Cecil (2002 – 1
July 2015) was a male African
lion who primarily lived in the Hwange
National Park Zimbabwe and was 13 years old when he was killed. He was
a local favorite and a major attraction at the park and was being studied and
tracked by the University
of Oxford as part of a
larger study. He was one among the very few black-fringed
mane lions in the world.
Most of you who follow the news
regularly know the back story but those of you who don’t know, here it is.
A guy named Walter James Palmer, a
dentist from Minnesota, a big game hunter. A big game hunter is
historically associated with the hunting of Africa's Big Five game (lion, the African elephant, the Cape buffalo,
the leopard and the white rhinoceros). He paid $50,000 to kill a lion. He went all the way to Hwange
national park Zimbabwe to kill this lion. He hired two local guides. All of
them together lured the lion with the bait outside of the sanctuary, shined a
spot light on him, he is eating, spot light on him okay! This dentist shoots
him with a cross bow. The lion is wounded and leaves and is frantic for three
days. Hanging on to dear life! Suffering. Then Walter comes with his two guides
and shoots him with a gun. The lion then dies.
He decapitates the Lion because
that is his trophy! Again this is trophy hunting. It is not hunting for food or survival or
conservation. This is trophy hunting. He can display with proud this lion head
as a trophy.
To give you guys more contexts, the
two guys who are with him are charged for poaching (Hunting illegally)
Statement of Dr. Walter Palmer
July 28, 2015
"In early July, I was in Zimbabwe on a bow hunting trip for
big game. I hired several professional guides and they secured all proper
permits. To my knowledge, everything about this trip was legal and properly
handled and conducted.
"I had no idea that
the lion I took was a known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study
until the end of the hunt. I relied on the expertise of my local professional
guides to ensure a legal hunt.
"I have not been contacted by authorities in Zimbabwe or in
the U.S. about this situation, but will assist them in any inquiries they may
have.
"Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love
and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion."
Do you buy this?
He is blaming the two guys when he had a history of illegal
hunting like giant black bear, Rhino.
Cecils killing created a backlash
among many Americans, politicians, celebrities and common people. It became
social media phenomenon with lot
of hatred among everyone. It also called for a debate/argument on why
the permits are being granted.
Apparently they are using that money for conservation. Why not the money
is directly raised without just giving the grants.
A petition urging Walter Palmer's
extradition to
Zimbabwe garnered more than 220,000 signatures
Aftermath:
Dr. Palmer is back to the work as if nothing happened and treating
his patients in Minn. Meanwhile in
Zimbabwe, the next strongest male lion kills all the remaining cubs of cecil so
that he can generate his blood stream in the pride. Just because of one
person’s trophy see what’s happening.
Weird things in the name of traditions. Hunting is one of them. Back in the days when
there were no modern weapons, big game hunting with the available non
mechanical means killing showed courage and in turn a form of pride. They used
to collect the heads and used to display them. What is the point of killing for a sport with
a rifle/gun with all the modern equipment.
Hunting for food is okay. Hunting for survival is okay.
Hunting for sport and Hunting for trophies. Not ok.
Not ok at all. This is only my opinion. This opinion did not
just come out this incident alone. If you search there are hundreds of people
who trophy hunting from many years. I can only say one thing to them. #Leavethemalone
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