After punting on the Cecil the lion poaching story – the Minnesota dentist who killed the Zimbabwean beast did so with arrows – we’re back on it. ‘Cause we’ve just learned that poachers have killed Cecil’s brother Jericho [above right] – with a gun. “The beloved animal was protecting Cecil’s lion cubs after he was shot dead by Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer earlier this month, sparking outrage around the world,” dailymail.co.uk reports. “Jericho is believed to have been gunned down during an illegal hunting operation in Hwange National Park on Saturday afternoon.” Wait. What? Does a lion’s brother protect lion cubs that aren’t his, even though they share a genetic link? Anyway . . .
Johnny Rodrigues, Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, said in a statement: ‘It is with great sadness and regret that we report that Jericho was shot dead at 4pm this afternoon.
‘We are absolutely heartbroken. We have no further details but will advise as soon as we know more.’
No question: this latest lionicide will further calls for a ban on legal big game hunting on the African continent, which will further their march towards extinction. Just saying’ . . .