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| Zimbabwe's 'iconic' lion Cecil killed by hunter | Zimbabwe's 'iconic' lion Cecil killed by hunter |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A hunter allegedly paid a $55,000 (£35,000) bribe to wildlife guides to kill an "iconic" lion in Zimbabwe, a conservationist has told the BBC. | |
| Allegations that a Spaniard was behind the killing were being investigated, Johnny Rodrigues said. | Allegations that a Spaniard was behind the killing were being investigated, Johnny Rodrigues said. |
| The lion, named Cecil, was shot with a bow and arrow and rifle, before being beheaded and skinned, he added. | The lion, named Cecil, was shot with a bow and arrow and rifle, before being beheaded and skinned, he added. |
| The 13-year-old lion was a major tourist attraction at Zimbabwe's famous Hwange National Park. | The 13-year-old lion was a major tourist attraction at Zimbabwe's famous Hwange National Park. |
| Zimbabwe, like many African countries, is battling to curb illegal hunting and poaching which threatens to make some of its wildlife extinct. | Zimbabwe, like many African countries, is battling to curb illegal hunting and poaching which threatens to make some of its wildlife extinct. |
| Mr Rodrigues, the head of Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, said the use of a bow and arrow heralded a new trend aimed at avoiding arrest. | Mr Rodrigues, the head of Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, said the use of a bow and arrow heralded a new trend aimed at avoiding arrest. |
| "It's more silent. If you want to do anything illegal, that's the way to do it," he told BBC's Newsday programme. | "It's more silent. If you want to do anything illegal, that's the way to do it," he told BBC's Newsday programme. |
| 'Lion baited' | 'Lion baited' |
| However, the lion, which had a distinctive black mane, did not die immediately and was followed for more than 40 hours before it was shot with rifle, Mr Rodrigues said. | However, the lion, which had a distinctive black mane, did not die immediately and was followed for more than 40 hours before it was shot with rifle, Mr Rodrigues said. |
| The animal had a GPS collar for a research project by UK-based Oxford University, allowing authorities to track its movements. | The animal had a GPS collar for a research project by UK-based Oxford University, allowing authorities to track its movements. |
| Mr Rodrigues said Cecil's killing was tragic. | Mr Rodrigues said Cecil's killing was tragic. |
| "He never bothered anybody. He was one of the most beautiful animals to look at." | "He never bothered anybody. He was one of the most beautiful animals to look at." |
| The lion had been "baited" out of the park, a tactic which hunters used to portray their action as legal, Mr Rodrigues said. | The lion had been "baited" out of the park, a tactic which hunters used to portray their action as legal, Mr Rodrigues said. |
| Two guides had been arrested and if it was confirmed that the hunter was a Spaniard, "we will expose him for what he is", he added. | |
| The six cubs of Cecil will now be killed, as a new male lion in the pride will not allow them to live in order to encourage the lionesses to mate with him. | The six cubs of Cecil will now be killed, as a new male lion in the pride will not allow them to live in order to encourage the lionesses to mate with him. |
| "That's how it works... it's in the wild; it's nature taking its course," Mr Rodrigues said. | "That's how it works... it's in the wild; it's nature taking its course," Mr Rodrigues said. |