Many animals have earned titles and reputations - some harmful and undeserved. Great white sharks are ocean serial-killers. Dogs are man's best friend. A wolf's howl is the sound of the wild. And the lion is the king of the jungle. Yet for all the titles and respect we bestow upon these animals, humanity appears to be an ultimately jealous species. Too often, we dethrone the kings of our own making.
This is exactly what transpired just one month ago on July 1st, 2015. A great king, a beloved figure and symbol, gave his crown and his life in the name of human supremacy. For those of you who are unaware of or unfamiliar with the situation, here is a brief overview.
Cecil the lion was born circa 2002 and discovered with another male lion (believed to be his brother) roaming around Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe in 2008. He was named after a British businessman, Cecil Rhodes, and quickly became a popular resident of the park. Cecil retreated to a corner of the reserve where he established his own pride. His pride grew to as many as 22 members and included another adult male whom the rangers named Jericho. Cecil was, along with Jericho, believed to have sired up to a dozen cubs (http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2015/07/21/death-of-zimbabwes-best-loved-lion-ignites-debate-on-sport-hunting/).
It is fair to say that Cecil became something of a public figure. He has his own Wikipedia page. He was actively researched by the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at Oxford University. He was easily identifiable both by his black fringe mane and the GPS collar he wore at all times. He had been tracked and studied since 2008. He likely would have gone on to be tracked and studied if not for human intervention.
On July 1st, 2015 Cecil the lion was shot by American dentist Walter Palmer after having (allegedly) been lured from the safety of the Hwange National Park. Palmer reportedly paid up to US $50,000 to a professional hunter in order to kill a lion. An investigation has revealed that Cecil was shot and wounded with an arrow before being tracked down and killed with a rifle. He was then skinned and beheaded. His skeleton was later found, though not his GPS collar.
This is the moment I need to take a breath, to try and calm myself before I lose it.
What are we, humanity? We've established ourselves as the apex predator. We effect change on our environment in mind-blowing measures. We've taken over the earth, dominated all other life. We've driven species to extinction. We have tamed the great beasts of the wild. We've even saved a few species along the way! But all our good, whatever good we have done, will mean NOTHING if we can't rid ourselves of our atavistic impulse to kill.
Palmer claims to have had the "appropriate permits" to kill a lion. I, personally, don't care whether he had permits or not. Why do we seek out these avenues, pay exorbitant amounts of money, to kill something and hang it on our wall? Are we so insecure? Is everything we've done somehow not enough? The human species paid a lot more than $50,000 for the death of this lion.
I'm not saying there isn't good. We've come a long distance from where we began. But on days like this, with a headless carcass left in the dirt, it's hard to have hope. It's hard to see where we might go from here. For every Jane Goodall, for every great environmental warrior doing what work they can, there are countless Walter Palmers and their ilk. To Palmer, I have only this to ask. Are you at peace now? Whatever glory you searched for, whatever superiority you craved, do you finally have it? At least the world finally knows your name.
