Spanish king sacked as World Wildlife Fund patron

The WWF in Spain has removed King Juan from the organisation\'s honorary president position The King of Spain has been ousted as a patron of the country’s World Wildlife Fund branch because of an elephant-hunting trip he made to Botswana. In a statement published online on Saturday, the World Wildlife Fund in Spain announced its decision to scrap the position of honorary president held by the king after complaints about the hunting expedition.
The secretive trip in April came to light when the king was flown home for emergency surgery after a fall. It emerged that the monarch had taken part in an elephant-hunting safari.
\"The members of WWF Spain voted today in a general meeting to end the position of honorary president, held until now by King Juan Carlos, from the statutes of the organisation,\" it said in a statement published online.
While the hunting trip was legal under Botswana law, the WWF in Spain said the monarch\'s participation had made some members uneasy.
\"Although this type of hunt is legal and regulated, many members considered it incompatible with the honorary presidency of an international organization for the defense of nature and the environment,\" the WWF said.
The Royal Palace declined immediate comment on the announcement.
News of the hunting trip was just the latest piece of bad publicity for the Spanish monarchy after a string of scandals, including corruption allegations against the king\'s son-in-law.
The opulence of the expedition angered many Spaniards as the country struggles with a deep recession and record unemployment.