Lion researcher in Zimbabwe says Cecil’s companion appears to be OK despite

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.

Brent Stapelkaamp, field researcher for the Hwange Lion Research Project that is monitoring the lion with a Global Positioning System tag, says Jericho looks alive and well, according to Sky News. Stapelkamp said the satellite collar indicated that the lion was alive and moving around.

Zimbabwe is seeking the extradition of Walter Palmer, the American dentist who killed a famous lion named Cecil, which was being tracked in a university study.

On Saturday, Zimbabwe issued an indefinite ban on big game hunting in the area outside the park where Cecil was lured and killed.

The parks body also suspended hunting with bows and arrows, except with permission from the authority’s head.

On Saturday, Zimbabwe’s wildlife authority also announced that it is investigating another possible illegal killing of a different lion in April. A petition to the White House to extradite his killer, Minnesota dentist Walter James Palmer, to Zimbabwe for prosecution has surpassed the 100,000 needed to get a U.S. government response.

The lion was protected and a major tourist attraction in Hwange National Park. Palmer is reported to have paid $50,000 to hunt and kill Cecil, an iconic black-maned lion. The US Fish and Wildlife Service said in a tweet Friday that Palmer had reached out to them to help with the investigation. According to reports, Jericho, just like his brother, was illegally shot during a hunt in Huwange National Park.

A professional hunter has been charged with failing to prevent an illegal hunt – which he denies – and prosecutors are deciding on the exact charges the landowner should face. Palmer then pursued the wounded animal for 40 hours before finishing it off. After that he beheaded and skinned the lion.

On the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force’s post, he told the Guardian “I think this type of misinformation is characteristic of that particular source”.

Palmer has said he will cooperate with authorities. The AWF CrowdRise campaign will donate funds to the protection of lions like Cecil and other species heavily targeted by poachers.