“The question is not, 'Can they reason?' nor, 'Can they talk?' but 'Can they suffer?'” –Jeremy Bentham, "The Principles of Morals and Legislation"
Animal cruelty has often been swept under the rug and rarely focused on in the media. However, when the controversial case of Cecil the lion came into the spotlight, the death resonated with individuals all over the world. Most people took to social media to voice their distress, and celebrities used their platform to raise awareness of the injustice of trophy hunting.
The story of Cecil the lion is heartbreaking. The Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (backed by Oxford University) had placed a GPS tracking devise on him and had been studying him for almost eight years now at a Zimbabwean national park. He had become one of Africa's most beloved lions, a "pet" for the locals.
Walter James Palmer, the hunter accused of killing the lion, paid $50,000 each to two native Zimbabweans to lure the lion out of the national park. Thirteen-year-old Cecil was then shot with a crossbow, which injured him. The three men waited 40 hours before tracking Cecil down again and shooting him with a gun. Now, bear with me — it gets even more gruesome. The animal was then beheaded and skinned. The GPS tracker placed by the WCRU had been repeatedly hit in attempt to destroy it.
As soon as the illegal passing of Cecil reached the Internet, social media went chaotic. Millions of people, animal research facilities, and national parks came to WCRU's support. Palmer, not anticipating this kind of backlash, released a statement:
"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. ... Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion."
Since then, Palmer has closed his dentistry practice and has not been in contact with anyone. Yet, everyone else has seemed to go even crazier. More and more people have been pushing to punish Palmer through the legal system as well as to ban trophy hunting. Killing for sport (or for "fun") is still completely legal with certain restrictions.
On Tuesday, July 28, Jimmy Kimmel started his show on a serious note and asserted the severity of this situation. Kimmel was choking up over Cecil, which further proves that a death, no matter who or what, can impact the world in just minutes. It's an issue that is finally coming into the spotlight and deserves every ounce of attention it is receiving.
If you would like to help, here is more about the organization that took care of Cecil: http://www.wildcru.org/. There are also many other organizations against animal cruelty, which would love the support. Join the fight against trophy hunting. Join the fight against animal cruelty. Join the fight for Cecil the lion.
