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Cecil the lion was well-loved at Hwange National Park where he lived in Zimbabwe, but earlier this month, he was unfortunately killed by a hunter. The beloved lion’s death sparked outrage in animal lovers all over the world, and an investigation began to see who the hunter was. Yesterday, it was revealed that an American dentist from Minnesota was the one who killed the famous lion.  

The animal, known for his distinct black mane, was being tracked with a GPS device by a team of researchers from Oxford University, which was how his body was found. The hunter, identified as Walter Palmer and accompanied by two local guides, lured Cecil out of the protected park he lived in before shooting him. 

Although Palmer had the right permits to hunt and kill lions, the two men who acted as his guides did not, making their actions illegal. In a statement, Palmer said, “I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt. I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt... I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion.”

Animal-rights supporters around the globe are distraught by yet another example of hunters who pay several thousands of dollars for permits to hunt protected big-game animals. As one of these rich trophy hunters, Palmer reportedly paid $54,000 for a chance to hunt lions according to reports from The Telegraph. Hunting supporters claim that selling these expensive licenses can help pay to protect endangered species, if done correctly. However, many feel no one should have the right to hunt these animals.

 

Moved by Cecil’s story, or just interested in supporting the dwindling lion population? You can directly help this cause by donating to the research center that was tracking Cecil, WildCRU. Whether you've got some extra cash on hand or you're planning a bake sale to raise the funds, head over to www.campaign.ox.ac.uk/wildcru to help. 

There are plenty of ways to support animal rights closer to home, too. One big way is to buy and use products that have not been tested on animals. Companies no longer have to use animals to test their products on animals to see if they’re harmful to humans, but testing on animals is way cheaper for the labs. Check the label on your makeup next time you restock to make sure the brand is animal testing free. Another way to help is to buy free range and organic meant, dairy and eggs.

Do you support the animal rights movement? What do you think about the Cecil the lion news?

Photo credit: The New York Times

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