The shipment of big-game trophies on flights have been banned by two US airlines after the illegal killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe.
Delta Air Lines and American Airlines will no longer transport lion, rhinoceros, leopard, elephant or buffalo remains.
But they have not given official reasons for their announcements, the BBC reported.
Delta flies direct to a number of African cities and was subjected to an online petition to ban such shipments.
American Airlines flies to only eight sub-Saharan cities, far fewer than Delta, but tweeted that its decision to stop carrying wild animal trophies was “effective immediately”.
Delta said: “Delta will officially ban shipment of all lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and buffalo trophies worldwide as freight.”
A spokesperson for Virgin Atlantic said: “As part of our ethical cargo policy adopted a number of years ago, we do not carry certain cargoes including hunting trophies, endangered species, shark fins and any animals for research purposes.
“It’s great to see other carriers adopting similar policies but an industry-wide agreement that all airlines support would be a significant step forward in helping to prevent such shipments.”