Updated

Air Canada says it will no longer transport big-game hunting trophies after the killing of a well-known lion in Zimbabwe by an American dentist drew international attention.

Company spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said Tuesday that such shipments have been extremely rare in the past because the company does not operate flights to South Africa, where big-game hunting is a booming industry.

He says the company already complies with existing regulations on transporting endangered wildlife.

The killing of Cecil the lion in early July cast a spotlight on trophy hunting and sparked a social media outcry.

Air Canada joins at least a half dozen other airlines that have banned the transportation of big-game trophies in the past two weeks, including Air France, Delta Air Lines and Qantas.