President Donald Trump has said he is delaying new policy allowing trophies of African elephants shot for sport to be imported until he can review “all conservation facts”.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service said on Thursday it would allow such importation, arguing that encouraging wealthy big-game hunters to kill the threatened species would help raise money for conservation programs.

Animal rights advocates and environmental groups criticised the decision. California Rep Ed Royce, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, urged the administration to reverse the policy, calling it the “wrong move at the wrong time”.

Mr Trump tweeted on Friday the policy had been “under study for years”. He said he would put the decision “on hold” and review it with Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

Mr Zinke issued a statement later on Friday saying: “President Trump and I have talked and both believe that conservation and healthy herds are critical.

“As a result, in a manner compliant with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, the issuing of permits is being put on hold as the decision is being reviewed.”

Mr Royce questioned the action because of concerns not only about African wildlife but US national security, citing the political upheaval in Zimbabwe, where the longtime president was placed under house arrest this week by the military.

“The administration should withdraw this decision until Zimbabwe stabilises,” the committee chairman said in a statement.

“Elephants and other big game in Africa are blood currency for terrorist organisations, and they are being killed at an alarming rate.

“Stopping poaching isn’t just about saving the world’s most majestic animals for the future – it’s about our national security.”

The change marks a shift in efforts to stop the importation of elephant tusks and hides, overriding a 2014 ban imposed by the Obama administration.

The new policy applies to the remains of African elephants killed between January 2016 and December 2018.

“Legal, well-regulated sport hunting as part of a sound management program can benefit certain species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve those species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation,” the agency said in a statement.

Mr Royce said that when carefully regulated, conservation hunts could help the wildlife population, but “that said, this is the wrong move at the wrong time.”

He described the perilous situation in Zimbabwe, where the US Embassy has advised Americans to limit their travel outdoors.

“In this moment of turmoil, I have zero confidence that the regime – which for years has promoted corruption at the highest levels – is properly managing and regulating conservation programs,” Mr Royce said.

“Furthermore, I am not convinced that elephant populations in the area warrant overconcentration measures.”