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| Cecil the lion’s brother Jericho alive and well despite rumors, say researchers | Cecil the lion’s brother Jericho alive and well despite rumors, say researchers |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Despite reports that Cecil the lion’s brother Jericho had been shot dead by a poacher, a field researcher at Hwange Lion Research said on Saturday: “He looks alive and well.” Another conservation worker said the lion had been seen with a female earlier in the day, “probably mating”. | Despite reports that Cecil the lion’s brother Jericho had been shot dead by a poacher, a field researcher at Hwange Lion Research said on Saturday: “He looks alive and well.” Another conservation worker said the lion had been seen with a female earlier in the day, “probably mating”. |
| Related: Neighbors of man who killed Cecil the lion give mixed views on Walter Palmer | Related: Neighbors of man who killed Cecil the lion give mixed views on Walter Palmer |
| On Sunday, the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority released a photograph of Jericho that it said was taken that morning. A statement said Jericho “is still alive and being monitored” by the researcher Brent Stapelkamp, who was following Jericho’s movements with the help of a satellite collar. | |
| On Saturday, as confusion reigned over Jericho’s health, Stapelkamp told the Guardian he was confident that Jericho was “alive and well”. | |
| “Nothing looks untoward. It looks like he’s been moving around all day and in fact he sent his last points at six minutes past eight our time,” he said. | “Nothing looks untoward. It looks like he’s been moving around all day and in fact he sent his last points at six minutes past eight our time,” he said. |
| Stapelkamp added: “Certainly, I’ve been asked to go and look for him tomorrow morning so I will confirm he is alive and send pictures to the world.” | |
| Trevor Lane of the Bhejane Trust, a wildlife conservation group that works with Hwange national park, said in an email to the Guardian that Jericho had been seen with a female, “probably mating”. Lane added that parks were investigating another lion that was shot on 2 July, though that animal was not collared nor with a pride. | Trevor Lane of the Bhejane Trust, a wildlife conservation group that works with Hwange national park, said in an email to the Guardian that Jericho had been seen with a female, “probably mating”. Lane added that parks were investigating another lion that was shot on 2 July, though that animal was not collared nor with a pride. |
| Drew Abrahamson, a wildlife photographer, said on Facebook Jericho had been sending out “normal collar movement” and posted an image showing the satellite information. | Drew Abrahamson, a wildlife photographer, said on Facebook Jericho had been sending out “normal collar movement” and posted an image showing the satellite information. |
| The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF) prompted the flurry of press activity when it said on Facebook earlier on Saturday that Cecil’s brother, Jericho, had been shot at 4pm. “We are absolutely heartbroken,” the statement said. | |
| “I think this type of misinformation is characteristic of that particular source,” Stapelkamp said. | “I think this type of misinformation is characteristic of that particular source,” Stapelkamp said. |
| Stephen Long, who also works for Bhejane Trust and lives in the western end of the Hwange national park, far from where Jericho holds territory, said in an email: “ZCTF has the same level of credibility as the National Enquirer.” | Stephen Long, who also works for Bhejane Trust and lives in the western end of the Hwange national park, far from where Jericho holds territory, said in an email: “ZCTF has the same level of credibility as the National Enquirer.” |
| ZCTF did not immediately respond to a request for comment. | ZCTF did not immediately respond to a request for comment. |
| Related: Zimbabwe calls for extradition of dentist who killed Cecil the lion | |
| Walter Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota, has been accused of illegally killing Cecil after the lion was lured outside a national reserve. He allegedly paid $50,000 for the hunting trip. Cecil, a 13-year-old lion with a distinctive black mane, was a popular tourist attraction at Hwange national park before he was killed earlier this month. | Walter Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota, has been accused of illegally killing Cecil after the lion was lured outside a national reserve. He allegedly paid $50,000 for the hunting trip. Cecil, a 13-year-old lion with a distinctive black mane, was a popular tourist attraction at Hwange national park before he was killed earlier this month. |
| Cecil was also being studied by researchers at Oxford University’s Conservation Unit. Zimbabwe’s environment minister has called on Palmer to be extradited from the US to be put on trial for the illegal hunt. On Saturday, wildlife authorities said they had suspended the hunting of lions, leopards and elephants in the area where Cecil was killed. | Cecil was also being studied by researchers at Oxford University’s Conservation Unit. Zimbabwe’s environment minister has called on Palmer to be extradited from the US to be put on trial for the illegal hunt. On Saturday, wildlife authorities said they had suspended the hunting of lions, leopards and elephants in the area where Cecil was killed. |
| The Zimbabwe National Parks authority also said it was investigating the killing of another lion in April that may have been illegal, and said it only received the information this week. | |
| Palmer on Thursday wrote to to his patients to apologize for killing Cecil, saying he did not know the lion was beloved by many. Palmer also described hunting as his passion and has killed 43 different types of animals, including an elephant and polar bear, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. | Palmer on Thursday wrote to to his patients to apologize for killing Cecil, saying he did not know the lion was beloved by many. Palmer also described hunting as his passion and has killed 43 different types of animals, including an elephant and polar bear, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. |
| “I don’t often talk about hunting with my patients because it can be a divisive and emotionally charged topic,” he wrote. “I understand and respect that not everyone shares the same views on hunting.” | “I don’t often talk about hunting with my patients because it can be a divisive and emotionally charged topic,” he wrote. “I understand and respect that not everyone shares the same views on hunting.” |
| On Sunday, Stapelkamp said Cecil and Jericho oversaw two prides together. The statement from the wildlife authority said the two lions were partners in a “coalition” but were not related. |