Zimbabwe alleges 2nd American involved in illegal lion hunt

“Headman Sibanda’s case is in connection with a lion that was killed by the other American in April”, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokeswoman Caroline Washaya-Moyo said.

He also noted that Jericho, widely called Cecil’s brother, is not actually related to the black-maned cat that set off an worldwide focus on trophy hunting when he was illegally killed with bow and arrow by an American dentist last week.

Palmer, a Minnesota resident, said Tuesday that “I deeply regret” killing “a known, local favorite” and that he relied on local guides.

According to CNN, Zimbabwe has started extradition proceedings for Palmer to face prosecution for financing an illegal hunt.

Mr Palmer is believed to have paid about $50,000 (£32,000) to hunt Cecil, a major tourist attraction in the Hwange National Park. Bow and arrow hunts were also suspended and can only be approved by the head of the wildlife authority.

“I would like to sincerely apologise for my last report where I stated that Jericho had been killed”, Johnny Rodrigues, Chairman for the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, said in a statement Sunday.

Cecil the lion’s brother Jericho was shot dead by poachers in a park in Zimbabwe.

A field researcher for the Hwange Lion Research Project which is monitoring Cecil’s pride, said data from a Global Positioning System tag on Cecil showed he was fine. They then drag the intestines of that animal, “something that really smells”, Stapelkamp said, up and down the park boundary behind a vehicle. The officials said Seski’s illegal hunt took place in April in Hwange National Park.

The prospect that another lion was killed in the wake of the slaying of the beloved Cecil caused a firestorm.

“We can only assume who the father is”, said WildCRU researcher Brent Stapelkamp, who has been studying the lion since 2008. The park where Jericho was living had put out a statement at 3:30 p.m. banning the hunt of lions, but learned just 30 minutes later that Jericho had allegedly been killed.

Jericho had been mentioned in an update by the WCRU unit earlier Saturday, in which Dr. David Macdonald wrote that Jericho, who had previously been mentioned as a potential threat to Cecil’s cubs, was in fact helping to protect them.

In a twist on the classic scene from the kids’ film, the lion cub witnesses a vision of Cecil in the sky, telling him to avenge his death.

“The outrage over Cecil could have helped because people are now more aware and ready to come with information”, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife conservation director Geoffrey Matipano told The Associated Press.