CNN reports Jericho was killed by hunters a month after his brother, Cecil, was lured out of Hwange Naitonal Park and killed by an American dentist.
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Hunting is illegal in Zimbabwe’s national parks, and it is considered unlikely that in daylight, as suggested by initial reports, hunters broke in to kill a lion, possibly in front of tourists.
The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force posted a note about Jericho’s death on its Facebook page around 4 p.m. local time.
“Take heart my child, I am finer than ever, grander than before”, said Karen Anderson, channeling the voice of Cecil, the dead lion whose illegal hunting in Zimbabwe created an worldwide furor. “We will update you all as soon as we have more details”, the statement added.
Earlier Saturday, Zimbabwe’s parks authority announced restrictions on hunting around Hwange park, including an immediate suspension of the hunting of lions, leopards and elephants.
“The Authority will not hesitate to arrest, prosecute, and ban for life any persons including professional hunters, clients and land owners who are caught on the wrong side of the law”, he said. Brent Stapelkamp, with the SATIB Conservation Trust’s Hwange Lion Research, said that the creature’s Global Positioning System was sending a signal and the lion appeared to be alive, according to Reuters.
However, since Cecil’s killer has made his way back to the country of origin and according to Zimbabwe’s environment, water and climate minister, Oppah Muchinguri, that it was “unfortunately it was too late” to see it through.
Palmer became the subject of worldwide attention-and the target of widespread anger-when it was revealed that he had killed and beheaded an adult male lion near a national park in Zimbabwe.
Cecil the lion, who was illegally killed by a dentist in Africa.
Since Cecil was killed, Zimbabwe officials have asked America to turn over Walter James Palmer, who has admitted to killing the beloved lion.
BuzzFeed reports that other conservation groups in the area have confirmed the lion to be alive and well.
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A concern had been whether Jericho would be able to protect the cubs. “The landowner violated the act because he ‘allowed a hunt to be conducted without a quota and necessary permit, ‘ Muchinguri said…”
