Imagine you’re on a walking safari in Africa with a group of friends and you spot a lion. Horrific scenarios rush into your head, you think about all the ways that this lion could hurt or even kill you. They aren’t called “King of the Jungle” because they are weak creatures so naturally you assume they are going to hurt you. Now imagine this, living in a world where the lion is actually more scared of you, the human.
Meet Walter James Palmer:
Palmer is an American dentist from Minnesota who also happens to be an avid big game hunter. He travels the world and pays thousands of dollars to go on hunting trips that usually involve him killing large animals. He has hunted bears, lions, leopards, and rhinos. In 2008, he was convicted of illegal hunting after he lied about where he shot a bear and was sentenced to one year probation.
Now Meet Cecil:
Cecil was a thirteen year old lion whose home was in Hwange National Park, located in Zimbabwe. Since 2008, Cecil had been wearing a collar because he was being studied by Oxford University for a research project. He was the most treasured lion at the National Park and became a symbol for the people of Zimbabwe because he symbolized strength and bravery.
How Palmer and Cecil are connected:
In early July, Palmer paid $50,000 to go on a hunting trip to Zimbabwe. He hired two men who helped him lure Cecil out of the national park, because hunting is illegal on the premises. The men and Palmer shined a spotlight on Cecil so that Palmer could shoot him. Palmer injured the animal with a bow and arrow and then tracked Cecil for the next 40 hours until he shot and killed him. Cecil was then skinned and beheaded with his carcass left to rot.
What will happen to Cecil’s cubs:
Researchers are now worried that Cecil’s six cubs will be killed by another lion. Jericho, the next lion in the hierarchy, will most likely kill the cubs so that he can start his new bloodline with other females. Seven innocent lives that were taken because of a group of “hunters”.
The Problem:
That is not hunting. Walter James Palmer should not be considered a hunter. A hunter is someone who kills an animal for food or aims to help control the animal population. Palmer had to hire two men to lure the animal out of the park to only prolong its suffering for almost two days. That is not hunting, that is inhumane and it is torture. Palmer is a murderer.
The Solution:
People need to know about the horrific events that took place in Zimbabwe. Most of us, although we don’t like to admit it, cried when "The Lion King"’s Mufasa died, so why are we not crying now? Cecil was the Mufasa to the people of Zimbabwe. Except, this is not a Disney movie. Instead of sending hate mail to Palmer and wishing bad things onto him, let’s make a difference. Cecil’s death should make us feel something and make us want to turn this sad situation into something positive. I urge you to donate to the researchers who have studied Cecil since 2008. Their website is www.wildcru.org. Let’s bring some humanity into this inhumane situation.
