adminThe killing of one of Zimbabwe’s best known and most-studied lions, Cecil the Lion, has stoked a debate around a growing trend in trophy hunting of endangered species.
Cecil was shot with a bow, stalked for 40 hours and gunned down by trophy hunters. The big cat was skinned and had his head removed. Thirteen-year-old Cecil had been studied by scientists from Oxford University as part of a project that has run since 1999.
American dentist Walter James Palmer may have been the trigger man, Zimbabwe’s authorities alleged on Tuesday. The hunt was not legal, the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF) says.
The incident has sparked international outcry and has led to calls for greater scrutiny of legal trophy hunting, as well as calls to end the practice entirely.
However, the politics of trophy hunting remain complex, with many scientists, governments, and conservationists supporting the practice in order to raise funds for protections.
With the rise of social media, many people around the world are increasingly voicing their opposition to big game hunting, both illegal and legal.
Making a statement, Emirates Airlines recently banned transport of hunting trophies on its flights. Hunting groups have fired back with arguments that their efforts raise vital funds for conservation.
Those angered at Cecil’s death are also taking aim at Palmer.
On the dentist’s Yelp page, a commenter wrote: “He was kind, caring, but I’m most thankful that HE DIDN’T KILL ME LIKE HE DID THAT PROTECTED LION.”
Another commenter wrote, “Anyone who visits this practice is indirectly supporting the illegal and despicable poaching of endangered animals.” — National Geographic Society.
Online Reporter