Two Years After Cecil The Lion Was Killed, His Son Xanda Gets Shot By A Trophy Hunter

We all remember Cecil the Lion. His death in 2015 sparked global outrage and brought everyone's attention to rest upon Africa's trophy hunting. Two years after the celebrated lion was killed, one of his cubs Xanda has also been shot dead by a trophy hunter.

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The six-year-old lion was killed just outside the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, not very far from the spot where his father was killed.?

Xanda was wearing an electronic collar - fitted by researchers who were tracking his movements in the park - which led the authorities to discover his body. The collar was handed back to the officials by Richard Cooke, a professional Zimbabwean hunter.?

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Andrew Loveridge, who works in the Department of Zoology at?Oxford University, had fitted Xanda's collar last year.

Speaking about Richard Cooke, Loveridge said, "Richard Cooke is one of the 'good' guys. He is ethical and he returned the collar and communicated what had happened. His hunt was legal and Xanda was over 6 years old so ?it is all within the stipulated regulations," reports The?Telegraph.?

Loveridge has expressed the hope of a 5-km exclusion zone around the park so that the accidental deaths of collared lions can be avoided.

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In 2015, Cecil the Lion was killed by Walter James Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota, by a bow and arrow. Following an international outcry, he was forced to give up his practice.

Xanda's death is also being strongly condemned on Twitter.

Xanda was a father to several cubs. Now he is dead, all thanks to trophy hunting in Africa where it's legal. It's time to prohibit the game and save the lives of the sanctuary's lions.?