipment are as varied as the audiences that hold these views.

“UPS takes many factors under consideration in establishing its shipping policies, including the legality of the contents and additional procedures required to ensure compliance. We avoid making judgments on the appropriateness of the contents. All shipments must comply with all laws, including any relevant documentation from the shipper required in the origin and destination location of the shipments.”

FedEx said it “may accept legitimate shipments of parts for taxidermy purposes if they meet our shipping guidelines,” a spokesman said in an e-mail to The Post.

“These are legitimate shipments, not shipments that are illegally obtained,” its spokesman Jim McCluskey wrote. “Our priority is to ensure we abide by laws and regulations for all shipments.”