Delta said in a statement the ban was effective immediately.

In addition to Delta, Lufthansa and Emirates Airlines have similar policies, as reported by the Humane Society, which urged all other major airlines to prohibit the shipment of big-game trophies.

The ban includes the shipment of all lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and buffalo trophies as worldwide freight. The allegedly illegal hunt of the beloved 13-year-old lion sparked petitions that have garnered more than 1 million signatures, calling for justice for Cecil and stricter protections of Africa’s endangered lions.

Before Delta’s ban, the airline’s policy required “absolute compliance with all government regulations regarding protected species”, it said. “It’s not unthinkable to assume he would have chosen to carry a national treasure of Zimbabwe’s back to the state on a Delta plane”.

Palmer, has been in hiding because it was revealed he was the hunter liable for Cecil’s dying, is an avid huge recreation hunter, who has posted pictures on-line of earlier kills – together with a rhinoceros, a lion and a leopard.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it’s investigating the incident.

It also follows a massive online petition directed at the CEO of Delta Airlines and signed by almost 400,000 people asking the company “refuse to transport exotic animal hunting trophies”.

Delta said it may extend the ban to cover other animals. The ban ended after the airline determined safeguards were in place to prevent the movement of illegally acquired wildlife and trophies, as stated by the country’s Department of Environmental Affairs.