Cecil the lion was a male African lion who was killed on July 1 2015 at the age of thirteen. He was a resident of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority and Safari Operators Association said that Cecil was illegally killed outside the park’s boundaries. The hunter who killed Cecil Walter Palmer a U.S. citizen denies any wrongdoing and says he relied on his professional guides to ensure a legal hunt.
The death of Cecil caused an international outcry. Palmer became the subject of outrage and death threats. Zimbabwe called for his extradition but the United States does not have an extradition treaty with Zimbabwe.
Cecil was born around 2002 in the Remastered African Wildlife Safari park in South Africa. He was then transferred to the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe in July 2013.
Cecil was a large lion with a mane that covered his head neck and chest. He was also equipped with a GPS collar as part of an Oxford University study.
Cecil was killed on July 1 2015 outside Hwange National Park. The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZPWLA) said that Cecil was shot with an arrow outside the park’s boundary before being tracked and killed with a rifle.
The ZPWLA said that the hunt was illegal because it did not have the necessary permits and was not conducted within the park’s boundaries. The authority said that the hunters did not have the required hunting license and that the animal was not killed within a legal hunting area.
The Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe (SOAZ) also condemned the hunt saying that it was conducted “outside the principles of fair chase”.
Palmer denies any wrongdoing saying that he relied on his professional guides to ensure a legal hunt. He said that he had obtained all the necessary permits and that the hunt was conducted within the park’s boundaries.
The death of Cecil caused an international outcry. Palmer became the subject of outrage and death threats. Zimbabwe called for his extradition but the United States does not have an extradition treaty with Zimbabwe.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said that it was investigating the incident.
The incident also brought attention to the plight of African lions which are classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). According to the IUCN the African lion population has declined by 43% over the past two decades.
Who was Cecil the lion?
Cecil was a lion who lived in Zimbabwe.
How did Cecil die?
Cecil was killed by a trophy hunter.
How old was Cecil when he died?
Cecil was thirteen years old when he died.
Was Cecil killed legally?
No Cecil was not killed legally.
How many lions are left in the world?
It is estimated that there are between 20000-30000 lions left in the world.
How many lions are killed by trophy hunters each year?
It is estimated that 600 lions are killed by trophy hunters each year.
What country did Cecil live in?
Cecil lived in Zimbabwe.
Who was the hunter who killed Cecil?
The hunter who killed Cecil was an American man named Walter Palmer.
What did the hunter do with Cecil’s body?
The hunter skinned and beheaded Cecil and then he took Cecil’s body back to the United States.
How much did the hunter pay to kill Cecil?
The hunter paid $50000 to kill Cecil.
Is Cecil’s death an isolated incident?
No Cecil’s death is not an isolated incident.
Every year hundreds of lions are killed by trophy hunters.
What do trophy hunters do with the animals they kill?
Trophy hunters often skin and mount the animals they kill.
What is the main reason why trophy hunting is harmful to lions?
Trophy hunting is harmful to lions because it decreases the lion population.
What can be done to stop trophy hunting?
There are several things that can be done to stop trophy hunting such as passing laws that ban trophy hunting or increasing the fees that trophy hunters have to pay.
Was Cecil’s death a tragic event?
Yes Cecil’s death was a tragic event.
