Though cat conservation is a global passion, Cecil’s story is personal for us as funding the Hwange lion project almost a decade ago – at a time when Cecil was already a participant – represented our first engagement with Oxford’s extraordinary and passionate wildlife conservationists.
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Zimbabwe’s Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said Monday that Seski was involved an allegedly illegal hunt in April, put on by a safari guide who was arrested for his role in it.
Seski is a well-known gynecologist and oncologist in the Pittsburgh area.
Dr Sieski has appeared on a number of hunting and bow hunting websites, including one which shows photos of him standing next to the carcasses of three elephants and a hippo.
The Zimbabwe government said Sunday that Dr. Jan Seski of Murrysville, Pennsylvania, used a bow and arrow in April to kill a lion without approval, on land where such hunting was not allowed.
“I sincerely regret taking such a magnificent animal that happened to be an icon that I didn’t even know existed”, he said.
“[Seski] conducted his hunt in good faith, and now he is being treated as if he is some criminal”, Sibanda said.
Zimbabwean officials call for Palmer’s extradition to the country to face charges for crime of killing Cecil.
Bronkhorst says he and Palmer have not had any contact since the killing of Cecil the Lion has triggered a worldwide rage at their actions.
A trophy picture was also taken with slain Cecil the Lion.
The authority said in a statement that it had agreed to “undertake an industry-wide investigation to crack down and weed out any illegal hunting activities”, but it was not clear if the latest case had emerged from that investigation.
Sibanda also defended Seski and said that the American hunter did not break any laws.
The Care2 petition points out that the death of Cecil could also mean death for his cubs, who may be killed when other male lions take his place in the pride.
“He was a great guy”, Dorrington said. Everything he did was perfectly legal and above board and a great help to our conservation efforts..
“We are appealing to the responsible authorities for his extradition to Zimbabwe so that he can be held accountable for his illegal action”, she said.
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Dorrington said he had converted his cattle ranch into a game reserve in the 1980s, and that funds from trophy hunting of antelope are essential to conserving wildlife.
