.
Cecil the Lion has become the face of a renewed focus on controversial big game hunting, after the animal was killed by an American hunter on July 1. But before his death, Cecil was simply the beloved resident of Hwange National Park.
The Wildlife Conservation Research Unit from Oxford University studied Cecil through a GPS tracking collar the lion wore. Cecil’s movements were well documented and his relations with other lions monitored.
He was popular amongst tourists at the park due to his comfort around people. One of the researchers studying the 13-year old lion told National Geographic that vehicles could get within 30 feet of Cecil, allowing up-close photography.
Sadly, Cecil the Lion will no longer be roaming the park, as he was shot and killed by Walter Palmer, a dentist and long-time big game hunter from Minnesota. Palmer supposedly paid $50,000 to hunt Cecil.
Allegedly, Cecil was lured out of the sanctuary, then hit with a crossbow, however the animal was not instantly killed. It has been reported that Cecil was hunted an additional 40 hours before being shot and killed. The lion was then skinned and beheaded, his body left in the wild. Palmer has stated that he was not aware the lion was a local favorite when hunting it.
Outrage spread quickly following the news of Cecil’s death. Palmer became a target of anger on social media and was scrutinized in the media: late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel chimed in criticizing Palmer’s actions. As a result, the dentist closed his office in Minnesota, which has now become the site of a memorial to Cecil the Lion.
Palmer could also face criminal charges for hunting Cecil. The Environment Minister of Zimbabwe, Oppah Muchinguri, has called for Palmer’s extradition, so he can be tried for violating national laws. The guide who led Palmer’s hunting expedition, Theo Bronkhorst, believes he has done nothing wrong.
Following Cecil’s death there has been a large push against big game hunting and poaching, by NGO’s, businesses, and the public alike.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on July 30 directly addressing the issue of poaching, the first resolution of its kind for the UN. The non-binding resolution encourages all nations to increase their efforts in preventing poaching and wildlife trafficking.
According to USA Today, Delta, United, and American Airlines stated that they will no longer allow big game ‘trophies’ to be shipped through their airlines.
While Cecil’s death is a tragedy, it has brought light to an ongoing issue regarding wildlife protection. Reuter’s reports that the number of lions in Africa has declined from 200,000 to 30,000 since the 1970s and the number of other species like rhinos, elephants, and cheetahs, are also decreasing.
It remains to be seen if the outrage surrounding Cecil’s death will lead to activism and protection of the world’s wildlife.
Photo of Cecil the Lion at Hwange National Park in 2010, by Wikimedia Commons.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
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Remembering Cecil and Protecting the Wild
August 21, 2015
Cecil the Lion has become the face of a renewed focus on controversial big game hunting, after the animal was killed by an American hunter on July 1. But before his death, Cecil was simply the beloved resident of Hwange National Park.
The Wildlife Conservation Research Unit from Oxford University studied Cecil through a GPS tracking collar the lion wore. Cecil’s movements were well documented and his relations with other lions monitored.
He was popular amongst tourists at the park due to his comfort around people. One of the researchers studying the 13-year old lion told National Geographic that vehicles could get within 30 feet of Cecil, allowing up-close photography.
Sadly, Cecil the Lion will no longer be roaming the park, as he was shot and killed by Walter Palmer, a dentist and long-time big game hunter from Minnesota. Palmer supposedly paid $50,000 to hunt Cecil.
Allegedly, Cecil was lured out of the sanctuary, then hit with a crossbow, however the animal was not instantly killed. It has been reported that Cecil was hunted an additional 40 hours before being shot and killed. The lion was then skinned and beheaded, his body left in the wild. Palmer has stated that he was not aware the lion was a local favorite when hunting it.
Outrage spread quickly following the news of Cecil’s death. Palmer became a target of anger on social media and was scrutinized in the media: late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel chimed in criticizing Palmer’s actions. As a result, the dentist closed his office in Minnesota, which has now become the site of a memorial to Cecil the Lion.
Palmer could also face criminal charges for hunting Cecil. The Environment Minister of Zimbabwe, Oppah Muchinguri, has called for Palmer’s extradition, so he can be tried for violating national laws. The guide who led Palmer’s hunting expedition, Theo Bronkhorst, believes he has done nothing wrong.
Following Cecil’s death there has been a large push against big game hunting and poaching, by NGO’s, businesses, and the public alike.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on July 30 directly addressing the issue of poaching, the first resolution of its kind for the UN. The non-binding resolution encourages all nations to increase their efforts in preventing poaching and wildlife trafficking.
According to USA Today, Delta, United, and American Airlines stated that they will no longer allow big game ‘trophies’ to be shipped through their airlines.
While Cecil’s death is a tragedy, it has brought light to an ongoing issue regarding wildlife protection. Reuter’s reports that the number of lions in Africa has declined from 200,000 to 30,000 since the 1970s and the number of other species like rhinos, elephants, and cheetahs, are also decreasing.
It remains to be seen if the outrage surrounding Cecil’s death will lead to activism and protection of the world’s wildlife.
Photo of Cecil the Lion at Hwange National Park in 2010, by Wikimedia Commons.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
