by Ken Watkins
This is Cecil a fine 14 year old Male who lived the majority of his life in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, here he is seen enjoying an early morning drink.
I have been fortunate to see him on many occasions and he was magnificent.
I have also posted a few fine images on this site.
Unfortunately Hwange affords no real protection to its Wildlife due to the absence of fences, this lack of protection leads to some animals not realising that they can wander into areas where they are not welcome or safe.
Cecil wandered across the railway line which forms the "north-eastern border" of the park, and was killed by a hunter who apparently paid for the privelege.
It is rumoured he was shot with a bow and arrow. apparently a growing fashion.
Perhaps the research conducted by Panthera (the world's leading conservation organisation) is correct.in concluding that the only places where Lion numbers are increasing is within reserves protected by fences.
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/apr/25/opinion/la-oe-packer-how-to-save-lions-20130425
PLEASE READ THIS LINK
Comments
15 commentsSad to hear what happened to Cecil. However, 14 years is a long life for a lion in the wild. Thanks for sharing this.
Sorry to hear about Cecil, but this is a great portrait and tribute to him Ken, love the intent stare and the water dripping.
Nice photo Ken though it's sad to hear that this magnificent male is no more. No recommendations from me, just sad to hear of his early demise and I hope he didn't leave young cubs behind.
Hi Ken,
This picture will provide you with some fond memories of this guy. No nits and sorry to hear that he is gone....................Jim
Thanks everybody, we will hopefully see his family and his underling male in September
Nice portrait of a legendary lion.
Such an unnessecary turn of events.
I really honestly think that the time has come to put TROPHY/SPORT hunting in free-roaming areas and national reserves in the same chest as colonialism and slavery and throw it in the deep sea - there is no place for it in the declining world of African wildlife management. On a fenced, managed game farm with no apex predators I can see that hunting is a management/conservation/ecological balancing tool. The big argument that hunters keep poachers out of buffer zones has also been blown out of the water by the recently published figures of massive decline in elephant populations in Selous due to poaching - Selous being primarily a prime hunting reserve in Tanzania.
End of rant :)
Morkel,
I do not approve of hunting, but have to say that the massive decline in Selous is mainly as a result of the corruption in the park management. Poaching under cover of the people running the park is despicable, as always the problem is greed and population pressure.
News article about Cecil.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/walter-palmer-american-dentist-revealed-as-killer-of-cecil-the-lion-in-zimbabwe-10421746.html
Jerry,
Thanks I hope everybody views your link , just to see what sort of "people" there are in this world!
This story is gaining traction. It is a lead story on MSNBC's web page.
www.nbcnews.com
Hi Ken,
Was Cecil's territory in the area of Davison's Camp? It just dawned on me when teh artical said he was radio collared that the pride of lions we spent the better part of two days with in 2013 had a coalition of two males; one of which was radio collared. At first I didn't make the connection because the mane in your picture looks darker but I understand that the manes darken with age. At the time, the pride had four females, at least one or two of which had very young cubs and the radio collared male was actively mating with a third female which we observed. Our guide said that this group was part of a long term study but didn't name any specific individuals. I was just curious if you know if they could be the same animal. Here's a picture I took of the mating pair while they were enjoying a break in the action so to speak. I liked how his full mane "hid" the collar at most angles except in profile.
As to the hunting issue, at least here in the U.S. it was sport hunters in the early 1900's who essentially saved our big game animals from extinction. At the time the enemy were market hunters, what today would be called bush meat hunters and sport hunters passed legislation to outlaw the practice and convince states to adopt seasons and bag limits. If not for that, we wouldn't have anything left. I don't hunt myself (except with a camera) but a friend of mine who does has what I think is a pretty darn good rule about what he will/will not hunt. He won't hunt any animal that has a "complex social structure" like Lions, Wolves, Elephants, etc. because of the impact on the other members of their pride, pack, etc. or any animal that is globally or locally threatened. He also won't hunt in areas near National Parks because the animals have been habituated to people.
Cheers,
Joe
James,
This certainly could be Cecil, this was in his then home area.
Perhap's some good will come from his beastly murder.
It appears that Cecil's killer has been in trouble before for illegally hunting black bear in Wisconsin. This according to NBC news.
And it is hammering time: http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/29/world/cecil-lion-walter-palmer-social-reaction/index.html . ...............Jim
Jim,
Thanks for the link, all I can say is DONATE NOW
I should add I know some of the researchers well, and a few years ago they were able to get a hunting ban in place in the areas surrounding the park, unfortunately this was suspended,