American Airlines will no longer transport animal 'trophies'

American Airlines is putting some teeth behind its response to the recent uproar over travelers who have illegally killed big game in Africa.

Effective immediately, the airline "will no longer transport buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion or rhino trophies," the company announced in a tweet Monday.The policy change comes amid the public outcry following the illegal killing of Zimbabwe's beloved Cecil the lion at the hands of a Minnesota dentist.

Walter Palmer allegedly paid about $50,000 to hunt the animal after it was lured from a national park into an unprotected area.

He says he thought the hunt was legal and was unaware Cecil was protected, but the killing triggered a huge online backlash.

On Sunday wildlife officials in Zimbabwe accused a second American of illegally killing a lion near a game reserve.

Delta Airlines announced a similar policy change earlier Monday.Both American and Delta name specific animal trophies they will no longer permit, leaving the door open to hunting trophies from other animals from around the world.

Delta would not answer questions from journalists as to why it made its decision on Monday, nor would it detail how many hunting trophies it has transported in recent years.