Air Canada airlines has banned the shipment of animal trophies on worldwide flights.

Air Canada representative Peter Fitzpatrick said Tuesday that the decision is effective immediately. He added that any shipments of lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and water buffalo  trophies would be refused.

Fitzpatrick said it should be noted that the "shipment of such trophies has been extremely rare as Air Canada does not operate flights to Africa."

Fitzpatrick said Air Canada has a long-standing policy to protect endangered wildlife in accordance with the .

Air Canada's statement came after announced they were also banning the shipment of hunting trophies.

Delta Air Lines was the first to announce it would be banning the shipment of animal trophies on Monday, followed by American Airlines and United Airlines soon after.

The move happened after an American dentist killed a famous African lion named Cecil last month. The allegedly illegal killing prompted outrage from animal conservationists and drew international attention.

Zimbabwean authorities are seeking the extradition of, stating the Minnesota dentist lured the lion off a protective area and shot it with a crossbow.

Other airlines that brought in a similar ban earlier this year include Emirates, Lufthansa and British Airways.