Should Big Game Hunting Be Allowed? – RIP Cecil the Lion

In an act that has outraged thousands of people, an American tourist allegedly paid $50,000 to illegally kill a well-known lion in Zimbabwe. The lion's name was Cecil and he is thought to have been killed illegally on July 1.

People recognized him by his black mane and he had become pretty well-known. So how did this beloved lion die?

According to Fox CT, those involved were two Zimbabwean men, a professional hunter and a farmer, both have been arrested. The third person suspected to be involved is Walter James Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota.

Apparently, they tied a dead animal to their car in an effort to lure the lion out of a national park. When their plan worked, Palmer is suspected of shooting the lion with a crossbow. The injured lion was found 40 hours later and they shot him with a gun, killing him. They then skinned the lion and beheaded him. The men also tried to destroy the lion's collar, which had a tracking device on it, but failed.

Johnny Rodrigues, chairmen of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, explained to Fox CT how this killing will affect the lion's pride,

“The saddest part of all is that now that Cecil is dead, the next lion in the hierarchy, Jericho will most likely kill all Cecil’s cubs,” said Rodrigues.

If convicted, the men could spend 15 years in prison. Zimbabwean police are still searching for Palmer, who faces poaching charges.

On a personal note, if Palmer is guilty I hope the Zimbabwean police find him and throw him in prison for these actions.

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